The Expert's Picks... Contemporary Art from the June Auction

One of my favourite lots in the sale is undoubtedly Postludio, an acrylic on canvas painted in 2000 by José María López Yturralde. The work will be offered with a starting price of €10,000.

From the year 2000 onwards, Yturralde's work became increasingly refined and distilled, a development that can be clearly appreciated in this painting. Expansive chromatic fields with subtle gradations create a composition that successfully combines geometric rigour with a deeply poetic dimension.

Throughout his artistic career, one constant has remained at the core of his practice: the intersection of art, science and a reflection on space. Postludio is a compelling example of this enduring pursuit, demonstrating the artist's ability to transform formal precision into a visually immersive and contemplative experience.

Claudio Bravo occupies a singular position in international painting of the second half of the twentieth century.

During the 1960s, Bravo developed a technique of extraordinary precision, rooted in the traditions of the Spanish Golden Age and particularly influenced by masters such as Velázquez and Zurbarán. His portraits and still lifes reveal exceptional technical virtuosity while simultaneously exploring questions of visual perception, materiality and the delicate boundary between reality and representation.

Among the highlights of this Contemporary Art sale is Potatoes (1980), a refined work in coloured pencil on paper that perfectly illustrates the artist’s remarkable command of observation and execution. The work will be offered with a starting price of €20,000 and is sure to attract the attention of collectors who appreciate Bravo’s unique ability to elevate everyday subjects into images of striking presence and sophistication.

I would also like to draw attention to Nocturno (1953), an oil on canvas by Rafael Zabaleta, coming from a Spanish private collection and previously featured in several exhibitions.

The painting is a fine example of Zabaleta’s highly distinctive artistic language, characterised by figures of strong sculptural presence and a composition imbued with remarkable vitality. Executed with a luminous and vibrant palette that reflects the influence of Fauvism, the work demonstrates the artist’s ability to combine expressive colour with a powerful sense of form.

Nocturno encapsulates many of the qualities that have made Zabaleta one of the most celebrated figures of twentieth-century Spanish art, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire a work of both artistic significance and proven exhibition history.