Little Maurizio Figurine - JAVIER CALLEJA

CONCEPT
• The concept comes from the art piece “ Little Maurizio” which Calleja pays tribute to Maurizio
Cattelan*, an artist he admires and whose works are loaded with ingenuity and a keen sense of
humour.

• Cattelan is depicted in an innocent and youthful way with Javier’s signature big eyed children look.

*MaurizioCattelan’s recent work, C omedian , a banana duct taped to the gallery’s booth wall
stimulated discussions around the world about the nature and the value of art

About Javier Calleja

(Málaga, España - 1971)

Javier Calleja is a Spanish artist living and working in Malaga, Spain. Known for his signature style portraits with wide-eyed, almost doll-like characters, his darkly humorous paintings have an alluring simplicity and an emotional force. His work features polarizing elements of sarcasm and sensitivity; he channels inspiration from personal childhood memories, expressing the universal contradictions of the human condition. This trademark characters are described to be smaller forms of Calleja himself, driven by emotion rather than reason. These forms of self-portraiture reveal the innocence, mischief and curiosity from their dewy eyes, drawing upon all the emotions children bear and unable to contain on the inside.

Referencing Japanese anime, Surrealism and Pop art, his constant strand of irony underpins his oeuvre, bringing a subtle sense of magic to his work. Author of installations and mural paintings in which he plays with the idea of artwork within the artwork, Calleja invites the viewer to form part of playful scenes, to relate to his cubic-headed characters that evoke the worlds of both children and adults.

Graduated with a Fine Art Degree from the University of Granada in 2000, the distinct aesthetic of the Spanish artist has earned acclaim across the world. He has been the subject of numerous exhibitions in both renowned private and public institutions and galleries, some include Gallery Nanzuka Underground Tokyo, Gallery Aisho Nanzuka Hong Kong, Gallery Dio Horia Mykonos, Gallery Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, Burgos CAB Art Centre, Alcobendas Art Centre, Contemporary Art Centre of Malaga, Parco Museum Tokyo and amongst others. He has also participated in art fairs, including Art Basel Hong Kong, ZONA MACO, Art Brussels and Art Taipei. His work has been featured in Juxtapoz, Hypebeast, and other international publications.