Originally from Barcelona, Marta Leyva divides her time between her hometown and Stockholm, drawing inspiration from her Spanish roots in her paintings. Leyva's work is characterized by vivid colors and dynamic compositions, often featuring scenes of lavish dinner parties, intimate private spheres, and vibrant social gatherings. Her use of colors such as pink salmon, green, and beige creates a sense of energy, positivity, and connection to her heritage. The scenarios she creates often revolve around food, serving as an essential element in her paintings and highlighting the artist's profound passion for gastronomy.
Leyva uses the communal ritual of eating as a tool to change social conventions and play with the limits of decorum. Her scenes evoke the imagery of déjeuners and country gatherings in French bourgeois painting, but revisited from a contemporary, free and amoral perspective. The after-dinner conversation becomes a choreography of uninhibited bodies, affected by a Dionysian energy that intoxicates and transforms them. Influenced by the Mediterranean pulse that permeates her work – and which constantly refers to the landscapes of her native Catalonia – the characters respond to the call of Bacchus, the vibrant desire of the nymphs and the playful flute of the god Pan, who draws them into celebrating pleasure without measure.
More than just a visual treat, Leyva's work is a narrative that invites viewers into the opulent and intricate worlds she creates on canvas, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestries and emotional landscapes she so vividly portrays. Leyva conjures lush, intricate worlds, where every brushstroke becomes an expression of universal emotions and human presence. Transcending gender and nationality, the figures in her works embody a fluid, universal identity that leads the viewer to connect their own memories to the scenes.
Romantic aspects pulse through Leyva’s paintings, framing scenes situated between the absurd and the mundane. Her work is steeped in references to Spanish art history and tradition, unfolding within a surreal yet familiar world. Gazing into her paintings feels like drifting into a dream. Boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, inviting the viewer to explore a world filled with recognizable yet intriguingly shifted elements. With playful touches of humor and hedonism, Leyva's work evokes the joyous essence of Dionysus, celebrating life's big and small pleasures and creating a feast for the senses.
Tania Elena de Gier Gustafsson
Hans Alf Gallery