During Art Basel Paris, the Studio 46 Barcelona gallery takes over an intimate space in the 1st arrondissement to celebrate the legacy of Joan Barbarà (1927–2013), the Catalan master engraver behind some of the most iconic works of Picasso, Miró, Dalí and Chagall.

Opening: Tuesday 21 October from 5pm

Live performance by Juliana Plexxo at 8:30pm

5 rue Rouget de Lisle, 75001 Paris

open daily from 11am to 8pm

The exhibition "Transmutation of Legacy – The Master Engraver Behind the Great Masters of Painting" brings his work into dialogue with that of two contemporary artists, Juliana Plexxo and Cory James Jacobsen.

We all know Picasso, Miró, Dalí… but who knows Joan Barbarà?

And yet, it was alongside him that these great masters of the 20th century pushed the boundaries of modern engraving. Trained in Paris in the 1950s, Joan Barbarà founded his studio in Barcelona in 1966, where he collaborated with the greatest artists of his time: Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Dalí, Hartung, Chillida, Fontana…

A true architect of the printed gesture, he nevertheless remains in the shadow of those he helped mark the history of art. From 21 to 26 October 2025, the Studio 46 Barcelona gallery — now housed in Joan Barbarà's historic studio — unveils an unprecedented exhibition in Paris, right in the heart of Paris Art Week, just steps from Place Vendôme.

Titled "Transmutation of Legacy – The Master Engraver Behind the Great Masters of Painting", the exhibition pays tribute to this still little-known figure through a selection of rare works, accompanied by a visual tribute by Om Barbarà, the artist's grandson. Two contemporary artists from the international scene engage in dialogue with this legacy:

- Juliana Plexxo, a Colombian artist in residence at Studio 46, whose work draws on traditional engraving and sacred iconography, will present a live performance at the opening.

- Cory James Jacobsen, a Californian painter trained in graffiti, blends street art, urban culture and European tradition in an introspective and powerful body of work. This exhibition embodies Studio 46 Barcelona's mission: to reactivate a living legacy, build bridges between generations, and showcase the art of engraving as a contemporary language.

www.studio46barcelona.com