The Ernesto Ventós Foundation is proud to have participated as a collaborator in the inaugural edition of the Fundación MACBA Awards, a biennial prize dedicated to recognizing and highlighting the work of the most outstanding contemporary artists from Spain and Portugal. This award, promoted by the Fundación MACBA, with whom we have an ongoing collaboration agreement, reaffirms our shared commitment to the promotion and dissemination of contemporary art.

The prestigious award featured a jury composed of national and international figures from the art world, such as Adam Szymczyk, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Manuel J. Borja-Villel, Manuel Segade, Ángela Molina, Abdellah Karroum, and Ainhoa Grandes. Their deliberation highlighted the quality, innovation, and critical discourse of the works presented, granting the main prize to the Basque artist Ibon Aranberri (Itziar, 1969). Additionally, the jury acknowledged the trajectory and talent of the collective Cabello/Carceller and artists Sandra Gamarra and David Bestué, finalists in this first edition.

The award, with a total prize fund of €80,000, allocates €50,000 to the winner and €10,000 to each finalist. As a symbol of this recognition, Ibon Aranberri also received a reduced-scale replica of La ola by Jorge Oteiza, an icon of Spanish sculpture.

At the Ernesto Ventós Foundation, we reaffirm our commitment to enriching the cultural and artistic fabric. We believe in the importance of supporting contemporary artistic practice as an essential tool for building a fairer, more reflective, and sensorially connected society. Participating in initiatives such as the Fundación MACBA Awards strengthens our mission to disseminate art through the most evocative sense: smell, motivating us to continue collaborating on projects that spark curiosity, passion, and creativity.

We congratulate the award winners and celebrate the diversity of voices these awards highlight, confident that contemporary art will continue to be a powerful driver of change and emotional connection for everyone.