Inside a converted 1911 water tower in Chamberí, a retrospective exhibition traces two decades of work by Spanish fashion designer Ana Locking, winner of Spain's National Fashion Design Prize. Nostalgia / Utopía gathers more than 160 garments and archive pieces, presenting fashion less as spectacle and more as a language for memory, identity and imagined futures.
What it is
Curated by Alberto Gonper, the show is organised thematically rather than chronologically, moving visitors through the different floors of the Sala Canal de Isabel II. Ana Locking's garments appear alongside sketches, video footage from her runway shows and other archive material, tracing how her work has shifted from early experimental silhouettes toward pieces that engage directly with politics, gender and collective memory.
One section focuses on Locking's creative process, using photographs, catwalk videos and reference imagery to show how collections take shape, drawing on influences that range from Andy Warhol to Damien Hirst and Juergen Teller. Locking, born in Toledo in 1970, has been a central figure in Spanish fashion for over twenty years and holds the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, awarded in 2021.
Why it's worth attending
Retrospectives dedicated to a single Spanish designer's full body of work are rare on Madrid's museum calendar, and this one spans two decades in a single venue rather than a highlights reel. The exhibition also doubles as a study of the Sala Canal de Isabel II itself, a former water deposit whose cylindrical, multi-floor structure shapes how the 160-plus pieces are displayed across the building.
Practical info
The exhibition closes throughout August and reopens for a final run from 1 to 27 September. Entry is via the main door on Calle de Santa Engracia; lockers are available for bags near the entrance, though large suitcases aren't accommodated. Room clearing begins 10 minutes before closing time.
FAQ
Is the Ana Locking exhibition still open in Madrid?
Yes. Nostalgia / Utopía runs at the Sala Canal de Isabel II from 4 March to 31 July 2026, closes for all of August, then reopens for a final stretch from 1 to 27 September 2026. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 to 20:30 and Sunday 11:00 to 14:00, closed Mondays.
How much does it cost to visit?
Entry is free, along with the exhibition's related activities such as guided tours and family workshops. No advance booking is required for individual visits.
How many pieces are in the exhibition?
More than 160 garments and archive pieces spanning close to two decades of Ana Locking's career, shown alongside sketches, catwalk footage and reference material curated by Alberto Gonper.
How do I get to the Sala Canal de Isabel II?
The nearest metro stop is Ríos Rosas (Line 1), with Canal (Lines 2 and 7) and Alonso Cano (Line 7) also close by. EMT bus lines 3, 37 and 149 stop nearby, and there's a BiciMad station on Calle de Santa Engracia.
Who is Ana Locking?
Ana Locking is a Spanish fashion designer, born in Toledo in 1970, who won Spain's National Fashion Design Prize in 2020 and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 2021. She has worked across fashion and contemporary art for more than two decades.
