If a true artist is one who exploits the appropriate technical knowledge to extract a wealth of expressive nuances from each material he works with, I think that the keys to interpreting Manuel Mateo's work are clear. Through his artistic training and regard for aesthetics he meets the requirements expected from a sculptor in the traditionally historic sense.
His leitmotif is geometric constructivism that is never confused with rigid schematism. Even in his largest pieces, the line, light or shadow, and sometimes the space, set a geometric counterpoint that arranges and gathers the composition and enriches its perspectives.
Manuel Mateo is a sculptor because aside from his formal preferences, the material from him hides no secrets, allowing him to handle and stimulate it in order to convey the core and beauty it holds within.
María del Carmen Sánchez-Rojas Fenoll
History of Art University Professor. University of Murcia
In addition to the expressive and successful experimentation with volumes and lines, tones and textures, supports and challenges of gravity, Manuel Mateo's sculptural pieces instantaneously transmit an artistic serenity to the observer. Within a stylistic schematism that naturally alludes to the avant-garde movements of the previous century, the attitudes assumed by his forms in En la Hamaca' [In the hammock]. El Reposo [The Rest], La Toca [The Headdress] express an analysed and calculated stillness, a balance that the bronze finish helps to intensify. In Busto [Bust] he manages to convey, in a minimal way, the path along which beauty is sought. He does so through the use of chiaroscuro, geometry, and technical know-how in the modelling that is later translated into shapes after casting. It is, without doubt, work that is indicative of the skill and mastery of visual art and a solid classic training.
2015. Relieves y Esculturas [Embossments and Sculptures]. Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
2013. Ellas y Tú [Them and You]. Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
2007. Manuel Mateo. New work. Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
Manuel Mateo Sculpture. El Brocense. Provincial Government of Cáceres.
2005. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium.
2003. Galería Art Nueve, Murcia.
2002. Divertimentos [Amusement]. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium.
2001. Eduardo Capa Foundation, Alicante.
Galería Art Nueve, Murcia.
2000. Galería Ra del Rey, Madrid.
2015. Avant Premiere. Capa Esculturas, Brussels.
2013. Encuentro I y II [Meeting I and II]. Capa Esculturas, Brussels.
2011. En blanco y negro [In black and white]. Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
2008. AAF Affordable Art Fair London Spring Edition. Capa Esculturas. London. United Kingdom.
2007. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
AAF Affordable Art Fair London Spring Edition. Capa Esculturas. London. United Kingdom.
2006. Paralelo [Parallel]. Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
Index Dubai. Capa Esculturas. United Arab Emirates.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
2005. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Index Dubai. Capa Esculturas. United Arab Emirates.
2004. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
2003. ARCALE. Castile-Leon International Art Festival. Galería Artis. Salamanca.
Estío. Galería Artis. Salamanca.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
2002. Lineart International Art Fair. Capa Esculturas. Ghent, Belgium
2001. Arte Sevilla. Art fair, Galería Ra del Rey.
Collective El beso [The kiss]. Galería Bisel, Cartagena.
Art Expo Art Fair. Galería Ra del Rey, Barcelona.
Riofisa Sculpture Competition. Galería Cuatro Diecisiete, Madrid.
Capa Esculturas inauguration. Brussels, Belgium.
2000. II International Biennial of Basketball in Fine Arts. Pedro Ferrándiz Foundation. Alcobendas, Madrid
Coleccionarte 2000. Art Fair. Galería Art Nueve. Palacio del Almudí, Murcia.
Tres Escultores [Three Sculptors]. Galería Art Nueve, Murcia.
Mac-21. Art Fair. Galería Ra del Rey, Marbella.
Arte Santander. Art Fair. Galería Ra del Rey
Mediterráneo 2000. Galería Art Nueve, Murcia.
John David Mooney Foundation. Galería Gaudí. Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Abriendo un siglo [Opening a century]. University of Murcia. Sala CAM.
20x20. Galería Ra del Rey, Madrid
20x20. Galería Cimentada, Oviedo.
1999. Galería Art Nueve, Murcia.
Galería Ra del Rey, Madrid.
1998. Exhibitions organised by the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo in different towns of Murcia and Alicante.
Interart 98, Valencia.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Inclusion in Capa Esculturas, Madrid.
1997. Collective Al aire libre [Open-air]. Caja de Ahorros, Murcia.
Grandes pequeñas obras [Big little works]. Galería Dionis Bennassar. Madrid.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
1995. Sala Caballerizas, Almudí Palace, Murcia.
Caja de Ahorros, Murcia.
1994. V Sculpture Biennial, Murcia.
1982. Municipal Art Gallery. Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.
1981. II Visual Arts Competition, Alcobendas.
1980. Exhibition centre Caja de Ahorros. Soria.
Collective of Cuenca. Cuenca.
1979. III Caja de Ahorros Competition. Madrid. (1984)
Francisco Alcántara Award Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid.
V International Biennial of Marbella, Malaga.
1977. Tomás Francisco Prieto Award. Madrid. (1979-1981, 1984).
1975. El Deporte en las Bellas Artes [Sport in Fine Arts]. Barcelona.
LIII International Fair of Valencia.
El metal en el Arte [Metal in Art]. Valencia.
1974. Virreina Palace. Barcelona.
Sala Goya. Círculo de Bellas Artes. Madrid.
1973. Banco Americano (Ameribank). Madrid.
Galería Tolmo. Toledo.
National Salcillo Award. Murcia.
XIII Salón de Artes Plásticas [Visual Arts Competition]. Valdepeñas. Ciudad Real. (1974, 1979, 1980, 1981).
XXXIV Manchega Visual Arts Exhibition. Valdepeñas. Ciudad Real.
The Council. Town Council of Molina de Segura, Murcia. San Roque Park.
Town Council of Rivas. Sculptures. Madrid.
City Council of Ponferrada.
Provincial Government of Cuenca.
Pedro Ferrándiz Foundation, Madrid.
Eduardo Capa Foundation, Alicante.
Ministry of Culture, Madrid.
Reina Sofía Museum.
Museum of Cuenca.
Municipal Art Gallery of Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.
Provincial Government of Cáceres.
Collections Ros Urigüen (Madrid), Rodríguez de Ribera, Conde Martí, Beltrán Rexach, Cases Larosa, García García, Lara Fernández, Avilés Olmos, Sartorius, Figuero.
1968. Asunción de Castro Award. Madrid
1973. Fray Luis de León Award, Provincial Government of Cuenca.
1974. Gold medal in the XVIII National Sculpture Exhibition. Julio Antonio Award, Tarragona.
Gold Pámpana in the XXXV National Visual Arts Exhibition. Móstoles. Madrid.
Grant from the Fundación Española de la Vocación. Barcelona.
1976. II Prize for Sculpture I Visual Arts Competition. Móstoles, Madrid.
1979. Special Mention for Sculpture XXVII Visual Arts Competition. Getafe, Madrid.
Silver medal XL Manchega Visual Arts Exhibition. Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.
1980. Grant from Spanish Ministry of Culture, Madrid.
2000. II Prize for Sculpture in the II International Biennial of Basketball in Fine Arts. Pedro Ferrándiz Foundation, Alcobendas, Madrid.
Shortlisted. Victorio Macho Award. Palencia.
Shortlisted. VII National Sculpture Award. Punta Umbría, Huelva.
Works by Manuel Mateo Cuenca
