Javier Calleja

b. 1971 Spain

Javier Calleja was born in Málaga, 1971 and completed bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Granada University in 2000. Before he completed his artistic training at the age of 31 he was a gymnastics athlete training for the Olympics. Calleja’s work seems to be a simple aesthetic, but he creates surprising and humorous art-pieces through ingenious changes in everyday events. In his paintings, drawings and sculptures he deploys the aesthetic conventions of

cartoons and the illustrations of children’s books, in his search for simplicity and immediacy.

In addition to the comics, pop art and surrealism both influence the work of Javier Calleja; the artist invites the viewer to form part of playful scenes, and to interact by participating in his ironies or by reacting to the disproportionate sizes that evoke the worlds of Alice.

Javier Calleja was born in Málaga, 1971 and completed bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Granada University in 2000. Before he completed his artistic training at the age of 31 he was a gymnastics athlete training for the Olympics. Calleja’s work seems to be a simple aesthetic, but he creates surprising and humorous art-pieces through ingenious changes in everyday events. In his paintings, drawings and sculptures he deploys the aesthetic conventions of cartoons and the illustrations of children’s books, in his search for simplicity and immediacy.

In addition to the comics, pop art and surrealism both influence the work of Javier Calleja; the artist invites the viewer to form part of playful scenes, and to interact by participating in his ironies or by reacting to the disproportionate sizes that evoke the worlds of Alice.

Calleja has presented 5 solo museum exhibitions and 22 solo gallery exhibitions in several international citise, including Hong Kong, Greece, Germany, Tokyo, Spain, Rome, London. The artist also shows at many museum and art fair such as ARCO Madrid, Art Basel Hong Kong, ZONAMACO, Art Brussels. His work has been featured in Juxtapoz, Hypebeast and other international art publications. The artist now lives and works in Málaga, Spain.

2019

“I did, I do, I will do”, AISHONANZUKA, Hong Kong, China
“Those Little Things”, Dio Horia Art Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
“Clouds Through The Window”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany
“MSD_MAKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT”, CAC Velez Malaga, Malaga, Spain
“Art Basel Hong Kong 2019”, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center , Hong Kong
“Taipei Dangdai”, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan

2018

“Do Not Touch”, NANZUKA, Tokyo, Japan
“Fake is the future”, Barlach Halle K, Hamburg, Germany
“Javier Calleja”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany

2017

“Hi”, AISHONANZUKA, Hong Kong, China
“The Veterans”, Dio Horia, Mikonos, Greece
“Estilitas. [La extraña comunidad de la columna]”, Comisario Fernando Castro Flórez. Galería Rafael Perez Hernando, Madrid, Spain

2016

“Few things.”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain
“I know nothing”, Art on paper Fair (solo project), Castor Gallery, New York, US
“Art Copenhagen”, Galeria Yusto/Giner, Madrid, Spain
“Start art fair”, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
“Truck Art Project”, Madrid, Spain Absolute Icon, Spain

2015

“Fast food”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany
“Finally together”, Centro de Arte de Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
“No art here”, Castor Gallery, New York, US
“Broken white”, Galería Yusto/Giner, Marbella, Spain
“Guiones para Gulliver”, MAD. Antequera, Malaga, Spain
“SWAB”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Barcelona, Spain
“Feria de arte Estampa”, Galería Yusto/Giner, Madrid, Spain
“Dibujo expandido. Colección DKV”, Museo ABC, Madrid, Spain
“MAUS (Málaga Arte Urbano Soho)”, Malaga, Spain
“Cantos rodados”, MAD. Antequera, Malaga, Spain

2014

“Javier Calleja”, Artist residency, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany
“Historia de dos para un final imposible”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain
“SWAB”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Barcelona, Spain
“Feria de arte Estampa”, Galería Yusto/Giner y Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain
“Neighbours II”, CAC Málaga, Malaga, Spain
“MAUS (Málaga Arte Urbano Soho)”, Malaga, Spain
“Knock-knock”, Galería Javier López & Fer Francés, Madrid, Spain

Javier Calleja

<div class="article-cv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12">2019<ul class="article-cv-item"><li>“I did, I do, I will do”, AISHONANZUKA, Hong Kong, China</li><li>“Those Little Things”, Dio Horia Art Gallery, Mykonos, Greece</li><li>“Clouds Through The Window”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany</li><li>“MSD_MAKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT”, CAC Velez Malaga, Malaga, Spain</li><li>“Art Basel Hong Kong 2019”, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center , Hong Kong</li><li>“Taipei Dangdai”, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan</li> </ul> 2018<ul class="article-cv-item"><li>“Do Not Touch”, NANZUKA, Tokyo, Japan</li><li>“Fake is the future”, Barlach Halle K, Hamburg, Germany</li><li>“Javier Calleja”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany<br></li> </ul> 2017<ul class="article-cv-item"><li>“Hi”, AISHONANZUKA, Hong Kong, China</li><li>“The Veterans”, Dio Horia, Mikonos, Greece</li><li>“Estilitas. [La extraña comunidad de la columna]”, Comisario Fernando Castro Flórez. Galería Rafael Perez Hernando, Madrid, Spain </li> </ul> 2016<ul class="article-cv-item"><li>“Few things.”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“I know nothing”, Art on paper Fair (solo project), Castor Gallery, New York, US</li><li>“Art Copenhagen”, Galeria Yusto/Giner, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“Start art fair”, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK</li><li>“Truck Art Project”, Madrid, Spain Absolute Icon, Spain</li> </ul> 2015<ul class="article-cv-item"> <li>“Fast food”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany</li><li>“Finally together”, Centro de Arte de Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“No art here”, Castor Gallery, New York, US</li><li>“Broken white”, Galería Yusto/Giner, Marbella, Spain</li><li>“Guiones para Gulliver”, MAD. Antequera, Malaga, Spain</li><li>“SWAB”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Barcelona, Spain</li><li>“Feria de arte Estampa”, Galería Yusto/Giner, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“Dibujo expandido. Colección DKV”, Museo ABC, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“MAUS (Málaga Arte Urbano Soho)”, Malaga, Spain</li><li>“Cantos rodados”, MAD. Antequera, Malaga, Spain<br></li> </ul> 2014<ul class="article-cv-item"> <li>“Javier Calleja”, Artist residency, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, Germany</li><li>“Historia de dos para un final imposible”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“SWAB”, Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Barcelona, Spain</li><li>“Feria de arte Estampa”, Galería Yusto/Giner y Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Spain</li><li>“Neighbours II”, CAC Málaga, Malaga, Spain</li><li>“MAUS (Málaga Arte Urbano Soho)”, Malaga, Spain</li><li>“Knock-knock”, Galería Javier López & Fer Francés, Madrid, Spain</li> </ul></div>