Armando Rabadán on Painting, Seville's Visual Memory, and the Role of Chance

Armando Rabadán, a painter from Seville, Spain, reflects on how the city's rich visual heritage influences his artistic identity. He considers the traditional glasswork, Gothic altarpieces, and ceramic tiles of Seville as a personal archive that enriches his modern artistic endeavors. For Rabadán, painting transcends mere profession; it serves as a continuous interaction with life, marked by elements of surprise and unpredictability in his creative process. He draws emotional inspiration from artists like Cecily Brown, Willem de Kooning, and Joan Mitchell, while also recognizing the role of digital culture in shaping his visual language. Primarily working with oil paint for its vibrant colors and versatility, he recently created a piece merging a lion and an armed figure, showcasing his acceptance of chance. His recent achievements include solo exhibitions in Madrid and participation in ARCO Madrid 2026 and Abu Dhabi fairs, with future plans for a solo show at Espacio Valverde in Madrid, as well as aspirations to exhibit in Japan and New York.