Javier Calleja (b.1971 in Málaga, Spain) lives and works in Málaga. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Granada. Selected solo exhibitions include: ‘This Is Your Lucky Day' Almine Rech, Paris Matignon; ‘Drop by Drop’ at Dio Horia Gallery, Athens; ‘3110ZN by LHD Kitchen’ at Sushi Saito, Tokyo; ‘No Art Here’ at 2G PARCO, Tokyo; ‘Little Maurizio’ at K11 MUSEA, Hong Kong; ‘Sooner or Later’ at Bill Brady Gallery, Miami; ‘I did, I do, I will do’ at Aisho/Nanzuka, Hong Kong; ‘Those Little Things’, Artist residency, Dio Horia Gallery, Mykonos. Selected group exhibitions include: ‘Through our Eyes’ at CICA Art Centre, Vancouver; ‘Si yo te contara ...’ Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid, ‘Collectiva 15 años’ at Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid. His work has been featured in various international art publications, including Juxtapoz and Hypebeast. Calleja’s works are part of influential collections, including CAB de Burgos, Burgos; Marset Collection; Unicaja Collection.
Calleja’s work involves instantly recognizable figurative paintings, with exaggerated proportions. Balancing innocence and cynicism in his signature wide-eyed characters, Calleja escapes the 'over-theorisation' of art, creating works that viewers may effortlessly access and connect with, effectively identifying bewilderment and scoffing attitudes.