Museo Lázaro Galdiano rescata a Isabel Matoses, pionera de la fotografía experimental española
In Madrid, the Museo Lázaro Galdiano is showcasing 'Isabel Matoses: la imagen recuperada,' marking the first exhibition in over four decades focused on the groundbreaking Spanish experimental photographer Isabel Matoses. Curated by Begoña Torres, the display includes more than seventy images that challenge conventional interpretations of photography in Spain. Matoses, who served as a mentor in the 1970s, perceived photography as an art form rich in diverse meanings. Her creations delved into themes of memory, time, identity, and perception, encouraging audience engagement. Although she initially gained recognition, her contributions diminished in the Spanish photographic narrative. The exhibition is open from July 8 to September 6, 2026, aiming to reestablish her importance in visual culture. Matoses studied Law and Journalism in Madrid and received training in Rome in 1969.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Isabel Matoses: la imagen recuperada' at Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid, from July 8 to September 6, 2026.
- First exhibition of Isabel Matoses's work in over forty years.
- Curated by Begoña Torres, featuring more than seventy images.
- Isabel Matoses was a pioneering figure in Spanish experimental photography and a mentor in the 1970s.
- Her work was recognized during her lifetime but later disappeared from the Spanish photographic canon.
- Matoses trained in Rome in 1969, developing skills in optics, developing, portraiture, graphic design, fashion, reportage, and industrial photography.
- She exhibited at Palazzo Lovatelli in Rome (1971) and Galería Casa y Jardín in Madrid (1972).
- In 1973, she established a studio in Plaza del Alamillo, Madrid, founding the Grupo Alamillo, a creative community.
- She collaborated with interior designer Isabel García-Tapia.
- Her work explored memory, time, identity, and perception, inviting active viewer participation.
Entities
Artists
- Isabel Matoses
- Begoña Torres
- Isabel García-Tapia
Institutions
- Museo Lázaro Galdiano
- Palazzo Lovatelli
- Galería Casa y Jardín
- Galería Sen
- Grupo Alamillo
- Sala Pórtico
- Galería
- Arte Invitado
- Sala Pardo Bazán
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Rome
- Italy
- Plaza del Alamillo