JOANA VASCONCELOS
FLAMBOYANT
LIRIA PALACE, MADRID, SPAIN
14 FEBRUARY – 31 JULY 2025
The House of Alba Foundation inaugurates FLAMBOYANT Joana Vasconcelos at the Liria Palace, a unique project in the history of the palace created by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, one of the most outstanding figures on the contemporary art scene. The exhibition, which runs from 14 February to 31 July, marks the start of an ambitious programme of contemporary art sponsored by the Foundation to coincide with its 50th anniversary.
Internationally renowned for her sculptures and monumental installations, the Lisbon-based artist transforms the halls and gardens of Liria Palace and merges them with one of the world’s most distinguished private collections of historical art. Unlike the artist’s similar interventions in other palaces such as Versailles, the Uffizi in Florence or Ajuda in Lisbon, this is the first time that Joana Vasconcelos has brought her works to an inhabited palace.
The artist’s proposed exhibition at the Liria Palace opens a special dialogue not only between her works and those of great masters such as Velázquez, Goya, or Tiziano, which are exhibited in its rooms but also between her own personality and that of the Duke of Alba, present in every corner of this palace, which is also his home.
With this in mind, the artist has selected more than forty of her works and integrated them perfectly into the different spaces of the palace, some of which have never been visited before, such as the chapel, the music room, and the gardens. “The Liria Palace is not a repository of history, but a living space that adjusts to contemporary contexts while preserving its essence,” says Vasconcelos, who is keen to establish a dialogue between contemporary art and the palace’s legacy.
The exhibition is organised by the House of Alba Foundation and Atelier Joana Vasconcelos, with the support of Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid, the backing of Mastercard and the patronage of the House of Dior, which has been working closely with the artist for more than ten years, giving rise to collaborations such as J’Adore Miss Dior, which is on show at the exhibition, or her recent exhibition at the brand’s new boutique in the city of Lisbon.