Rafel Bestard’s figurative works are essentially studies in classical French painting technique combined with contemporary aesthetics. Through the years his sensual, textural works have examined folklore and mythology in a dreamlike or disturbing fashion, weaving dream and nightmare, seduction and psychopathy.
About his work Rafel Bestard tells the following:
“There’s no doubt that there is some kind of real world outside our minds, but we know about it only through our experience - an experience that includes not only the direct information we receive through our senses, but also knowledge, memory, fantasy, imagination, dreams…. Conformism limits the experience of the world in every day life, but we can feel that there is something else, and that is just there, in the joints of the armored commonplace that imprisons us.”
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
Still painting, curated by Pau Pedragosa, La Bibi + Reus, Palma
2025
La inquietud latente, curated by Pau Pedragosa, Opposite Art Project, Barcelona
El viu i l’extrany, curated by Tomeu Simonet, Porreres Museum, 2024-2025.
2024
A way to realism, Gallery Blue Spiral 1, Asheville (EEUU)
2023
People at Sunset have Shadows one Mile long, Kirk Gallery. Aalborg
2022
Klerus, Galerie Heissingsart, Lübeck
Rafel Bestard, Galerie Heissingsart, Berlin
2021
Our Hours, Galería Contrast. Barcelona
2020
Rafel Bestard, Galerie Mokum, Amsterdam
2019
Rafel Bestard, Galerie Heissingsart, Berlin
Man or Rabbit, Galeria Contrast. Barcelona
And many more ..
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Alart, curated by Tomeu Simonet, Casal Son Tugores, Alaró
2024
R-VI, Galeria 6A, Palma, Mallorca
Salon de Lübeck, Galerie Heissingsart, Lübeck
2023
Hi havia una vegada… 2, curated by Tomeu Simonet. Porreres Museum, Mallorca
2022
At the edge, Kirk Gallery, Aalborg
And many more ..
AWARDS
Special mention of the jury X Premi Salou de Recerca Pictòrica, Salou, 2016.
1rst Prize X Bienal de Artes Plásticas Ciudad de Albacete. Albacete, 2012.
Acquisition award, VIII Biennial of Plastic Arts City of Albacete. Albacete, 2008.
Special jury mention and acquisition, Premis Ciutat de Palma d’Arts Plàstiques, Palma de Mallorca, 2008.
1r Prize, Premi Ciutat de Manacor d’Arts Plàstiques, 2007 Manacor.
1r Prize, Dijous Painting Contest 2001, Inca.
1r Prize, XL Award to young painture, Sala Parés-Fundació Banc de Sabadell, Barcelona, 1998.
