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The Artist
I don’t paint faces; I paint what they hide.
Ernest Compta Llinàs is an architect by training and a painter by vocation. He left architecture to dedicate himself to exploring, through portraiture, what words cannot express: the emotion that inhabits every gesture, every gaze.
The figure as an emotional space.
My work is an exploration of the invisible dimensions of the human being. I move through that unknown space that exists between fragility and intensity, where the face ceases to be identity and becomes the face of the soul.
I paint anonymous faces, without names, without biographies, because what I seek is not to portray someone, but to release the emotion that every face contains. Sadness, melancholy, defiance: they choose the palette. Titanium white, Mars black, burnt umber, and yellow ochre transform according to what the work asks of me.
Everything begins with music. Then comes charcoal, followed by acrylic, applied quickly and intuitively. I let the work follow its own course, guided less by a rational plan than by the atmosphere I want to convey. I pay particular attention to features and gestures: in the smallest details, I find what I want to express.
“Art, for me, is both a mirror and a refuge. It is the place where truth—often uncomfortable—finds its space.
Selected Works.
A selection of recent and representative works from my practice.
Unreachable
Defiant
SILENT WEIGHT
It was funny
Detached
STOP
MISSING YOU
Far Away
The Collector’s Journey.
How to acquire a work.
01
Discover the artist.
Meet Ernest, his story, and the vision that shapes each work before even considering acquiring anything.
02
Explore the work.
Browse the curated collection and let each face speak to you. Find the piece that stops you in your tracks.
03
Choose and inquire.
When a work resonates with you, write to us. We’ll talk about the piece, its story, and its availability without rushing.
04
Take the next step.
We conclude the next step together acquiring, commissioning, or simply continuing the dialogue.
Career.
Exhibitions, Awards, and Publications.
First prize — VI Solidarity Painting Competition on Human Rights
The Heralbony Prize Exhibition
2025 · Tokyo, Japan
2025 · Alicante, Spain
Finalist — The Heralbony Prize
2025 · Tokyo, Japan
Winner — NNCG Artist of the Year
2024 · London, United Kingdom
Galerie Calabro
2024 · Zurich, Switzerland
Florence Contemporary Art Gallery
2023 · Florence, Italy
Times Square, NY
Artelle Magazine — Cover
2025 · New York, USA
Style Cruze Magazine — Cover
2024 · Los Angeles, USA
Figgi Magazine — Cover
2023 · Milan, Italy
Vanity Fair, no. 739
2022 · London, United Kingdom
Masterful Mind Award—Circle Foundation for the Arts
2024 · Lyon, France
Finalist — Swissart Expo contest
2023 · Zurich, Switzerland
2023 · New York, USA
Venice International Art Fair—16th Edition
2022 · Venice, Italy
San Diego Museum Spring Exhibition
2022 · California, USA
Vanity Fair, no. 739
2022 · London, United Kingdom
Available Originals.
Available Works.
Each piece is an original and one-of-a-kind work. Inquire about availability, details, and shipping.
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I also take commissions. Contact me for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions.
INFORMATION
The next step.
Start a conversation with the artist.
If you’re interested in any of the works, write to me to check its availability, learn more details, or discuss a possible commission.
Barcelona, Spain
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