NADA New York 2025

Title inspired by a quote of the Surrealist painter Dorothea Tanning (1910-2012). In an interview, she described the town where she was raised, Galesburg, Illinois, as a place ‘where nothing happens but the wallpaper’. The painting addresses the importance of being bored and the luxury that it is now days to be in that state. Probably only children feel a little ennui regularly. Boredom promotes curiosity, close looking, acknowledgment of things you don’t normally have time to appreciate. It also bursts thought, imagination and creativity. The painting is an act of curiosity and tactile perception, emphasizing stillness and a safe place to play.

Bárbara Alegre is a Spanish artist born in 1976 and currently based in Barcelona. She studied at the Royal College of Art in London, earning her MA in Painting. Her practice centers on creating layered, harmonious compositions that respond to the chaos of the world with tenderness and calm. Often blending natural and human elements, her works explore the interconnectedness of all beings, offering a vision of unity and compassion while inviting viewers into a reflective and restorative space.