Marta Leyva divides her time between Barcelona and Stockholm. Focusing her inspiration on her Catalan roots in her work, her pieces are characterised by vivid colours and dynamic compositions, often depicting lavish lunches and dinners, moments of intimacy and vibrant social gatherings, framing scenes that lie somewhere between the mundane and the absurd. The use of colours such as salmon pink, green and beige creates a sense of energy, positivity and connection with her roots. The scenes she creates are mainly surrounded by succulent dishes, these same elements being essential in her works, highlighting the artist’s main 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 a visual treat, Marta Leyva’s work is a narrative that invites the viewer into an opulent and elaborate world, offering a glimpse of both the landscapes and light that the artist so vividly interprets. She turns each brushstroke into a universal expression of emotions and human presence. Transcending gender and nationality, the figures in her paintings reflect a universal identity that leads the viewer to connect with their own imagination and personal memories. With elegance and playful touches of humour and hedonism, her pieces evoke the essence of Dionysian happiness, celebrating small and large pleasures and creating a feast for the senses.

David Pablo Nicolás

Art historian