Roberto Batista

Biography

Roberto Batista stands as one of the Canary Islands’ most esteemed contemporary painters, distinguished by his deeply conceptual approach to the medium and his rigorous inquiry into philosophical, social, and ecological narratives. Born in Villa de Mazo (La Palma) in 1954, he received his degree in Fine Arts (Licenciado en Bellas Artes) from the University of La Laguna.

For over three decades, Batista balanced his studio practice with a distinguished academic career, serving as Professor of Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and as an educator in Visual Arts. Since 2011, he has dedicated himself exclusively to his creative practice. He is also a founding member of the Apresto Art Group, contributing to collaborative initiatives such as Artemages.

Artistic Practice

While painting remains Batista’s primary mode of expression, photography serves as an essential, complementary discipline within his creative process. Working across oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, and photographic media, he develops thematic series that investigate the intersections of humanity, memory, landscape, identity, and the contemporary condition.

His practice is defined by:

* Contemporary conceptual realism. * Atmospheric renderings of urban and architectural spaces. * Richly layered pictorial surfaces. * Philosophical inquiries into identity, memory, and existentiality. * The integration of literary and visual narratives. * A profound dialogue between the painterly and the photographic.

Eschewing literal representation, Batista constructs visual essays that invite introspective contemplation. His compositions frequently feature anonymous figures navigating fragmented urban environments, addressing themes of displacement, isolation, ecological transformation, and the quest for meaning within contemporary society.

Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions

Among his principal exhibitions are:

2024 – (CO)INCIDIR*, Desván Blanco Espacio Cultural, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (solo). 2023 – EX-SISTENCIA*, Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (solo). 2022 – PASSAROLA: Sueño y conciencia*, Abama Art Gallery, Tenerife (two-person exhibition). 2022 – PASSAROLA: Sueño y conciencia*, Ermita de San Antonio, Lanzarote (solo). 2021 – Y . como*, Casa de la Cultura, Los Realejos (two-person exhibition). 2020 – Y . como*, Casa Mané Art Centre, Fuerteventura. 2017 – Passarola. Sueño y conciencia*, Museo de Bellas Artes de Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 2016 – Confín*, Sala Fleming, Puerto de la Cruz. 2012 – Testigo*, Centro de Arte La Recova, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 2012 – Silencio*, Galería Art Septem, La Gomera. 2011 – Silencio*, Casa de la Cultura, Adeje. 2005 – Silencio*, Palacio Salazar, La Palma. 2004 – Silencio*, Galería La Trasera del Leal, La Laguna.

His work has been extensively featured in group exhibitions across Spain and internationally, with notable presentations in Barcelona, Tarragona, Chicago, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, and La Palma.

Awards

* First Prize, Painting Competition, Real Club Náutico de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2001).

Artist Statement

Roberto Batista conceives painting as a philosophical inquiry into the human condition. His projects confront recurring motifs: the traces of memory, identity, environmental shifts, absence, the friction between humanity and nature, and the ethical anxieties of the contemporary epoch. Developed as cohesive, thematic series, his works function as interconnected visual essays, marrying rigorous formal compositions with literary and conceptual depth. Recent projects, such as EX-SISTENCIA, PASSAROLA, and Des-signación, epitomize this sustained exploration of consciousness, existence, and the shifting terrains of human experience.

Collections and Professional Contribution

Batista’s work is held in prominent public and private collections throughout the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. As both artist and educator, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of contemporary Canarian art, mentoring generations of emerging artists through his academic tenure while maintaining an influential, independent practice. His oeuvre remains vital to the region's contemporary cultural landscape, celebrated through museum exhibitions, gallery showcases, and interdisciplinary collaborations.