An art exhibition in Marbella pays tribute to the beloved gallery owner Manuela Vilches

This Friday, November 28th at 7:00 PM, the Spanish Contemporary Engraving Museum in Marbella will host the opening of the exhibition 'The Thousand Faces of Manuela. Portrait Gallery of Manuela Vilches Quesada', curated by Paloma Biyú. Room 8 will feature a selection of works created in memory of Vilches by seventeen artists, while Room 9 will display portraits of the beloved gallery owner from her private collection. The protagonist of this event, who passed away last February 4th, always showed great affection for the Engraving Museum since its inception in 1992.

In May 2024, a large group of local artists paid a warm tribute to her, during which Vilches announced her intention to donate a unique sculpture by Faustino Aizkorbe to the city of Marbella. The City Council accepted this donation, which is now displayed in one of the rooms of the Spanish Contemporary Engraving Museum. Manuela Vilches opened her first gallery in the city in October 1984 with works by César Manrique. Some permanent artists of the Marbella gallery included Fernando Brinkmann, Paco Peinado, Fernando Zóbel, Francisco Bores, and Guillermo Pérez-Villalta, among others. The gallery also features a permanent exhibition of renowned artists such as Tàpies, Guinovart, and Barbadillo, among others.

A professional with extensive experience and a long history of participating in art fairs in the United States, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, she was one of the promoters of the creation of the International Art Fair ARCO under the direction of Juana de Aizpuru. The exhibition will be open to the public until the end of December 2025.