Banca March reopens the garden of its Madrid headquarters to host Thomas Houseago's first exhibition in Spain to mark its centenary celebrations 25 March 2026 Category: Grupo Banca March Next spring, Banca March will reopen its gardens in Madrid to the public to mark its centenary and host Thomas Houseago. Sculptures. Banca March Garden, the British sculptor's first exhibition in Spain. With this exhibition, which can be visited from 1st May, Banca March reaffirms its commitment to culture and art and commemorates its 100 years of history by honouring its roots, while projecting a vision of renewal and growth. This is the idea behind the bank's motto "A future with history", to celebrate its centenary. José Luis Acea, CEO of Banca March, stated: “Since Banca March was founded in 1926, we have evolved and constantly adapted to the times. We are heirs to a way of doing things that seeks to create lasting value for our environment. Our business model is based on specialisation in private banking and business advice, with a philosophy of Joint Growth with clients, employees, shareholders and society, which includes an unwavering commitment to art and culture as an inseparable element of the Group's essence. The works of Thomas Houseago on display in the Banca March garden will accompany us during this year of celebration as a reminder of the idea that the bank's future will find the inspiration to continue evolving in the values of its past." Aluminium Construction No. 1 (Giant), 2008, (267 x 254 x 177,8 cm) The exhibition, conceived in conjunction with Vande, an international firm specialising in the private sale of works of art and in cultural production, will bring together seven monumental sculptures made with traditional materials such as plaster, bronze or aluminium, which are combined with industrial elements such as iron rods and hemp. “As a sculptor, I try to capture my thoughts and my energy in an inert material and give it truth and form, and I believe there is nothing more profound than achieving that", says the artist. In this way, Houseago's works reflect his interest in bridging the gap between art history—from ancient and classical sculpture to the modern tradition of the 20th century, from Rodin to Picasso—and contemporary popular culture, with references ranging from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust to George Lucas's Darth Vader. A crossroads of influences that defines its own language, in which tradition and modernity coexist without hierarchies. Among the pieces that will form part of the exhibition is the monumental Large Walking Figure I (Leeds), 2013, almost five metres high, or the recent Janus - Mirror - Figure, 2025, which exemplifies the intersection of primitive influences and contemporary language that characterises the artist. “At the heart of his work is the human figure", says the exhibition’s curator, Anne Pontégnie. “The sculptor constructs fragmented bodies, marked surfaces, and open structures that make the creative process visible. Often incomplete, broken or hollow, his figures and masks convey vulnerability and resilience. Their scale allows them to shape and activate space, directly involving the viewer, while their fragility gives them emotional and existential depth." This emphasis on the human element and the connection between legacy and innovation resonates with Banca March's own history. Houseago's honest and direct sculptural language connects with the entity's century-old philosophy: a family institution, now in its fourth generation, whose model has taken shape in a corporate culture of strong values, such as commitment, high standards, effort, integrity and ambition. About Thomas Houseago Thomas Houseago (Leeds, United Kingdom, 1972) is one of the most outstanding contemporary sculptors of his generation. He studied at Central Saint Martins in London in the early 1990s, and later at De Ateliers in Amsterdam. After spending several years in Brussels, he moved to Los Angeles, where he has lived and worked since 2004. His work has been exhibited internationally in leading institutions, including TANK Shanghai, China (2023); the Centre Pompidou-Metz, France (2022); the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (2019); the Royal Academy, London (2019); the Galleria Borghese, Rome (2013); the Storm King Art Center, New York (2013); and Inverleith House, Edinburgh (2011). About to Banca March garden Located on Calle Castelló, in Madrid's Salamanca district, the Banca March garden is an island of green in the shadow of an iconic early 20th-century building. The landscape design model is characterised by the integration of art and nature that converges throughout its more than 1,600 square metres. Among its dense vegetation, several ponds are interspersed with sculptures by renowned artists like Cristina Iglesias and Blanca Muñoz. Even though it shares a block with the headquarters of the Juan March Foundation, it is a unique and distinct space that is only open to the public during periods of special importance. On this occasion, to mark its centenary, Banca March wants to share the garden with everyone.