The City IX Painting

Miguel Sopena is an artist and photographer originally from València, Spain, but now based in Croydon, South London. Miguel felt the pull of art as he prepared to complete his doctorate in theoretical Physics at Sussex University in Southern England. The realisation that he did not want to pursue a career in research threw Miguel into a bit of an existential crisis. By coincidence (or perhaps not), Miguel started drawing and painting, and soon knew he had found his vocation. Miguel combined finishing his PhD with a 2-year part-time (and very hands-on) Art and Design Foundation programme, then completed a 2-year, skills-based portraiture diploma at the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London, where he learnt in depth about traditional oil painting and the human figure. An eclectic and highly experimental artist, Miguel started working in an abstract language soon after graduation. At the moment, Miguel's painting practice is mainly abstract, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time, with special attention to composition, colour, and the expressive possibilities of the materials he works with. Miguel has established a solid track record of exhibiting his work and participating in international residences (in Finland, Bulgaria and Istanbul). After past experimental solo shows (in London in 2017, Istanbul 2018) and many group exhibitions, his last solo show of recent abstract work (supported by an Arts Council England project grant) ran at the Stone Space in East London in December 2022.