Ima Montoya

Bilbao, 1963
Lives and works in Barcellona

Ima Montoya is an artist who, before having lived in many parts of the world (Japan, Hungary, Mexico, England) was born in Spain, in the city of Bilbao. She graduated in fine arts at the University of Pais Vasco.
The presence of the bull in the crowd recalls the Plazas de Toros, the fiestas of San Fermín, the streets of Pamplona and the wild and chaste ritual of putting one's life at stake by fleeing the mad and desperate ferocity of the bull; a ferocity that arises from his fear of finding himself alone and scattered, without protection, charged only with brute force that becomes manipulated instinct, abandoned and thrown into the very center of the crowd amidst screams, sweat, unknown words, human fear, the furious and liberating laughter.
Over the years, the artist's point of view has moved more and more to a high position to show us the mystery of the crowd and its constant movement, like a tide on the beaches, between the quiet sensations of the absence of personal anxieties, of envies and small victories that ripple the sea of the days of each of us with identical waves, on one side and on the other the mystery of a new thinking head, that of the crowd precisely, which escapes control and, although apparently free , can instead be easy to manipulate, full of brute force managed with desperation and illogicality.

SOLO SHOWS (SELECTION)

Lost Together - Raffaella De Chirico contemporary art, Milan
El Sueño del Sertao - Instituto Cervantes, Recife

2025
La Sombra de Cervantes, Istituto Cervantes, Algiers

2024
Take me to the river - Raffaella De Chirico contemporary art,
Danontzat zara zu geuria - Athletic Club Museoa, Bilbao

2023
Poemas de Agua - Istituto Cervantes, Tunisi

2021
More Than This - Raffaella De Chirico contemporary art, Turin

2020
Nec Metus. Like a Rolling Stone - Raffaella De Chirico
contemporary art, online

2017
Synaesthesia - Newport Art Museum, Newport (USA)
Dualidades - Museo Medicina UNAM, Mexico City, Quijote

2016
La locura de Vivir - Palacio de Autonomia, Mexico City
Transitos - Galeria Espacio y Lugar, Mexico City

2013
Luces y Sombras - Istituto Cervantes, Budapest - Bucharest

2012
Meeting at the crossroads - Veresov Gallery, Mosca

2008
Windows to Europe - EU, Berlaymont Building, Bruxelles
Ya ne Magu Inache - MMOMA, Moscow

2007
Transiciones - Istituto Cervantes, Moscow,

2002
Kokoro - Museo de Asia, Havana (Cuba)

2001
Basho - Ginza Hasegawa Gallery, Tokyo

GROUP SHOWS (SELECTION)

2024
Crossing Water, Cole art center, Texas

2022
YICCA, International Contest of Contemporary Art, Milan

2021
London Art Biennale, London

2019
Arte Laguna Prize, Venice

2016
Made in Spain, Collective MAD, Antequera

2017
Zona MACO, Raffaella De Chirico Arte Contemporanea, Mexico city

2015
Imago Mundi Collection, Cini Foundation, Venice
Made in Spain, CAC Malaga, Luciano Benetton collection, Malaga

2012
Collective, Veresov Gallery, Moscow

2011
Top 16 Saatchi Online competition, London

2009
Perehod, Winzavod Art Center, Moscow

2003
The Chase Contemporary exhibition, Royal College of Art, London

2001
Exhibition Asian Modern Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo

ART FAIRS

Roma Arte in Nuvola, Raffaella De Chirico Arte Contemporanea,
2024 / 2025
ARTVERONA, Verona, 2023 / 2024 / 2025
SW AB BARCELONA Art Fair, Barcellona, 2021 / 2023 / 2024
London Art Biennale, Londra, 2021
Zona MACO, Raffaella De Chirico contemporary art, Mexico city, 2017
PINTA Modern Show, Hache Gallery, New York, 2013
International ART Market BUDAPEST, Brody House Gallery, Budapest, 2012