Emilio Velilla Ubago

Born Place: Madrid Birthdate: 1959 Creative environment: Madrid Artist Web Formation:

Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] specialising in Woodcarving (until 1983). Bronze casting courses led by the Ministry of Education and Science. Casting, modelling and drawing courses led by Venancio Blanco (1983 and 1984). Collaborator on fifth course on bronze casting, stone carving, modelling and drawing led by Venancio Blanco (Salamanca Provincial Government, 1985). Lecturer at the Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] of Zamora and at the Escuela Taller [Vocational School] of Sacedón, Guadalajara

Awards and Honours:

Shortlisted. Sculptural Route through Álava, Caja Vital Kutxa Foundation (2002). First Prize for Sculpture, Arganda. Runner-up in Villabona Sculpture Competition (1997). First Prize Plaza del Dos de Mayo, Madrid, Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] and Municipal Housing Company (1996)

  • ABOUT THE ARTIST

From his origins in painting, and with the guidance of César Montaña, Emilio Velilla launched himself in the world of sculpture and shape. A domain that he has been exploring for almost four decades. His work, founded on a very distinctive form of figurative art, entails literature, sentiment, bursting creativity and an easily definable dose of technique obtained from encounters and conflicts with the raw material. "Figuration always draws upon literary content", he explains. And everything plays an important role. "The position, attitude, and connection with other objects" mark and define what he wishes to convey in each of the pieces.


He connects artistic creation to a clearly distinct metaphor: for him, it is a sculpture that undergoes continuous transformation in all of his works, the discourse of several works that are developed over the course of time. Meanwhile, a clash between distress and achievement occurs which, in the artist's own words, "spurs you on to face the easel the following day".


His most recurring themes derive from the human dimension, from feelings, but always refer to a universal concept that can be approached through experience. "Possible and true feelings", he claims, such as disequilibrium, love, jealousy, and so forth. Thus, for example, a chair expresses safety in light of uncertainty, in light of fear to make decisions...


"Depending on the temperament, a sculptor is more inclined to add or to remove. I am more about adding", he points out. Bronze is his favourite material. "It allows you to create horizontal planes in space", he claims. It is an identifying feature that recurs in most of his pieces.


After many years baggage, of "continuous immaturity and influential failure", as he himself defines it, he managed to conquer the "honest and sincere" feeling of personally contributing to the History of Sculpture. A challenge for the future that begins now is the digital casting and modelling of his compositions.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS


2010. A propósito de Demiurgos [Speaking of Demiurge]. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium.


Demiurgos [Demiurges]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


2008. Instantes / Moments. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium.


El sueño de la razón [The dream of reason]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


2006. Mitos [Myths]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Velilla. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium


2004. Seres – Les êtres – wezens [Beings]. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium


1996. Galería SYF. Majadahonda, Madrid.


1989. Galería Veiga. Madrid.


COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS


2011. News 11. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Dibujando escultura [Drawing sculpture]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


2010. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Selección 10. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


2009. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Invierno 09 [Winter '09]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


2008. Invierno 08 [Winter '08]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


AAF 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.A


AF Affordable Art Fair London Spring Edition. Capa Esculturas. United Kingdom.


2006. Paralelo [Parallel]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


ARTénim. Galería Gaudí. France.


Holland Art Fair. The Hague, Holland.


Index Dubai 2006. 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. Index Dubai 2005. United Arab Emirates.


Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair].


Capa Esculturas. Madrid.Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium.


Galería Gaudí. Madrid.


2004. Artenava. Art Fair. Ávila.


Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


El Paso del Tren [The Train Passage]. Institutional exhibition. Sala Municipal de Exposiciones del Museo de Pasión [Muncipal Exhibition Centre at the Museum of Passion].


Municipal Cultural Foundation. City Council of Valladolid. Valladolid.


2003. 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, Ghent


2002. Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium 2001. Capa Esculturas inauguration. Brussels, Belgium


1996. Galerie Dialogue. Paris. France.


First anniversary of Capa Esculturas. Madrid.


1995. Capa Esculturas inauguration. Madrid.


Biennial of Sport. Alcobendas, Madrid


1994. Sculpture Competition, City of Valdepeñas.


1987. Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade]. Ávila.


1981. Agencia Efe Gallery.  


PUBLIC WORK


Modelo para medalla [Model for Medal]. The Royal Mint of Spain. Tomás Francisco Prieto Competition.


Centro Cultural Antonio Machado. Madrid.


Las Lecturas del Dos de Mayo [Dos de Mayo Readings]. City Council of Madrid. Plaza del Dos de Mayo.


Primeros Pasos [First Steps]. Bronze. Town Council of Alpedrete.


Lectora Apoyada [Supported Reader]. Bronze, corporate gift edition to HRH the Prince of Asturias. Rotedic SA. Madrid. Maternidad [Maternity]. Bronze. Rodubio SA.


Paisaje íntimo [Intimate scenery]. Bronze. Arganda del Rey Yngima SA. Madrid.


Franquicias Hoy [Franchises Today]. Madrid. Multiple bronze.


Annual ING Media Awards. Categories of written and audiovisual press.


Atrapando una idea [Capturing an idea]. Premios Anuales Obra Social [Annual Social Work Awards]. Investment Portfolio.


Group sculpture homage to Esteban de la Puente. Municipal Council of Ponferrada, León.


Balbuena de la Rose-CEU Annual Legal Studies Awards. Pérez-Alhama Legal Study.


Individual collections in Spain, Portugal, Germany, USA, UK, France, Belgium and Mexico.  


AWARDS AND RECOGNITION


2002. Shortlisted. Sculptural Route through Álava. Caja Vital Kutxa Foundation.


1997. First Prize for Sculpture, City of Arganda.


Runner-up in Sculpture Competition, City of Villabona.


1996. First prize Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Madrid. Escuela del Volumen de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade] and Municipal Housing Company.


1994. First prize. Alberto Sanchez Sculptor Award. XII Biennial of Sculpture of Toledo.


1993. Shortlisted for National Sculpture Competition, City of Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.


1992. Shortlisted for National Sculpture Competition, City of Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.


Shortlisted for XVI Caja Madrid National Sculpture Competition. Galería Casarrubuelos. Madrid.


1989. Shortlisted for the Segundo Certamen Nacional de Bocetos [Second National Sketches Competition]. Galería Veiga Award.


1988. Shortlisted for the Tercer Certamen de Escultura de Arganda del Rey [Arganda del Rey Third Sculpture Competition]. Madrid.


Shortlisted for the Primer Certamen Nacional de Bocetos [First National Sketches Competition]. Galería Veiga Award.


1986. Shortlisted for the Tercer Certamen de Escultura de Arganda del Rey [Arganda del Rey Third Sculpture Competition]. Madrid.


Shortlisted for the Cuarto Concurso de Escultura al Aire Libre Villa de Oropesa [Fourth Open-Air Sculpture Competition of Villa de Oropesa]. Castellón.


First prize in Certamen Nacional de Escultura Homenaje a Antonio Machado [National Sculpture Competition in Honour of Antonio Machado].


Honourable mention in the National Sculpture Competition. Medallón Miguel de Unamuno [Miguel de Unamuno Medal] Salamanca.


1985. Shortlisted for the Segundo Certamen de Escultura de Arganda del Rey [Arganda del Rey Second Sculpture Competition]. Madrid.


Interview with the artist.


Emilio Velilla


October 2015


"An art piece becomes a classic when its ability to provoke a message does not dwindle over time".


Works by Emilio Velilla Ubago

  • Emilio Velilla Ubago works