THOMAS HOUSEAGO. SCULPTURES. BANCA MARCH GARDEN.
Aluminium Construction No. 1 (Giant). Courtesy of the Artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
This spring, Banca March reopened its gardens in Madrid to the public to mark its centenary with the presentation of Thomas Houseago. Sculptures. Banca March Garden, the first exhibition in Spain by the British sculptor.
The exhibition, which opened to the public on 1 May, underlines the commitment of Banca March to culture and art while commemorating its 100-year history with a celebration of its origins and its vision for renewal and growth, both reflected in the motto chosen to celebrate its centenary, A Future with History.
José Luis Acea, CEO of Banca March, states: “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 community. Our business model is based on specialisation in private banking and corporate advisory services, with a philosophy of shared growth with clients, employees, shareholders, and society. This includes an unwavering commitment to art and culture as a fundamental element of the Group. The works of Thomas Houseago, exhibited in the Banca March garden in Madrid, will accompany us throughout this year of celebration as a reminder that the future of our institution will find inspiration in the values of its past to continue evolving.”
The exhibition, conceived in collaboration with Vande, an international firm specialising in the private sale of works of art and cultural production, will bring together seven monumental sculptures made with traditional materials such as plaster, bronze, and aluminum, combined with industrial and natural elements like iron rods and hemp.
Installation view: Thomas Houseago. Sculptures. Banca March Garden 1 May – 30 October 2026 Banca March Gardens Calle Castelló, 75, Madrid, Spain Photo: Courtesy the artist and Banca March Garden
Thomas Houseago comments: “As a sculptor, I try to translate my thoughts and energy into an inert material and imbue it with truth and form, and I believe there is nothing more profound than achieving that.”
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. This intersection of influences defines his own unique language, in which tradition and modernity coexist without hierarchy.
Among the pieces that will form part of the exhibition are the monumental Large Walking Figure I (Leeds), 2013, almost five metres tall, and the recent Janus-Mirror-Figure, 2025, which exemplifies the intersection of primitive influences and contemporary language that characterises the work of the artist.
Anne Pontégnie, the exhibition's curator, notes: “At the heart of his practice lies the human figure. 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 engaging the viewer, while their fragility lends them emotional and existential depth.”
Moon Figure I. Courtesy of the Artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
This emphasis on the human and the connection between legacy and innovation resonates with Banca March's own trajectory. Houseago's honest and direct sculptural language connects with the institution's century-old philosophy: a family-owned 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.
Portrait of Thomas Houseago. Photo: Joshua White
About Thomas Houseago
Thomas Houseago (Leeds, UK, 1972) is one of the most prominent 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 at major 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 the Banca March Garden
Located on Calle Castelló, the Banca March garden is a verdant oasis in the shadow of an iconic early 20th-century building in Madrid's Salamanca district. Its landscape design is characterized by the integration of art and nature, which converge across its more than 1,600 square meters. Scattered throughout its dense vegetation are several ponds alongside sculptures by prominent contemporary artists such as Cristina Iglesias. Although it shares a block with the Juan March Foundation, it is a unique and distinct space, only open to the public during special occasions, such as this one, when Banca March wishes to share the garden with the community to celebrate its centenary.
About Banca March
Banca March is one of Spain’s leading banks specialising in private and corporate banking. It is also the only bank that has been wholly family-owned since its foundation in 1926. In line with its philosophy of prudent, long-term management, Banca March’s business model is underpinned by robust financial and capital ratios: the bank maintains the highest CET 1 capital ratio in the Spanish banking sector (26.32%), one of the lowest non-performing loan ratios in the sector in Spain (1.18% at the end of 2025, compared to an industry average of 2.78% as of November 2025) and liquidity ratios — LCR (245%) and DTL (187%) — and coverage of non-performing loans (74%) among the highest in the sector. The strength of Banca March’s value proposition has been endorsed by the credit rating agency Moody’s, which has raised Banca March’s long-term rating to A1 with a ‘stable’ outlook, meaning it remains one of the highest-rated institutions in the Spanish financial system, ahead of the Kingdom of Spain (currently A3). Banca March is one of the main shareholders of Corporación Financiera Alba, with significant holdings in Naturgy, Acerinox, Ebro Foods, Viscofan, Atlantic, ERM, Inmobiliaria Colonial and Technoprobe, amongst other companies.
THOMAS HOUSEAGO. SCULPTURES. BANCA MARCH GARDEN.
1 May – 30 October 2026
Banca March Gardens
Calle Castelló, 75, Madrid, Spain
Thursday: 7:00 – 11:00 pm
Friday: 12:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 – 7:00 pm
For more information, please visit Banca March Garden here. The Garden can also be found on YouTube and Instagram.
