Claudia Pagès Wins XVIII illy SustainArt Award at ARCOmadrid 2024
Barcelona-born artist Claudia Pagès has been awarded the XVIII illy SustainArt Prize at the 44th edition of ARCOmadrid, recognizing her innovative approach to contemporary art.
The prestigious award, dedicated to supporting young artists in contemporary art, was decided by a jury of art world experts after an intense deliberation process among 93 submitted works. Represented by Àngels Barcelona Gallery, the 35-year-old Catalan artist captivated the jury with her winning work, consisting of two pieces deeply inspired by history and memory.
Pagès’ creation is built upon the exploration of space, time, and historical inscriptions found on ancient walls. Inspired by the cisterns of Xàtiva, her work intertwines themes of water, memory, and protective structures like walls and castles. Her signature technique involves the use of handmade sheets of paper to form intricate constructions resembling historical filigree labyrinths. The two award-winning pieces, Muro de dos caras and Xàtiva, reflect this approach, utilizing historical references and architectural elements to narrate stories of the past.
Light plays a crucial role in her work, emanating from within a box to reveal hidden layers of memory, emphasizing the delicate balance between remembering and forgetting. Pagès views this interplay as a way to illuminate history and prevent it from fading into obscurity, symbolizing the fragility of both paper and memory itself.
A Rising Voice in Contemporary Art
Claudia Pagès holds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Barcelona and an MFA from the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam. Her works have been featured in prominent institutions and exhibitions worldwide, including:
- Manifesta 15, Barcelona (2024)
- IVAM, Valencia (2024)
- Sculpture Center, New York (2024)
- CA2M, Madrid (2023)
- Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona (2023)
- Tabakalera, Donostia (2022)
- MACBA, Barcelona (2022)
- Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE (2018)
Additionally, Pagès has received multiple accolades, including the Ojo Crítico Visual Arts Award in 2022, and has participated in prestigious artist residency programs at Gasworks, London (2017) and Triangle France, Marseille (2020). In March and April 2025, she will embark on a residency at EMPAC in Troy, United States. Her upcoming exhibitions in 2025 will include Chisenhale Gallery (London), INDEX (Stockholm), and Mumok (Vienna), along with a group exhibition at Art Sonje Center in Seoul, curated by Chus Martínez.
The Jury and illy’s Commitment to Art
The illy SustainArt Prize jury included notable art and culture figures: Imma Prieto (Director of the Fundació Tàpies), Javier Díaz-Guardiola (art critic at ABC and coordinator of ABC Cultural‘s art section), and Mariano Mayer (independent art curator), alongside Carlo Bach, artistic director of illycaffè.
With this award, illycaffè reaffirms its commitment to fostering emerging contemporary artists, supporting creativity, and strengthening the link between art and coffee culture.
