Pablo Atchugarry

Opera Gallery Madrid

12 November - 12 December 2026

Opera Gallery Madrid presents 'Pablo Atchugarry', a refined selection of sculptures by the acclaimed Uruguayan artist. The presentation focuses on the artist’s distinctive ability to reconcile material density with a striking sense of lift and fluidity.

Form and Verticality

Atchugarry’s sculpture is defined by an enduring tension between mass and elevation. Whether working in Carrara marble, alabaster, bronze, or steel, he transforms dense, resistant materials into forms that seem to unfold beyond their physical limits. Verticality lies at the core of this sculptural language. His works rise through elongated contours, rhythmic folds, and deep incisions, generating a sense of upward movement while remaining firmly anchored in space. This balance between stability and ascent gives each sculpture both presence and momentum.

A Consistent Sculptural Language

The works on view highlight the coherence of Atchugarry’s vocabulary across diverse materials. Marble remains central to his practice, particularly through carving by subtraction, where form gradually emerges from within the block. Other materials introduce distinct visual and spatial qualities. The translucency of alabaster, the rich colour of enamelled bronze, and the reflective surface of polished steel each reshape how the sculpture interacts with its environment. Across these variations, Atchugarry continually revisits key concerns—elevation, rhythm, and transformation—demonstrating how matter itself can suggest movement.

Light as a Transformative Element

Light plays a fundamental role in Atchugarry’s work. It settles into carved recesses, catches on projecting edges, and travels across polished planes, constantly redefining the sculpture as conditions shift. These interactions produce forms that evoke organic growth, architectural structures, or draped fabric, yet never resolve into a single, fixed image. Instead, they maintain an openness that allows abstraction to remain fluid and suggestive.

Sculpture as Experience

Encountered in space, Atchugarry’s sculptures unfold gradually. Their silhouettes evolve as the viewer moves around them, revealing new perspectives and relationships with each step. Through this approach, sculpture is understood not as a static object but as an experience—shaped by the interplay of material, light, space, and movement. The viewer becomes an active participant, engaging in a continuous dialogue with the work.