Pedro Pedro Brings Joyful Abundance to La Nave with ‘Picnic’

Fundación La Nave Salinas marks its 10th anniversary with Picnic, a vibrant solo exhibition by Spanish painter Pedro Pedro that turns the Ibiza-based art space into a celebration of color, community and life itself. Known for his lush compositions that balance proportion and playfulness, Pedro’s work radiates a joy that mirrors the island’s summer spirit.

For founder Lio Malca, the choice was intentional: to make the milestone year “a joyful splash” that reminds audiences to memento vivere—remember to live. With bold, saturated canvases spilling into the architecture of La Nave, Picnic is designed not just to be seen but to be felt, as though visitors have stepped into a living tableau of abundance, humor, and hidden stories.

Running through October 31, 2025, Picnic is Pedro’s most ambitious body of work to date, created specifically for Fundación La Nave Salinas’ historic stone building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Across 15 large-format canvases, he stages a lavish alfresco feast with bouquets, desserts, toppled wine glasses and gleaming jewels that echo the vanitas tradition while flipping its message from memento mori (“remember you must die”) to memento vivere (“remember to live”). Drawing on influences from Wayne Thiebaud, Fernando Botero and mid-century design, Pedro’s paintings revel in saturated color and exaggerated form.

To mark the occasion, we spoke with Pedro Pedro and Fundación La Nave Salinas’ founder Lio Malca about the making of Picnic and the vision behind this anniversary exhibition.

“I wanted to paint things that I like to look at and that give me joy, happiness and pleasure.”

Picnic shifts the vanitas idea from “remember you must die” to “remember to live.” What inspired that change?
Pedro Pedro: I wanted to paint things that I like to look at and that give me joy, happiness and pleasure.

You’ve been influenced by artists like Wayne Thiebaud and Fernando Botero. How do you make those influences your own?
PP: I add influences for different flavors, a little Wayne for subject matter, a splash of Botero for form, maybe some Matisse for color.

Why did you choose mid-century style as a backdrop for this series?
PP: That’s the period that most pleases me visually and aesthetically.

Many of your paintings show signs of people without actually showing them. Why take that approach?
PP: People say too much.

How does your use of bold, saturated colors help tell the story in Picnic?
PP: The best picnic experiences I’ve had have been bright, saturated and abundant with bold characters, which is why I try to bring those feelings into each piece.

“I believe art should awaken that same feeling in us…”

Why did you choose Picnic to mark La Nave’s 10th anniversary?
Lio Malca: I wanted the 10th anniversary to feel like a joyful splash, something full of life. Pedro Pedro’s paintings embody exactly that—an explosion of colors, nature, positive energy and secret story telling.. Picnic is not just a celebration of La Nave’s ten years, but also a celebration of life itself…Memento vivere—remember to live.

How did the building’s space and location shape how the show was put together?
LM: With every exhibition at La Nave, we want visitors to feel as though they are entering a completely new environment. For Pedro Pedro’s Picnic, we let the inspiration of his paintings spill into every corner of the building, creating an atmosphere that feels like a picnic—fresh, vibrant, and dynamic. And of course, being in Ibiza adds its own layer of magic. After all, this island is one of the most extraordinary places on the planet.

What makes Pedro Pedro’s work stand out in today’s art world?
LM: Pedro Pedro’s paintings are masterfully executed, with a distinctive sense of proportion and balance that makes them instantly recognizable as his own. But beyond the technique, what truly sets him apart is the joy his work radiates. Each piece projects happiness, and we witness that joy reflected in the faces of our visitors as they light up with a smile upon entering La Nave. That is precisely why we chose him, because I believe art should awaken that same feeling in us, just as I want the spaces where I live and spend time to inspire a smile and a sense of joy.

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