"Growing up in the 70s and 80s, my biggest influences were cartoons and comics. In particular Mazinger Z cartoons and Francisco Ibáñez Talavera’s comics. Inspired by those two, I started drawing as a child, so my work developed from there and still carries some of those characteristics." — Javier Calleja
Provenance
Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen Acquired from the above by the present owner
Exhibited
Hamburg, Galerie Zink, Javier Calleja: Fake is the Future, 16 - 20 August 2019
Javier Calleja (b. 1971) is a contemporary Spanish artist living and working in
Malaga, Spain. Calleja is most known for his figurative style of cartoonish, doe-eyed
characters with exaggerated features. His style is influenced by the toys and comics
from his 70s and 80s upbringing. Calleja’s characters are often accompanied by text
that contrasts the innocent and adolescent looking facial expressions of the
characters represented in the compositions. Calleja works in painting, sculpture,
and works on paper.
Calleja holds a BFA from Granada University in Spain. His works have been exhibited worldwide and he is currently represented by Almine Rech.
2018 signed, titled and dated '"WHO'S SPEAKING?" 2018 Javier Calleja' on the reverse watercolour and graphite on paper 100 x 70 cm. (39 3/8 x 27 1/2 in.) Executed in 2018.