The body recovered from the River Thames in London on Monday has been identified as Malaga-born artist Gonzalo Fuentes.
The 35-year-old is the son of veteran CCOO trade unionist Gonzalo Fuentes, was well-known within the Malaga art scene and had been living in London for the past six years.
According to British police, the artist was discovered still alive by a passer-by, who immediately called emergency services.
Despite being rushed to hospital, he later died. An autopsy, due in the coming days, is expected to clarify whether his death was the result of an accidental drowning or other causes.
A beloved figure
Friends and relatives describe Fuentes as ‘jovial’, ‘kind’ and ‘a great friend’, adding that he was ‘deeply family-oriented and entrepreneurial’.
He had recently returned to London after spending several days in Malaga earlier this month and had been saving for a dream trip to Japan.
His family has now travelled to the UK and is working with the Spanish consulate in London to organise the repatriation of his body.
A promising career
Born in Malaga in 1991, Fuentes studied Fine Arts at the University of Malaga before completing a Master’s in Art and Creation at the Complutense University of Madrid.
He held his first solo exhibition in 2014, Juegos de construccion, at his home university, followed by Modular Pavilion at Columna JM (Málaga) in 2016.
He went on to participate in several group shows, including T(RE)Silience (Archivo Municipal de Málaga), El ojo efervescente (Centro Cultural Provincial de Málaga), and the International University Art Show IKAS ART in Bilbao.
At the time of his death, Fuentes was based in London, working as a visitor experience supervisor at Somerset House, one of the city’s most important cultural venues.
No further official details have yet been released, and the investigation into the circumstances of his death remains open.
