‘Kaleidoscope’ is an exhibition showcasing 12 hand-selected artists that have created, inspired and lead the public art movement in Spain over the past 10 years.

Artists that initially placed their mark on abandoned buildings, villages, city streets and dark alleys, have now reached international attention for their artwork in galleries and museums across the globe. ‘Kaleidoscope’ aims to analyse, challenge and celebrate the influences, patterns and trends that can be found in Spanish art and understand how their culture, location and heritage has helped them develop their colourful creative voice.

Spain has always enjoyed a unique position in relation to modern art history. Through the innovation of Masters such as Goya, Picasso, Dali and Miro, to name but a few, the region and culture has earned a reputation as truly rebellious, striving to carve out its own identity as a breeding ground for the avant-garde, breaking away from the ruling Parisian Salons of their day. Now in 2015, Spain’s legacy of insurrection continues to fuel a collection of urban artists exploring various mediums, styles and dimensions, from large murals to intricate, detailed paintings and stencils; experimenting with colour, humour and the varied Spanish landscape. The underlying similarities and paradoxical diversity of style originating from Spain can be largely accredited to this rich heritage and, with artists persisting to experiment, not content to simply mimic the successes of others, the region continues to bubble over with a raw, and largely undiscovered, collection of genius.

Unlike much of the international street art scene, Spain’s large rural communities have allowed artists access to space on not just the steel shutters, concrete blocks and industrial surfaces of the modern city, but on to the barn doors, rocky outcrops and stone walls of the Mediterranean landscape. Many of the sleepy towns and villages across Spain are left to their own regulative devices and, although in some respects the law is strict in relation to public art, we see many artists have honed their skills outdoors due to the welcome lack of attention by their local authorities. These small communities have effectively allowed the Spanish public art movement to grow with relative freedom and, with the use of photography, these once secret masterpieces have reached the eyes of millions through the internet and social media platforms.

MYA brings together an innovative and highly influential group of contemporary artists from all four corners of Spain in one exciting exhibition, illustrating the pure talent that has been developing from within this uniquely creative culture. Specifically curated for MYA’s own award winning gallery space, and inviting choice artists to paint large-scale installations directly on to the interior walls, the exhibition sets to capture the attention and imagination of the London art scene, urging a deserved recognition and connection with this powerful group of living artists. Alongside the exhibition MYA will showcase a collection of photographs from contributing artists documenting the impact that their urban artworks demonstrate in their original settings, from the concrete facades of the city streets to the dilapidated barn doors and warm stone walls of the Mediterranean landscape. The exhibition will also host a detailed panel discussion about the collection, discussing the contributing artists and the history of this powerful contemporary movement.