Alicante University Museum honors Eusebio Sempere with a centenary tribute
The Alicante University Museum (MUA) presents a dedicated exhibition to Eusebio Sempere, the most prominent Alicante artist of the 20th century, marking the centenary of his birth. On display in the Arcadi Blasco Room, the show features a route of 26 works from Sempere’s Onil period drawn from MUA’s own holdings, complemented by a curated display of documents, photographs, and publications that illuminate the life and career of the artist. Sempere, who received Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Alicante in 1984, is celebrated through a broad selection of titles and catalogs that document his influence in Spanish art and beyond. The exhibition emphasizes the scope of his output and his place in national and international modern art.
For more than a decade and a half, MUA has organized annual exhibitions drawn from its collection, selecting around twenty works around themes such as landscapes, color, abstraction, architecture, and artistic processes. This year, the focus shifts from a single pictorial theme to a significant historical event in Sempere’s career and its wider resonance in art history.
With the generous support of Fernando Silio, a Santander-based gallery owner, MUA is able to present a substantial body of Sempere’s graphic work, nearly complete at the time of late project completion in 1997. A selection of pieces from Sempere’s graphic corpus, nearly 180 works in total, has been curated by MUA’s technical team to reflect the main milestones of his life and artistic journey. The exhibit traces a path through places and moments that shaped the artist: Onil and family, Valencia and the San Carlos School of Fine Arts, Paris and the contemporary scene, the return to Madrid, experiences at the IT Center, Cuenca and the Museum of Abstract Art, recognition from Alicante and the broader public, and the ongoing connection between Sempere and the University of Alicante.
The presentation is enhanced with an educational workshop designed for audiences across ages, from early childhood to university level, along with additional activities noted throughout the course. The workshop pilot, titled light of Semperes, was tested with school groups and university students in courses on Plastic Expression and Early Childhood Education at UA, validating the relevance of the materials and the creative processes involved.
The workshop runs from October 17 to May 11, 2023, and adopts a highly participatory approach, combining guided narration in the gallery with hands-on activities. Participants will explore optical art and geometric abstraction, weaving lines, colors, and transparencies around themes such as landscape, geometry, memory, and literature, mirroring Sempere’s methods and experimentation.
Eusebio Sempere, a French influence in Madrid
From MUA’s Didactic Area, activities are tailored to the age of participants. Two programs are offered: one for young children and early primary students, and another for older primary and secondary levels, each with distinct materials and themes. The Didactic Field of MUA also hosts PLURI-IDENTITATS 2023, a cross-disciplinary project spanning middle to upper secondary education from March 1 to May 11, 2023, as part of ongoing education initiatives.
The Visual Arts PLURI-IDENTITATS edition frames immersive experiences with multidisciplinary artworks addressing emotional and sexual diversity, expressive plurality, and multicultural perspectives. The educational program begins with a guided visit to the exhibition and continues with activities that foster discussion, reflection, and awareness around these topics.
Eusebio Sempere (1923–1985): A pivotal figure
As a leading figure in mid-to-late 20th-century Spanish art and one of Alicante’s most internationally recognized contemporary artists, Sempere received the Prince of Asturias Art Award in 1983 and was named Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Alicante in 1984. His work helped popularize serigraphy in Spain and is closely linked to lyrical abstraction, with strong ties to optical and kinetic art movements.
Sempere and the University of Alicante
On January 4, 1984, the University of Alicante conferred its first Doctor Honoris Causa on Eusebio Sempere, highlighting his prolific career, consistent artistic vision, and the intellectual influence of his plastic thinking. Even after his passing, a close bond with the university endures: the UA corporate logo draws inspiration from one of his gouaches from 1956, and between 1996 and 1999 the university purchased nearly all of his graphic works, totaling more than 175 plates.
In December 1999, MUA opened a dedicated Sempere space, and since then the museum has hosted around twenty exhibitions featuring the artist, often accompanied by didactic programs such as guided tours, family activities, and educational workshops. Over the years, MUA has published a dozen works, mainly catalogs, about the Onil-born artist. The enduring aim is to celebrate Sempere’s life and ensure his legacy remains visible to new generations. [citation: MUA archival materials and UA collaboration]