artist biography

Alvar Mena (Palencia, Spain, 1988) first trained as a musician before studying Fine Arts at the University of Salamanca. Mena then worked as a tattoo artist. What started as a temporary vocation, soon became a formidable bond with the world of graphic tattooing.

Over 10 years, Mena developed a work characterised by criticism and sarcasm, heavily influenced by the Spanish tradition of graphic humour. In 2021, after a long period dedicated to tattooing the artist returned to studio painting and sculpture. A quick read of Mena’s body of work will land you in a world ruled by zodiacal warriors, shrouded in accents of 80’s pop culture, just a tad of manga, and all of it with distinctive street-credibility.

A quick read of Mena’s body of work will land you in a world ruled by zodiacal warriors, shrouded in accents of 80’s pop culture, just a tad of manga, and all of it with distinctive street-credibility. An exuberant “grit” overlays every composition, which leaves you feeling just a bit more resilient and just a tad taller than you did before you met the work. Even so, engaging with Mena’s subjects reveals grace and humility in his interpretation of humanity. Indeed, the unmistakable ‘grittiness’ felt in his characters is largely engineered, a veneer, a story to be told and thus ongoing and ever-evolving; just as it is with humans.

Alver states, “Just as in our lives we learn things and change our opinions and focus, countless times, I believe my work must change; it is logical and organic…Usually, my work starts from an iconic reference. In recent years I have been moving between classical mythology, Judeo-Christianity, and contemporary popular culture and memes. I generally use this theme as an excuse, but for my work, the narrative (or concept) is important only at the beginning and the end of the piece. During the core of the pictorial process, I try to forget conventional languages to focus on the pure and abstract plastic process, textures, registers, composition, structure, etc. It is only at the end that I recover the narrative, which ends up differently to the original idea.”

Menas is represented in Spain and Taiwan and has also exhibited in Denmark. In addition to his Fine Arts qualifications, he holds master’s degrees in digital animation and philosophy. During his career as a tattoo artist in Spain, Mena was invited as a guest tattooist in the U.S., Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, UK and Spain. Mena is now shifting focus to his studio work.

EDUCATION

Degree in Fine Arts, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, 2011

Master’s degree in Digital Animation, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, 2012

Master’s degree in Philosophy, University of Salamanca, 2014

SHOWS

2024 Group show “Statement”, Canal Gallery, Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.

2024 Solo show “Between Smoke and Dust”, Fun Year Art Gallery, Taichung, Taiwan.

2024 Solo show “Close to The XD”, Canal Gallery, Barcelona, Spain.

2024 Group show at Art Taichung Contemporary Art Fair, Fun Year Art Gallery booth, Taichung, Taiwan.

2024 Group show at Hybrid Contemporary Art Fair, Canal Gallery booth, Madrid, Spain.

2023 Group Show “WHITE”, HAGD Gallery, Aalborg, Denmark.

2023 Group opening show, HAGD Gallery. Aalborg, Denmark.

2023 Solo show “Nostalgia is Capitalism”, HAGD Gallery. Aalborg, Denmark

2022 Group show at Estampa Contemporary Art Fair. Exhibit Gallery booth, Madrid, Spain

2022 Solo show “Vamos Playa” , Exhibit Gallery. Santander, Spain.

2022 Group show at FIG Bilbao art fair, Exhibit Gallery booth, Bilbao, Spain.

2011 Group show XIII exhibition “Salamanca Monumental” open-air painting exhibition (second prize award), organized by Fundación Gaceta, Garci Grande Palace Hall. Salamanca, Spain.

2011 Group show at Pedrajas de San Esteban Culture Hall. Pedrajas de San Esteban, Valladolid, Spain.

2010 Group show “XIV Premios San Marcos”, organized by the University of Salamanca, at La Salina Palace. Salamanca, Spain.

2010 Group show Reunart 2010, organized by the Faculty of History of the University of Valladolid, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Valladolid. Spain.

2009 Group show at the travelling art exhibition “Art-Joven”, Palencia Provincial Council. Palencia, Spain.

2009 Group show at “Artesgueva 2009” artfair. Valladolid, Spain.

2009 Solo show at “El Cafetín”. Palencia, Spain.

2009 Solo show “Detalles de Velázquez” at the exhibition hall Caja Laboral. Palencia, Spain. 2008 Group show in the “La Alhóndiga” venue, at Zamora Provincial Council.Zamora, Spain. 2008 Group show at “Campoesgueva 2008” Artfair, Valladolid, Spain.

2008 Solo show in the exhibition hall of the Baltanás Town Council. Palencia, Spain.

2008 Group show at “Expo-Aire”. Palencia, Spain.

2008 Group show at the travelling art exhibition “Art-Joven”, Palencia Provincial Council and Caja. Palencia, Spain.

2007 Group show at “Artesgueva 2007” artfair. Valladolid, Spain.

WORK

Since 2011

Resident and owner at La Barberia Tattoo Gallery, Salamanca, Spain.

Regular guest tattooing in the US, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Corea, Japan,

China, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands,

Denmark, Poland, UK and Spain.