Inside the freshly restored Palacio de Velázquez, in Retiro Park, a major exhibition surveys two decades of Fernando Sánchez Castillo's work — an artist who takes monuments apart to see what memory hides. Statues, slogans and symbols of power become open questions, and for as long as the show runs, his own studio moves into the museum, so the work keeps changing while visitors watch.
What it is
Fernando Sánchez Castillo (Madrid, 1970) has spent over two decades dissecting monuments, gestures and legends to argue that history is not a settled account but a field still being fought over. La Perla Peregrina, curated by Ferran Barenblit, gathers roughly 200 pieces — sculpture, watercolours, video, installation and borrowed works reframed inside the show — tracing that practice from early interventions on Francoist-era statues to new pieces made for this occasion.
A toppled dictator's horse becomes a symbol of emancipation once its rider is removed; two marble blocks worn down by decades of foot traffic at a former brothel doorway recover the presence of women erased from official memory. The exhibition takes its title from a legendary pearl whose finder's name was lost to history even as the jewel itself passed between royal courts and collectors for centuries — the same selective forgetting the artist traces through bronze and stone.
Uniquely, Sánchez Castillo's own studio operates inside the Palacio de Velázquez for the run of the show, so pieces continue to take shape as the exhibition unfolds.
Why it's worth attending
This is the most complete survey to date of one of Spain's leading sculptors working on memory and power, and the first exhibition inside the Palacio de Velázquez since its renovation reopened the building in June 2026. Few shows let visitors watch new work take shape in real time: here, the artist's open studio means the exhibition keeps moving rather than sitting as a fixed retrospective, giving repeat visits a genuine reason to return.
Practical info
The Palacio de Velázquez sits inside Retiro Park near the Fuente de la Alcachofa, reached via a lift platform for visitors with reduced mobility — security staff can activate it on request. The venue has no cloakroom or lockers, so plan to carry only what's needed for the visit.
FAQ
Is there an admission fee for La Perla Peregrina?
No — entry to the Palacio de Velázquez is always free, including this exhibition, with no advance ticket required.
What are the opening hours for the Palacio de Velázquez?
It opens daily from 10:00, open until 22:00 from April to September, and until 18:00 from October to March.
How many artworks does the exhibition include?
Around 200 pieces spanning sculpture, watercolours, video and installation, drawn from more than two decades of Fernando Sánchez Castillo's practice.
Who curated La Perla Peregrina?
Ferran Barenblit curated the show, framing it as a living retrospective that keeps evolving as the artist keeps working inside it.
Can visitors see the artist at work during the exhibition?
Yes — Sánchez Castillo has moved his studio into the Palacio de Velázquez and continues producing new pieces there throughout the run, through March 2027.
