Recognition of an international artistic career
The Barcelona City Council has unanimously decided to award the Gold Medal for Cultural Merit to the renowned artist Jaume Plensa. With this distinction, the city pays tribute to his outstanding career and his contribution to the world art scene. Plensa, born in Barcelona in 1955, is a reference figure in the field of contemporary art, known for his ability to cross the boundaries of reality and venture into the spiritual realm through his works.
A versatile artist committed to the exploration of materials.
A versatile artist committed to the exploration of materials.Although he considers himself primarily a sculptor, Plensa is a multifaceted artist who has experimented with a variety of media, including printmaking, drawing, sound, video and even scenography. Since his beginnings in the 1980s, he has developed a language of his own, using a wide range of materials, including steel, iron, resin, glass and water. This exploration has positioned him as one of the most sought-after Spanish artists on the international scene. His first solo exhibition was in 1980 at the Fundació Miró in Barcelona. Since then, his works have been exhibited in prestigious museums around the world, such as the Jeu de Paume in Paris, the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas and the Espoo Museum of Modern Art in Finland, among others. Plensa has also created sculptures and installations specifically for public spaces in countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Sweden, the United States and China, among others.
Prominent presence in Barcelona’s public space
Barcelona has eight works by Plensa in public spaces and buildings. One of the most beloved is Carmela, located in front of the Palau de la Música. Recently, the assignment of this work was renewed for eight more years, reaffirming the artist’s commitment to his hometown. Other sculptures in Barcelona, such as Escullera, Born and Dell’Arte, belong to the City Council, and their presence strengthens the connection between urban heritage and contemporary art.
Scenographies and other artistic collaborations
Plensa has also created scenographies for important productions, many of them in collaboration with La Fura dels Baus. His contributions to works such as Els murs de la solitud ( 2003) and the operas La damnation de Faust (1999) and La flauta mágica ( 2004) stand out. He has also ventured into literature with bibliophile books, such as Llibre de Meravelles ( 2009), a joint project with texts by Ramon Llull and Pere Gimferrer, which was awarded in 2010 as the best published book of the year in Spain.
Recognition for a career with global impact
Throughout his career, Plensa has received numerous national and international awards. These include the medaille des Chevaliers des Arts et Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture (1993), the National Culture Prize for Plastic Arts of Catalonia (1997), the Creu de Sant Jordi (2012) and the Ciutat de Barcelona Prize ( 2014). He has also received honorary degrees from prestigious universities, such as the University of Chicago (2005), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2018) and, recently, the University of Barcelona (2023). The Gold Medal for Cultural Merit adds to these achievements and reinforces Barcelona’s commitment to its most influential artists, who project the city’s cultural identity globally.
