Born into a family with an artistic tradition, Alfonso Abelenda Escudero studied under Antón García Patiño in A Coruña until 1949, when he enrolled at the School of Architecture in Madrid. There, he developed his skills as a painter, attending classes with Gutiérrez Navas and studying statue and wash techniques at the Casón del Buen Retiro.

In 1954, he held his first exhibition at the Lino Perez bookstore in his hometown, receiving notable success. Around this time, he formed a collective with painters Labra, Lago Rivera, and Tenreiro—regular contributors to Atlantida, a magazine pioneering avant-garde expression in a traditionally provincial setting.

During his military service in Morocco, Abelenda exhibited w
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