Maru Quiñonero Debuts in Murcia with ‘LA EXTRANJERA’ at the Almudí Palace

We’re thrilled to announce LA EXTRANJERA, a major institutional solo exhibition by Spanish artist Maru Quiñonero, opening on May 2 at 13:00 at the Almudí Palace in Murcia. The show features a body of work developed during her recent residency at Baix Empordà and will be on view through July 26, 2025.

Curated by Noelia Ibáñez and Miriam Huéscar, LA EXTRANJERA draws inspiration from Diotima, the only female figure in Plato’s Symposium. Through this philosophical lens, Quiñonero reflects on the role of the outsider, identity, and the transformative power of beauty and knowledge.

This exhibition marks Maru Quiñonero’s debut in the region, a return to her roots after fifteen years away from Murcia, during which she built an international career with exhibitions in New York, London, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Mexico. In her own words:

“Fifteen years ago, I left Murcia—this was the moment I decided to change my life and begin my artistic career. With this exhibition, I return to the point of origin. In this new series, I experiment with color, layered paint, infinite transparencies, acrylic and pencil sharing the same surface, precise and closed compositions… all wrapped in titles that speak of what surrounds me: songs I’ve listened to on repeat, words that fall into my head from who knows where, treasures from my studio…”

A public program will accompany the show, featuring prominent voices from Murcia’s vibrant cultural scene—many of them close friends and collaborators of the artist. The opening forms part of the WARM Festival Week, supported by the Murcia City Council and Estrella de Levante, which continues its commitment to enriching the cultural life of the region.

As Diotima herself teaches in Plato’s Symposium:

“If life has any meaning, it is through the contemplation of absolute beauty.”

Join us for this powerful return home, a deeply personal and poetic reflection on belonging, transformation, and the enduring relevance of classical thought in contemporary art.