In fact, what I have always liked most is the landscape.
Once painting is freed from the requirement to tell stories, landscape remains a “pure” genre that can be fully dedicated to both formal experimentation and to manifesting the artist’s subjectivity.

At first, of course, there was the joy of leaving the four walls of the studio. In the open air, the learning work was faced with joy, and the admiration for masters and styles was finally twinned with something vital. The practice was based on modern post-impressionist tradition created and enriched by so many artists who still seem quite close to me. This taught me to see the world in a painterly way, to understand the concept of what interests the painter, which would be essential for tackling any other subject or style.
Then I turned to other areas, such as still life or interiors, and then the vision acquired through the study of the landscape allowed me to transcend the simple description of objects to offer their mutual relationships in a new unity of matter and light.
Later, when I felt the need to physically lighten my painting by replacing the expressionist thickness with almost immaterial transparencies, the incorporation of collage was a new technical change that I was able to integrate organically into my paintings thanks once again to the experience of landscape.

Lately I have been leaning towards abstraction, which I often combine with figuration, seeking to balance chromatic harmonies with the interest in presenting very diverse themes. These come both from the observation of reality and from the suggestions of material itself. And I believe that here too the landscape continues to be the soul of it all…

Nuria Balcells Barcelona

Graduate in Fine Arts (Painting specialty) from University of Barcelona (1982). Drawing and Painting studies at Academia Sanvisens, Barcelona (1976-77). Founder and teacher of “Taller de 4 Pintors”, Barcelona (since 1981). Solo exhibitions 2015 Hotel Eurostars Cristal Palace, Barcelona. 2013 Maritime Museum, Barcelona. 1992 Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1991 Altarriba Gallery, Sitges (Barcelona). 1989 Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1987 Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1984 City Council of Lloret de Mar (Girona). 1983 College of Lawyers, Barcelona. Group exhibitions 2014 LXXII “Premi Centelles” Painting Competition. Centelles (Barcelona). 2013 “2 Temps”. Galeria Puntoaparte, Barcelona. 2013 LXXI Painting Competition “Premi Centelles”. Centelles (Barcelona). 2012 “Small Format”. Espai d’Arts, Barcelona. 2010 6th “Biennal Ciutat de Tremp” Painting Award. Tremp (Lleida). 2009 6th. “Ceferino Olivé” Painting Award. Reus (Tarragona) 2009 LXVII Painting Competition “Premi Centelles”. Centelles (Barcelona). 2008 “Horror Vacui”. Galeria Montcada, Barcelona. 2008 “50 years of Young Painting Competition”. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 2002 “Villa del Arte”. Pia Almoina, Barcelona. 1998 Aulos-Musica Gallery, Geneva (Switzerland). 1992 “In Barcelona”. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1991 Blaudemar Gallery, Arenys de Mar (Barcelona). 1988 City Council of Camprodon (Girona). 1988 Blaudemar Gallery, Arenys de Mar (Barcelona). 1987 ABeCé Gallery, Barcelona. 1986 Dera Gallery, Mallorca. 1985 Young Painting Competition. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1985 “Taller de 4 Pintors”. Tiana (Barcelona). 1983 “90 Years of Sant Lluc”. Palau de la Virreina, Barcelona. 1982 “Taller de 4 Pintors”. Sala Beaskoa, Barcelona. 1981 Torreón de Lozoya, Segovia. 1981 Kreisler Gallery, Barcelona. 1981 Sala Mass-Media, Barcelona. 1981 Sala Comellas, Sabadell (Barcelona). Awards 2009 XXV Painting Competition. Cercle de Belles Arts de Lleida. 1st Mention. 1988 Beget Painting Competition (Girona). 3rd Prize. 1986 Young Painting Competition. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 1st Prize. 1984 Young Painting Competition. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 2nd. Prize. 1982 Young Painting Competition. Sala Parés, Barcelona. 3rd. Prize. 1981 Landscape Scholarship. Quintanar Palace, Segovia. 1981 Engraving Scholarship by the Provincial Council of Segovia. 1981 Amigó-Cuyàs Foundation Scholarship, Barcelona.