Nicholas of Maya
Born in Cehegín, Murcia, in 1968, Nicolás de Maya is one of the most promising multidisciplinary visual artists on the contemporary Spanish scene. From his beginnings in painting, he has maintained a constant search for the essence of art through a creative process that combines technique, philosophical reflection, and symbolic exploration.
From an early age, he showed an inclination for the visual arts, developing a style that combines figuration, realism, and even hyperrealism with conceptual elements that imbue his works with multiple layers of interpretation. His work not only focuses on the visible form but delves into the depths of ideas, imbuing each of his creations with philosophical and existential meaning.
In the artist's words, "everything around us, even objects, is full of life if we visualize it," a statement that guides his creative process and manifests itself in his paintings and sculptures as an invitation to the viewer to contemplate reality with a deeper gaze. This sensitivity has been recognized by critics such as Javier Ubieta, who describes him as "an artist outside of order within chaos."
At 22, she held her first solo exhibition in Murcia, marking the beginning of a rising career. She quickly established herself on the national art scene, working with galleries in Madrid and expanding her reach to countries such as Mexico—where her work has been particularly acclaimed—Brazil, the United States, England, and Austria. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions that highlight its original and groundbreaking nature.
His artistic practice is always grounded in a prior discourse. Each work is the result of rigorous meditation on the concept he wishes to communicate, transforming technique into a vehicle for thought. This approach has established him as a leading figure in contemporary Spanish art, capable of balancing formal beauty and symbolic content.
In addition to his work as an artist, Nicolás de Maya has also been involved in memorable moments outside the exhibition space. In 2013, he was the official speaker for the patron saint festivities of his hometown of Cehegín, where, true to his style, he broke with the traditional format and delivered a dreamlike and visually evocative speech that reflected his inexhaustible creativity and connection to his roots.
Nicolás de Maya is an artist who moves between the tangible and the intangible, between figure and concept, between emotion and reason. His ever-evolving work invites us to think, to feel, and to discover the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary.
