Museo Bellapart in Santo Domingo opened a new photography exhibition titled El Prado en el centro: fotografia y memoria on August 20, 2026.
The showcase launches the PhotoImagen 2026 festival program at the venue and marks the official start of the festival's twelfth edition.
The exhibition brings together the work of 15 photographers from the Dominican Republic and Spain, offering new visual interpretations of Spain's iconic art institution.
Three Dominican photographers are featured in the show: Polibio Díaz, Fausto Ortiz, and Mayra Johnson. They display their work alongside 12 Spanish artists: José Manuel Ballester, Bleda y Rosa, Javier Campano, Joan Fontcuberta, Alberto García-Alix, Pierre Gonnord, Chema Madoz, Cristina de Middel, Isabel Muñoz, Aitor Ortiz, Pilar Pequeño, and Javier Vallhonrat.
The participating artists represent different generations and bring widely varied approaches to photography. Rather than a shared aesthetic style, the photographers are united by a common starting point in the collections and architecture of the Museo Nacional del Prado.
Photographic Perspectives on the Prado Museum
The photographs present the Prado Museum in unexpected ways. Rather than offering traditional depictions of famous masterpieces, the images capture specific architectural details, the subtle gestures of visitors pausing before paintings, and the lasting impression left by a historic collection observed across generations.
The selected works extend beyond recording individual artworks. They explore the physical building, its interior spaces, the dynamic relationship between visitors and art, and the personal experience of walking through the museum galleries.
Organizers noted that the resulting exhibition allows visitors to engage with the Prado from outside its physical halls in Madrid while encouraging viewers to return to the museum with a fresh perspective.
The Museo Nacional del Prado, located in Madrid, is Spain's principal national art museum and holds one of the world's premier collections of European art. Museo Bellapart, situated in Santo Domingo, is a private art museum specializing in Dominican art, while PhotoImagen is the country's primary festival dedicated to photography.
Institutional Collaboration and Curatorial Team
The exhibition is the result of a joint collaboration between the Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes, Centro León, the Museo Nacional del Prado, and the Fundación Amigos del Museo del Prado.
The project received leadership and support from Mari Pili Bellapart, president of Museo Bellapart, alongside Maribel Bellapart and Myrna Guerrero, director of the museum. The initiative was also driven by the Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes.
Curatorial direction and general coordination were provided by Sara Hermann, Orlando Isaac, and Michelle Cruz from Centro León, a prominent cultural institution based in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Exhibition Schedule and Visitor Information
The exhibition is open to the public at Museo Bellapart in Santo Domingo. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
