Messa, new addition to the collection
The Abelló Museum expands its collection with a new piece by the Valencian painter Francesc Sempere Fernández de Mesa, known by the pseudonym of Messa (Albaida 1915-1996).
This is a donation made by the artist’s son, Francesc Sempere i Securún, from the work We are a town of shopkeepers from 1964, with a strong link to the history of our city: it represents the direction of of the company Nacional Motor, manufacturers of Derbi motorcycles, a brand founded by the Mollet businessman Simeó Rabasa i Singla.
Messa moved to Barcelona in 1956, where he was a founding member of the group Fifth form, and worked for a few years in the historic Derbi factory in Martorelles. In addition, the artist and Joan Abelló had a good friendship.