Carlos Albert is a long-standing figure within the circle of the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCA-Americas), an institution that has closely followed his artistic evolution and has been actively engaged in the dissemination of his work. In line with this commitment, the Rodriguez Collection was one of the principal sponsors of the publication Carlos Albert.
Road to the Unknown, authored by the renowned Spanish art theorist and critic Alfonso de la Torre, was officially presented on April 26, 2023, in a landmark event held at the Sabatini Auditorium of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. The occasion featured remarks by Leonardo Rodríguez, President and Founder of MoCA-Americas, whose collection comprises a significant body of modern and contemporary art from across the Americas, with a particular emphasis on Cuban art. Also in attendance were the artist himself, as well as Cécile de Froidmont (Aquilaluna Art Gallery) and Nivaldo Carbonell (NG Art Gallery), co-sponsors of the editorial initiative.
This publication also marked the inaugural project of MoCA-A Editions, the museum’s editorial arm, envisioned years prior with the purpose of producing scholarly monographs on key artists in its collection and exploring subjects of artistic and community relevance. While the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine delayed its implementation, this volume represents the revival of that mission, now reaching a second milestone: the launch of the book in the Americas. On November 24, 2023, MoCA-Americas in Kendall hosted the official presentation of Carlos Albert. Towards the Unknown, in the presence of a broad audience of art professionals and enthusiasts, thereby strengthening the cultural bridge between Europe and the Americas and reaffirming the museum’s dedication to the global projection of contemporary art.
Carlos Albert’s Collages
While Carlos Albert is widely celebrated for his sculptural work, a particularly compelling dimension of his artistic practice lies in his two-dimensional creations: his collages on paper. Initially conceived as mere tools for visualizing and experimenting with forms intended for sculptural realization, these collages have since evolved into autonomous works imbued with meaning.
As curator Juan Delgado Calzadilla observes, Albert’s collages are visual elegies to the powerful volumes of his sculptures. Originally composed of cutouts and various materials used during the preparatory phases of his monumental works, these pieces have acquired a distinct personality. Their creation involves a constant dialogue between spontaneity and deliberate precision, evident in stains, burn marks, automatic strokes, and the incorporation of refined materials such as Chinese ink, tarlatan, or matte tree bark paper.
The result is a singular body of “visual calligraphies,” defined by a sophisticated balance between a fascination with contrast and a delight in spontaneous, minimalist variations. No longer mere preludes to his sculptures, these compositions have become mysterious universes in their own right, affirming Albert’s work on paper as an essential and distinctive realm within his broader artistic production.
Carlos Albert Andrés was born on February 24, 1978, in Madrid, Spain. Widely recognized for his distinguished career as a sculptor, Albert is a member of the esteemed Grupo 99, a collective whose manifesto champions traditional values in art. His work is primarily defined by a masterful command of wrought iron and weathering steel—materials he manipulates with striking ease to create compositions that merge mass and void, evoking a sense of movement and dynamic tension.
In 1996, Albert enrolled at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Complutense University of Madrid and later expanded his studies at Camberwell College of Arts (University of the Arts London). From the outset of his academic training, he demonstrated a marked affinity for drawing and compositional structure—an inclination that permeates his entire body of work. A pivotal moment in his artistic development came in 1999 with his encounter with renowned sculptor Martín Chirino, under whose guidance Albert refined advanced forging and sculptural design techniques, thanks to a scholarship from the Marcelino Botín Foundation.
Albert’s career has been punctuated by numerous accolades, including the First Prize in Visual Arts from the Complutense University (2001) and the First Prize in Sculpture from the University of Seville in the same year. His trajectory in monumental sculpture began with major public commissions, most notably the landmark work Puerta de la Tolerancia, installed in the city of Parla, Madrid. Today, his large-scale sculptures are integral to the urban fabric of various cities across Spain.
His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, with appearances at prestigious art fairs such as Art Karlsruhe in Germany and exhibitions at 100KUBIK Gallery in Cologne. Albert also actively showcases his work through digital platforms such as Plastiké Art Gallery, solidifying his position as a significant figure in contemporary Spanish art.
This exhibition has been generously sponsored by The Rodriguez Collection.