Lara Padilla (b. 1988) is a contemporary artist and painter based in Madrid, Spain. She studied Fine Arts at the Complutense University in Madrid, Photography in film and dance. Her early interest to deal with the woman's body as a piece of art made her a name amongst some European collectors. Her newest body of works, "Melancholia" serves as a framework to tackle the dichotomy of joy & sadness, referencing themes and iconography of circus animals and the emotional juxtaposition that comes with served entertainment from animals. Beyond figuration, one finds fresh transitions to abstraction throughout the series, which are highlighted by vestiges of drawing and neo expressionist traces.