Retrato de Pedro Marín (1986) is a significant work within the pictorial production of Costus, signed by Juan Carrero Galofré, one half of the celebrated artistic duo. Executed in acrylic on canvas, the piece showcases a visual exploration centered on the body, light, and color—three essential elements that define the artist’s language throughout the 1980s.
The central figure is depicted with arms raised, occupying nearly the entire pictorial space. This vertical gesture not only creates a composition of strong structural impact but also emphasizes the monumentality and presence of the subject. The background, dominated by deep, modulated blue tones, functions as an atmospheric field that enhances the silhouette and establishes a clear dialogue between figure and space. The color palette is marked by vibrant chromatic contrasts, particularly evident in the pink, violet, and blue hues applied to the skin. These tonalities are intentionally used to build volume and expression rather than to imitate traditional natural light.
Acrylic paint allows the artist to develop bold, opaque layers, achieving crisp transitions and substantial chromatic density. Broad, deliberate brushstrokes reveal an approach in which plasticity is favored over literal representation, resulting in a balance between expressiveness and technical structure. This treatment, characteristic of Costus, reflects influences from Mediterranean pop aesthetics, urban culture, and the desire to construct a personal iconographic universe that goes beyond classical notions of portraiture.
Although the piece carries the title Retrato de Pedro Marín, its pictorial intention surpasses conventional portrait representation. The figure functions as an autonomous visual axis, capable of conveying presence and symbolic energy without relying on ancillary elements. This ability to distill identity through a distilled, direct composition is one of the hallmarks of Juan Carrero Galofré’s work within the Costus project.
Created in 1986 and signed by the artist, this painting represents not only a defining moment in the duo’s evolution but also a synthesis of their commitment to a bold chromatic language, coherent aesthetic vision, and contemporary approach to figurative art. Its dimensions—73.6 x 60 cm—and its technical execution make it an especially relevant piece for collectors interested in Spanish contemporary art and the distinctive imagery associated with Costus.
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