Andrés Alcántara

Andres Fernandez Alcantara- also known as Alcantara- was born in Torredelcampo (Jaen, Spain) in 1960. From a young age, he started to carve in carpentry and joinery studios in his hometown. Subsequently, Alcantara moved to Grenada and began to produce woodworking. Later, when he was already installed in Madrid, he began working in the studio of Fernando Paul- engraver in stone- and contacted Fernando Cruz Solis -engraver and professor – and Rodolfo Conesa. All of which made it possible for him to carry out his work in the School of Fine Arts (Complutense University of Madrid). At a later stage, he received training in engraving with Javier Vilato, painter and engraver, and his son Xavier Vilato. After opening his studio in Madrid and Majadahonda, he moved to Alcalá de Henares, where he lives and works in his studio in 1990.

His first individual exhibition took place in 1988 at Emilio Navarro Gallery in Madrid. His works have been displayed, among other venues, in Madrid: Conde Duque Gallery, Arteta Gallery, Villa de Madrid Biennial, ARCO, Estampa, Town Museum; Museum of Santa Cruz in Toledo (Castilla la Mancha, Spain); Torredelcampo and also in the provincial council and the Arab baths of Jaen (Andalusia, Spain); in the Kunsten Antwerpen of Antwerp (Belgium); La Fenêtre of Paris (Paris, France); Time Square and Sculpture Space of Shanghai (China); he exposed his works in São Bento Gallery and Antonio Prates Gallery, Lisbon and published some graphic output in the Portuguese Center for Silkscreen; and in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), where he has been living since 1991.

Classic literature readings made him up intellectually: Homer, Plato, Aeschylus, Lucretius, Virgil, Dante … the Spanish Golden Age: Quevedo, Lope, Divine Figueroa, Villamediana, Cervantes. Philosophy and poetry in the 20th century: Heidegger, Rilke, Borges, Wallace Stevens, Saint-John Perse, all of which provides a lyrical and mythic taste to his works. Exotic hints of epigrammatic poetry, storytellers, poets, and philosophers from the eastern countries. He loves flamenco and is an expert in Andalusian gypsy singing and its masters: Manuel Torre, Chocolate, Caracol, Terremoto, El Sernita, Agujetas, … and he is friends with Vicente Soto, Carbonilla, … He shows a self-taught, comprehensive knowledge of art, history, artists and their works, and even critical engagement in every event in the artistic setting. His output received several prizes in the national and international scope and is present in various renowned collections.