MADRID.- The international auction house Bonhams has announced the promotion of Lucia Tro Santafe to the newly created post of Senior Specialist for Impressionist & Modern Art, Post-War & Contemporary Art and Prints & Multiples in Spain with immediate effect.

Based at Bonhams’ office in Madrid, Lucia will oversee the Spanish market for 20th and 21st century art. She will be responsible for sourcing consignments for sales in Paris, London and New York, with a particular focus on Spanish clients. She will continue to head the Picassomania sales in London and is co-heading the single owner collection sale Jean Cocteau et L’Atelier Madeline-Jolly: une amitié sans faille at Bonhams Paris on 29 September.

Born and raised in Spain, Lucia has a particular interest and expertise in Spanish Modern and Surrealist art including Picasso, Miró and Dalí through the Spanish avant-garde movement of Grupo el Paso (Millares, Saura, Rivera), to Contemporary painters and sculptors Chillida, Tàpies, Juan Muñoz, Jaume Plensa as well as Latin American Op Art (Julio Le Parc, Cruz-Diez, J-R Soto) and Arte Concreto movement. She played a pioneering role in the market for Jean Cocteau.

Her first memorable triumph was consigning the complete Suite Vollard by Pablo Picasso from a Spanish Collection. She organized the theme sale Picassomania and sold Visage de Faune, Picasso’s unique gold plate for £312,000 and then launched the Cocteau sales.

Lucia Tro Santafe commented: “I am delighted to take on this new role as Senior Specialist of Modern & Contemporary Art at Bonhams Spain. Having worked 16 years in London, I look forward to focusing on developing our presence in the Spanish market as well as elsewhere in Europe and consolidating Bonhams’ unique position as the leading local and international auction house.”

Bonhams Global Director of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Ralph Taylor, said: “Lucia has been at the heart of our exponential growth over the past years particularly regarding Picasso and Jean Cocteau. Her knowledge and passion will be fundamental as we continue to build our position in Spain.”