Inside Casa de América's ABANCA gallery, a two-part exhibition turns US political history into geometry. Democracia Americana brings together American Colors and American Democracy, two series by Spanish collective PSJM that convert census data, election results and prison statistics into minimalist paintings, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
What it is
American Colors (2009–2010), in the ground-floor Sala Guayasamín, established PSJM's method of "social geometry." Each canvas uses the five colours conventionally assigned to race in the US, with the share of each colour set by census data, prison population figures and poverty rates by ethnicity. Titles like USA Population by Race steer the eye from abstract colour fields toward the numbers behind them.
Upstairs in the Sala Torres García, American Democracy (2022) scales the same method into a room-sized installation of 59 history paintings. It maps the country's unbroken run of presidential elections since its founding, turning results from across US history into geometric compositions drawn directly from voting data.
PSJM is the Las Palmas- and Asturias-born duo Cynthia Viera and Pablo San José, active since 2003 and included among the 100 most representative names in socially engaged international art.
Why it's worth attending
Democracia Americana ties directly into Casa de América's programme marking 250 years of US independence, giving Madrid a rare double dose of PSJM's data-based practice in one visit. American Colors distils sensitive statistics on race and incarceration into a single, legible visual language, while American Democracy condenses two and a half centuries of electoral history into one room. Free admission and a central Madrid location make it an easy add to a museum day near Cibeles.
Practical info
Both series sit inside the same building but on different floors: American Colors on the ground floor, American Democracy one flight up. Entry is via Calle Marqués del Duero, 2, a side entrance to the Palacio de Linares rather than the main Cibeles façade. Sundays and public holidays the gallery is closed, and Saturday hours run shorter than weekdays.
FAQ
What is Democracia Americana at Casa de América?
Democracia Americana is a two-part exhibition by Spanish collective PSJM, combining American Colors and American Democracy, both built from US census, prison and election data rendered as minimalist paintings. It runs at Casa de América's ABANCA gallery in Madrid from 25 June to 30 September 2026, marking 250 years of US independence.
How much does it cost to visit?
Admission is free, with entry available until the gallery reaches capacity. No advance booking is required for either American Colors or American Democracy.
What are the opening hours?
The gallery opens Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:30 and Saturday from 11:00 to 15:00. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
How many paintings are in American Democracy?
American Democracy (2022) is made up of 59 history paintings, each derived from statistical data on US presidential elections rather than freehand composition.
Who is behind the American Colors series?
American Colors (2009–2010) is by PSJM, the Spanish art duo Cynthia Viera and Pablo San José, who use census, prison population and poverty data by ethnicity to set the colour proportions in each painting.
