Image creditExhibition view © CentroCentro

At a glance

30–45 minutes

A focused study of light and color through the minimalist compositions of a painter who spent decades working in private before gaining recent acclaim.

Why go

This selection of 40 works highlights the artist's ability to translate the subtle shifts of daylight into precise, rhythmic paintings, offering a rare look at her rigorous creative evolution over twenty-five years.

You'll see

Horizontal and vertical stripes · Abstract paintings · Recent drawings · Chromatic studies · Twenty-five years of artistic production

Pace of visit

The sparse, rhythmic nature of the works encourages a slower pace to fully appreciate the shifting chromatic intensities.

Don't miss

The untitled canvas from 2001, which demonstrates Lara's early mastery of creating depth through layered, vibrant fields of color.

Artlovers Tip

Admission is free, making this an easy addition to a walk through central Madrid. Visit in the morning when the gallery's own light might echo the atmospheric qualities of the paintings.

Artlovers relevance

Inside the exhibition

Meet the artist

María Lara

Key Movements

Contemporary Art

Medium

Painting

Description

María Lara: La lentitud de la luz at CentroCentro in Madrid, Spain, presents a survey of an artist whose career was long developed in the privacy of her studio. Curated by Armando Montesinos, the exhibition gathers nearly 40 paintings and drawings created over the last quarter-century, highlighting a commitment to a purely visual language that avoids narrative or literary references.

The works on display focus on the physical properties of the canvas and the artist's observation of light. Visitors will encounter minimalist structures defined by horizontal and vertical bands, where the arrangement of color and scale serves as a record of shifting daylight. These compositions are the result of a slow, deliberate process, reflecting Lara's belief that perceiving light is a form of active response to one's environment.

By bringing together pieces from the late 1990s to the present, the show illustrates Lara's transition from a private practitioner to a recognized figure in Spanish abstraction. It offers a space for contemplation, where the technical precision of her work creates a vibrant aesthetic intensity. The selection emphasizes the materiality of painting, presenting the canvas as a site for sensory experience rather than a window to a metaphorical world.

Worth travelling for?

A rewarding stop for fans of geometric abstraction and those seeking a quiet, meditative experience in the heart of Madrid.

Experience as an Artlover

Start with the earlier works to observe how the artist's use of light becomes more refined over time, paying close attention to the subtle texture of the drawings.

Exhibition

María Lara: La lentitud de la luz

Hours & rating from Google

Madrid, Spain

Discover the destination

Experience art in Madrid

Spain

Art in Madrid — Museums, exhibitions & artworks worth traveling for.

From Velázquez to today’s global contemporary scene, Madrid turns a city break into an art journey.

Madrid brings centuries of art within walking distance: three world-class museums less than 20 minutes apart and five centuries of art to discover in a single day.

Explore Madrid

Because you are an artlover,

Join our community of art enthusiasts and discover exhibitions, artists, and masterpieces tailored to your tastes. Get personalized recommendations and never miss a must-see show again.

Join us