Lara Almarcegui

Lara Almarcegui was born in 1972 in Zaragoza, Spain
She currently lives and works in Rotterdam

The works that Lara Almarcegui has been developing over the course of nearly twenty years are situated at the border between urban renewal and urban decay, and make visible what tends to escape general notice. On the one hand, Almarcegui focuses her attention on abandoned spaces and structures in the process of transformation; on the other, she investigates the different connections that can be established between architecture and the urban order. The work of Lara Almarcegui poses questions about the current state of the construction, development, use, and decay of spaces that are apparently peripheral to the city. In her large- scale projects she provokes a dialogue between the different elements that make up the physical reality of the urban landscape, in its constant transformation through demolitions, excavations, construction materials, and contemporary ruins.

The works that Lara Almarcegui has been developing over the course of nearly twenty years are situated at the border between urban renewal and urban decay, and make visible what tends to escape general notice. On the one hand, Almarcegui focuses her attention on abandoned spaces and structures in the process of transformation; on the other, she investigates the different connections that can be established between architecture and the urban order. The work of Lara Almarcegui poses questions about the current state of the construction, development, use, and decay of spaces that are apparently peripheral to the city. In her large-scale projects she provokes a dialogue between the different elements that make up the physical reality of the urban landscape, in its constant transformation through demolitions, excavations, construction materials, and contemporary ruins.

Her work has been the object of numerous solo exhibitions in institutions such as Centre d’Art la Panera, Lleida, Spain (2021); Graphische Sammlung, Zurich (2019); IVAM, Valencia, Spain (2019); Kunstverein Neuenkirchen, Germany (2017); Casino Luxembourg (2016); Kunsthaus Baselland, Switzerland (2015); Gemmeente Museum Den Haag, Netherlands (2015); CREDAC, Ivry sur Seine, France (2013); MUSAC, León, Spain (2013); the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2012); Künstlerhaus Bremen, Germany (2012); TENT, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2011); Secession, Vienna (2010); Ludlow 38, New York,(2010); FRAC Bourgogne, Dijon, France (2004); Le Grand Café, Saint Nazaire, France (2003); and INDEX, Stockholm (2003).

Almarcegui has participated in many collective exhibitions and international events such as the 14th Biennale de Lyon, France (2017); the 1st Triennale of Aichi, Nagoya, Japan (2013); Manifesta 9, Genk, Limbourg, Belgium (2012); the Taipei Biennial (2010); the 2nd Athens Biennial; the 7th Gwanju Biennial (2011); the 8th Sharjah Biennial (2007) and the 3rd Liverpool Biennial in 2004. In 2013 she did represent Spain at the 55th Venice Biennale.

Lara Almarcegui’s works are in important public and private collections, most notably in those of the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; MACBA, Barcelona; Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; MUSAC, Leon; CAAC, Sevilla; FRAC Pays de la Loire; FRAC Normandie Rouen; FRAC PACA; Rabo Bank Collection, Utrecht; Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah; FRAC Alsace, Sélestat; Les Abattoirs, Toulouse; FRAC Bourgogne, Dijon; and the PhotoMuseum, Winterthur.

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