Mario Carreño Illuminates the Linares Museum with His “Prelude to Spring”

The Linares Museum of Art and Crafts commemorates its 51st anniversary with a high-profile exhibition, “Prelude to Spring,” by National Art Prize winner Mario Carreño. The exhibition, comprised of 20 works including oil paintings, inks, tempera, and silkscreen prints, will be open free of charge throughout October, thanks to a collaboration with the Mario Carreño Foundation. An intimate reunion with one of the great masters of modern Latin American art revives the historical bond between the artist and the city of Maule.

Throughout October, renowned Cuban-Chilean artist Mario Carreño will be taking over the Linares Museum with “Prelude to Spring,” an exhibition bringing together 20 works from different techniques and periods of his career.

The exhibition, organized by the Mario Carreño Foundation, will be open free of charge until October 30, with guided tours for students and the general public.

An Essential Artist

Carreño was born in Cuba in 1919 and settled in Chile in 1958. In 1982, he received the National Arts Prize, establishing himself as a key figure in Latin American art.

His work is synonymous with light, color, and reflection. Whether in oils, tempera, silkscreen, or ink, each piece radiates lyricism and balance, combining the classic with a profound, modern vision.
Art That Returns Home

The relationship between Mario Carreño and Linares is not new. In the Museum's early years, the artist donated a work that is part of its permanent collection. This gesture forged a bond that flourishes today with this exhibition.

"Prelude to Spring" is an intimate selection, laden with symbolism, that includes family scenes, still lifes, and human figures that invite contemplation and inner dialogue.
An Unmissable Opportunity

The executive director of the Mario Carreño Foundation, Juan Campos, a native of Linares, emphasizes the importance of bringing this exhibition to his hometown, noting, “This is an intimate exhibition. Today we deliver the largest collection of Mario Carreño's garden to present to you. Hence the title: Prelude to Spring. A luminous work that we want to share with the community.”

For her part, Ana Paz Cárdenas, Regional Director of the National Cultural Heritage Service, emphasized, “It is a luxury for us to have this exhibition. The entire Linares community will be able to enjoy the work of a National Art Prize winner.”

Margarita Valenzuela, the museum's collections manager, also emphasized this. “This exhibition has two milestones: it coincides with the museum's 51st anniversary and features an internationally renowned artist. It is a beautiful exhibition, brought to us by the Carreño Foundation, which is comprised of his daughters and former students.”
Exhibition Details

Linares Museum of Art and Crafts, Pedro Olmos Hall (Valencian Letelier Avenue 572), from October 2 to 30, Tuesdays to Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free admission and open to schools and groups, with guided tours.

An Anniversary with Art

This October, the Linares Museum celebrates 51 years of history. It does so with an exhibition that not only honors its past but also projects its educational and cultural vocation into the future.

"Prelude to Spring" is more than an exhibition. It is a reunion with art, beauty, and memory. A gift to Linares that you cannot miss.

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