„Winter 2003 I started ‘Fran Reus Gallery,’ a month later Es Baluard Museum for Contemporary Arts opened — and the Art Contemporani association was founded shortly after. It was a great moment for culture on the island, a lot of energy and with Es Baluard we finally had a big contemporary art institution. It is strange, actually, that it took until then when you think of the Pollenza School of painting founded in 1914, the artists gathering around Miró from the late 50s, the creative group around Robert Graves in Deia since the 60s, the extended activities of the Miró foundation since the 90s and so on. International artists have been coming to Mallorca for the light, climate and natural beauty of course, mixing with Mallorquin artists some of whom, like Miquel Barceló, have been living abroad and
returned.
„Emboldened by the excitement of the moment, in 2004 new galleries sprung up, gallerists young like me, ready to make things happen. I was 24 and had always been engaged in art through my father, who took me to galleries, museums and studio visits. I first studied law and worked with him in the notary, but quickly realized that this was not my calling. I opened ‘Fran Reus Gallery’ in my home town Establiments, which historically was quite far from Palma but as the town grew came ever closer. The gallery is in an old textile factory from the 1800s but had been disused for some 60 years. We like rough natural spaces and still have some of the equipment from its time as textile manufacture. My grandfather’s family lived only a short walk away and looking at old pictures of the factory I wonder if any of them were my relatives or ancestors.
„Three years ago we started a residency programme where we invite artists for a month at a time, that’s 12 artists per year. It is a great way to develop relationships and for the artists an opportunity to work in this special environment at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains.“
„I had been running the gallery on my own for over twenty years when in 2024 I felt I needed some new energy. We were in Miami at the fair when Miquel Campins, who is now my partner, and I started talking. He had opened La Bibi gallery in 2020 – a great moment to open a gallery – and felt in a similar position. The idea forming on the other side of the Atlantic, last year we merged the two galleries. Our new location in the old town of Palma is ‘La Bibi + Reus City’ and the Establiments location became ‘La Bibi + Reus Country.’ The ground and lower floor of the old town building was actually used as a market place in previous times and in the basement we left most of the walls raw, so it still breathes the old history.“
„We were exhibiting at Zona Maco in Mexico when one of our collectors suggested ‘we could do something in his countryhouse.’ We were intrigued and excited, but could not imagine how amazing his ‘country house’ is! We discovered an old sugar factory with incredible potential where we now opened another gallery and are looking to develop a residency programme too.“
„Since 2023 I am the president of the Art Palma Contemporani — the Palma Gallery association. In the beginning we were eight galleries, now fourteen. Under the motto ‘stronger together’ we jointly have a much better position as an association to work with the institutions and in the political realm.“
„The ‘Nit de l’Art Palma’ happens every September, as special night that turns into a weekend with all galleries opening together. It originally started in 1997 so this year we celebrate 30 years since its inception.“
„Most recently we have established the ‘PHOF – Mallorca PhotoFest’ which developed from the earlier format of ‘Palma Photo.’ PHOF is being launched at the end of April and involves about 15 communities across the island with exhibitions, round tables- and a seminar programme spanning four months, through August.“
„The idea of a new art fair came about some three years ago. More and more things started to happen and as an association we realized someone would start a new artfair one day and thought we better be part of it. Starting to put our feelers out, Art Cologne was a natural potential partner, given Mallorca’s close link with Germany and also because there had been one edition of Art Cologne in Palma in 2007. At the time it remained a ‘one off’ for many reasons, one maybe being that we weren’t ready yet. In 2026 however we are — the political arena and governmental institutions are now all involved and everyone is very excited to develop the event going forward.“
„It will be a curated boutique fair, with just about 90 galleries in the Palau de Congressos which is right in front of the sea, very close to the airport and at the same time to the city center. We want to offer the visitor, artist and collector an experience. Visiting the fair, the galleries, the museums, with nice dinners, parties etc — it will be very special!“
Interview by Uscha Pohl
Exhibition at La Bibi + Reus City: Jordi Pallarès Birding, installation views by Uscha Pohl, portrait of Fran Reus by Tomek Sierek
