In 1987, photographer Ouka Leele stopped traffic on the Plaza de Cibeles to stage a mythological tableau around the fountain, recreating the story of Hipomenes and Atalanta in the middle of Madrid. That image, Rapelle-toi, Barbara!, opens Mitologías modernas: Ouka Leele & Co, a free exhibition at Sala Alcalá 31 running from 2 July to 18 October 2026 that traces how classical mythology resurfaced in Madrid's art scene during the 1980s.
What it is
Curated by Julio Pérez Manzanares, the show brings together more than a hundred works by Ouka Leele alongside contemporaries including El Hortelano, Ceesepe, Carlos Franco and Sigfrido Martín Begüé — figures associated with the Movida madrileña and the Nueva Figuración movement. Rather than retelling the familiar story of the Movida as parties and nightlife, the exhibition follows a less-covered thread: how these artists reached for Greek and Roman myth, underground comics, romantic tradition and art-historical references to build a new visual language for a Spain in political and cultural transition.
Ouka Leele — the artistic name of Barbara Allende Gil de Biedma, who died in 2022 — sits at the centre of the show, her photography bridging painting, design and staged performance. The pieces span the full range of the era's visual experiments: Ceesepe's underground comic and fanzine influences, El Hortelano's romantic mythologies, and Begüé's meditations on painting and art history itself.
Why it's worth attending
Free entry and a central location make this an easy stop, and the mythological framing offers a genuinely different angle on a period usually reduced to nightlife nostalgia. Seeing over a hundred works from this generation gathered in one place is unusual — most retrospectives of the era focus on a single figure. The exhibition asks for some patience with its thematic, cross-generational hang rather than a chronological walk-through, which occasionally makes it harder to track individual artists' development across the show.
Practical info
Dates: 2 July – 18 October 2026. Free admission. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00–20:30 (including 15 August); Sunday 11:00–14:00; closed Mondays. Nearest metro: Sevilla (line 2) or Sol (lines 1, 2 and 3). Lockers are available behind the visitor information desk; note there's no space for large suitcases.
FAQ
Do I need to book in advance?
No, entry is free and available on a walk-in basis during opening hours.
Is the exhibition organised chronologically?
No, it's organised thematically around the use of mythology by different artists, rather than by date or individual retrospective.
Are there lockers for bags?
Yes, small lockers are available behind the visitor information desk, though they can't accommodate large suitcases.
Who curated the exhibition?
Julio Pérez Manzanares curated the show for the Comunidad de Madrid.
How is the gallery organised across floors?
The ground floor focuses on Ouka Leele, Ceesepe and El Hortelano's mythologies, while the upper floor addresses under-represented perspectives of the era and Madrid as symbol.
