Sculptor Samuel Salcedo explores memory through industrial materials

The Barcelona-born artist exhibits his iconic large-scale figures at the MOCO Museum in the Catalan capital.

Generic image of a large-scale sculpture made of oxidized iron in an art gallery.
IA

Generic image of a large-scale sculpture made of oxidized iron in an art gallery.

Artist Samuel Salcedo is currently presenting his work at the MOCO Museum in Barcelona, using materials such as iron and concrete to reflect on the passage of time.

Born in Barcelona in 1975, Samuel Salcedo has become widely known for his monumental head sculptures. His artistic approach uses industrial elements to establish a direct connection with the audience.

"Materials have helped me explain things like memories."

Samuel Salcedo · Sculptor
The artist notes that oxidized iron captures the memory of a space. Currently, Salcedo is returning to full-body figures in large scale, focusing on poetic meanings rather than literal narratives.