The Red Penguin Art Gallery opens at El Corte Inglés Home & Decoration El Capricho, Marbella

High Flyers by Joseph Klibansky, a special guest at the Gallery opening

Showcasing a wealth of quality art from upcoming and acclaimed Spanish and international artists, Marbella’s Red Penguin Art Gallery has just opened in-store at El Corte Inglés Home & Decoration El Capricho. A dynamic gallery acting as a creative platform for talent, creative ideas and diverse cultural interests including not only art itself, but also Vintage Objects and Collectables, Art & Design Books & Magazines, Art Consultancy, Art to rent for companies, Decorative artistic painting, Education, workshops, lectures and events, the inaugural ‘Identity’ exhibition – featuring the works of 18 groundbreaking talents – opened on 9 December and runs until the end of the year.

The works of a stellar line-up of artists are on show, including…

a hot new talent working in new media, Joseph Klibansky; as well as Antonio Puri, painter and mixed media; Barbara Nanning, glass objects; Berend Strik, photography with embroidery; Corneille, painter; Debra Franses Bean, ARTbag; Felix Muyo paintings; Marbella-based Gary Edwards, limited edition photography; Jacinto Moros, sculptures; Jerome Esch photography; Kantcho Kanev paintings and mixed media; Lu Luo, mixed media; Nicole Montagne, template press; Odile Kinart, sculptures; Otto Bachorik, sculptures; Paul Smulders, mixed media; Peter Pollág, paintings; Robert Hromec, engraved paintings; Russell West, painted sculptures; Zhuang Hong Yi, mixed media and Berend Strike, photography and embroidery.

Torso II, by Robert Hromec

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and talent, the Red Penguin Art Gallery – which was officially opened by Marbella Town Hall tourism councillor José Luis Hernández – will work in close collaboration with four other galleries in Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Beijing, creating a broad international platform for the exchange of some of the world’s most exciting artistic talent.

Passionate about raising the cultural and artistic game in Marbella – to help the city compete on the world stage as a high calibre destination for international tourism – the Red Penguin Art Gallery will be doing everything possible to put the resort on the cultural map, with a presence at major art fairs around the globe, and contributions to new art magazine Artmosphere.

“Art and creativity are important to the economic recovery of Marbella,” says joint owner Loni Olfers, “and we have a major plan underway that will help to make Marbella more beautiful by transforming the streets and empty shops and offices with the collaboration of the Town Hall and the local business and creative community.

Glass art by Barbara Nanning

“At Red Penguin Art Gallery we scour the world – and the web – to tap into rising talent. Then we dig deeper and get fully acquainted with the artists, their work and methods, to make sure only top quality art and design is on show in our gallery. We’re looking for work that will stand the test of time, and gain in value.”

The first professional art gallery ever to have a shop within an El Corte Inglés department store in Andalucía, and following the launch of a similar venture in Madrid only the second in Spain, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is owned and managed by Dutch art experts Joris Marjot and Loni Olfers – respectively a talented interior designer and decorative painter, and the manager of several successful art galleries in Holland and Spain – who say that working alongside El Corte Inglés Home & Decoration El Capricho’s interior designers as well as sourcing art works for their clients is a very exciting prospect.

The Red Penguin Art Gallery opening (L-R): Artist, Russel West; Gallery assistant, Wieki Kospermin; artist, Felix Muyo; Gallery owner, Joris Marjot; artist, Jacinto Moros; El Corte Inglés marketing manager, Gaël Vignon; artist, Joseph Klibansky; and Gallery owner, Loni Olfers

Open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 9pm, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is on the first floor, next to the Lepanto Lounge-Café.