José Abel
Spain, 1964
Artist's works
Artist Profile
Danubio
Astilleros
Puerto al amanecer
Rosas en el puerto
Berlin
Introduction and Experience
José Abel (b. 1964, Bilbao, Spain) is a contemporary Spanish painter whose work bridges the industrial heritage of Bilbao with a romantic, atmospheric impressionism. Influenced by his father’s metalworking and early training at the Museum of Artistic Reproductions, Abel has developed a signature technique that merges traditional painting with industrial materials and intervention.
Specializing in urban waterfronts, Abel incorporates elements such as metal shavings, wood, and hemp rope, later transforming them with an acetylene torch. This process of controlled destruction creates a dense, humid atmosphere—a cinematic "urban smoke" inspired by Blade Runner and the romanticism of J.M.W. Turner. With a career marked by 34 art awards (including 23 First Prizes) and five museum exhibitions, Abel’s work is a sensory exploration of color, matter, and the transformative power of fire.
Exhibitions and Awards
Selected Exhibitions
Museum Exhibitions
N.D.
Rialia Museum—Portugalete, Spain
Museum of History and Naval Culture—Madrid, Spain
Ethnographic Museum of Orozko—Bizkaia, Spain
Basque Country Mining Museum—Bizkaia, Spain
Maritime Museum of Bilbao—Bilbao, Spain
Solo & Group Exhibitions
N.D.
Nestlé Foundation—Barcelona, Spain
Sala Hispano 20—San Sebastián, Spain
Sala Caja Circulo—Valladolid, Spain
Valenzuela Art Gallery—Granada, Spain
Alcázar de los Condestables—Medina de Pomar, Burgos, Spain
Hotel Londres—San Sebastián, Spain
Siena Gallery—Bilbao, Spain
Angel Cantero Art Gallery—Leon, Spain
Art Fairs
N.D.
International Fair Mac-21 Art Fair—Málaga, Spain
Awards
2011
Honorary Mention—Medina de Pomar Painting Contest, Burgos, Spain
1st Prize (N.D.)
VI Painting Contest of the Ministry of Agriculture—Fisheries and Food, Madrid, Spain
XXIV Diego de Losada Hispano-American Painting Award—Zamora, Spain Diputación de Bizkaia Award for Best Painting Studio—Bilbao, Spain
1st Marine Painting Contest of the Port of Ferrol—A Coruña, Spain
IX "La Colmena" Painting Contest—Asturias, Spain
XIX Manuel Liaño Beristain Painting Contest—Torrelavega, Spain
Valle de Esteribar Painting Contest—Navarra, Spain
1st Rollo Paterson Painting Contest—Toledo, Spain
Abdon Juaristi Bergara Contest—Gipuzkoa, Spain XI
Villa de Durango Painting Contest—Bizkaia, Spain
2nd & 3rd Prize (N.D.)
XXIV Villa de Almazán Painting Contest—Soria, Spain
IX Villa de Durango Painting Contest—Bizkaia, Spain
XII "Bizkaia Maitea" Painting Contest—Bizkaia, Spain
Laudio Painting Contest—Llodio, Spain
XII Boecillo Biennial Painting Contest—Valladolid, Spain
Honorary Mention (N.D.)
XI "La Colmena" Painting Contest—Asturias, Spain
"Virgen del Carmen" Navy Painting Contest—Madrid, Spain
Finalist (N.D.)
XVIII Manuel Liaño Beristain Painting Contest—Torrelavega, Spain
10th "Diario de León" Painting Contest—León, Spain
2nd Beekeeping Painting Contest—Guadalajara, Spain
V "El Primero de Fariña" Painting Contest—Zamora, Spain
XXXIII Francisco Pradilla Painting Contest—Zaragoza, Spain
XIX Nicolas Piñole Painting Contest—Asturias, Spain
"Virgen del Carmen" Navy Painting Contest—Madrid, Spain
Valle de Esteribar Painting Contest—Navarra, Spain
Diego de Losada Painting Contest—Zamora, Spain
La Seca Painting Contest—Valladolid, Spain
Mora Painting Contest—Toledo, Spain
Selected (N.D.)
City of Frías and Montes Obarenes Contest—Burgos, Spain
XII International Women's Day Painting Contest—Leganés, Spain
XVI "City of Castellón" National Painting Prize—Castellón, Spain
Laura Otero Painting Contest—Cáceres, Spain
Collections
Private Collections
Works are held in private collections in Taipei, Taiwan.