Sheep are counting me: Edu Carrillo

Sheep Are Counting Me marks the first solo exhibition by Edu Carrillo (Santander, 1995) at VETA by Fer Francés. The show presents a series of paintings characterized by a distinctive aesthetic that resonates deeply with the concerns of Carrillo’s generation—particularly themes of job insecurity and burnout. 

Through his work, Carrillo offers an intimate portrayal of the daily life of a painter in the studio, examining not only the intellectual and creative process behind the creation of art but also the routine, labor, and anxiety that accompany it. Painting is presented here not as a romantic pursuit but as a job—complete with its own rhythms, pressures, and need for rest. 

The exhibition reflects this duality by juxtaposing the working tools —blank canvases, brushes—with everyday objects that hint at fatigue and recovery: beds, pillows, clocks, and the ever-present cigarettes. These motifs, drawn from the artist’s own environment, become symbols of the fragile balance between work and rest. 

Carrillo weaves references to art history throughout his practice. The exhibition’s title nods to Zurbarán’s Agnus Dei, while other works recall the visual languages of Magritte and Philip Guston. Through these allusions, he constructs a personal and expressive visual vocabulary—marked by a consistent color palette and tactile surface quality—that bridges past and present. 

Edu Carrillo holds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Salamanca and currently lives and works in Oviedo, Asturias.