Biography

José Ignacio Díaz de Rábago Villar

Born in Madrid, Spain, 1950. Studies of Spanish Philology and Fine Arts. Living in Copenhagen since 1978.

Being educated as a painter and sculptor, Rábago has specialized since 1985 in large scale installations. Since his first exhibition in 1974 Rábago’s work has been presented regularly in galleries, museums and public institutions. Among the most important of his exhibitions are:

• Gallery Hastings, New York, 1981
• Leifsgade 22, Copenhagen, 1985
• De Vonk, Amsterdam, 1987
• Museum of Fine Arts, Málaga, 1987
• University of Amager, Copenhagen, 1988
• Brandts Klædefabrik Museum, Odense, 1989
• Overgaden, Copenhagen, 1991
• Gallery Anselmo Álvarez, Madrid, 1992
• Avantiere VII, Aachen, 1992
• Culture City, Copenhagen, 1996
• San Telmo Museum, San Sebastián, 1996
• Gallery N. D. Marquardt, Paris, 1997
• Culture City, Stockholm, 1998
• Cervantes Institute, Paris, 1999
• Central Library, Copenhagen, 2000
• State Library, Malmö, 2001
• University Library, Oslo, 2002
• MACAY – Museum of Contemporary Art, Mérida, 2003
• COAM – Architects’ College, Madrid, 2004
• UC Berkeley, 2005
• CCE – Spanish Culture Center, Montevideo, 2008
• Pablo Atchugarry Foundation, Manantiales, 2008
• Museum Barjola, Gijón, 2009
• Casa Duró Art Center, Mieres, 2011
• CBA – Circle of Fine Arts, Madrid, 2013
• Rambla 24, Punta del Este, 2015
• Culture City, San Sebastián, 2016
• University Library, Málaga, 2018
• Espronceda, Center for Art & Culture, Barcelona, 2019
• UMA – Faculty of Educational Sciences, Málaga, 2021
• De Cambra, Madrid, 2024

Also writing poetry, Díaz de Rábago was awarded the first prize in the poetry contest organised by the Spanish Institute for Emigration in 1985. In 2001 he published the book Poemas del instante, in 2011 Molinos de papel y viento, a selection of his poetic production between 1975 and 2010, and Humaredas in 2015.