The mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, has inaugurated the 29th Autumn Painting Salon, a well-established cultural event that has become a reference point for artists and a meeting place for contemporary creation over nearly three decades.
The exhibition, featuring 27 works selected by a jury, is available for viewing in the Tinto and Odiel Rooms of Casa Colón until 24 October. During the opening ceremony, Miranda emphasised that “for almost 30 years, Huelva has been committed to painting, providing opportunities for artists and making our city a meeting point for creators with diverse backgrounds, styles, and interpretations of art.”
She noted that the 147 artists participating in this year's edition, which has set a record for participation for the second consecutive year, “demonstrate that the Autumn Salon is fully established and has transcended our borders to become a national reference in painting competitions.”
The mayor also praised “the quality and diversity of the proposals included in the exhibition” and congratulated both the winners and all participants, highlighting “the work, creativity, and passion behind each piece.” She expressed gratitude to the jury and reaffirmed the municipal commitment to initiatives that “bring art closer to the public and project Huelva as a city committed to culture and its artists.”
Pablo Díaz Merchante, the winner of the competition with his work ‘Estancia con genio’, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating it “fulfils a personal dream.” He highlighted the effort and perseverance he invested to achieve this award, “a distinction I wished to add to my curriculum due to the prestige it represents and the admiration I have for many painters who have won it throughout its history.” He also acknowledged the support he has always felt from Huelva's institutions since the beginning of his career, “a backing I consider essential for advancing my artistic journey.”
Rosa Aguilar, the second prize winner with her painting ‘Barocoria’, expressed her appreciation to the city council for continuing to support culture and artistic creation through this competition. She insisted that “initiatives like this are crucial for supporting and promoting artists' work, giving visibility to Andalusian artistic production, and bringing art closer to the public through exhibitions that allow sharing works with the audience.” Aguilar also noted the special coincidence that both she and the first prize winner shared a studio in Madrid years ago, adding to her excitement about the recognition.
The event was attended by the jury, chaired by the councillor for Culture and Archaeological Heritage, Nacho Molina, and included prominent figures from the cultural and artistic scene in Huelva, such as artists Laura Vinós and Nieves González, the director of the Huelva Museum, Ana García Martín, and Jesús Velasco Nevado, a doctor in Art History.
The 27 works featured in the exhibition, including award-winning and jury-selected pieces, showcase the quality, diversity, and variety of artistic approaches present in this edition. Additionally, the selected works will be included in the official catalogue of the competition, contributing to documenting the level and richness of the proposals submitted.
The exhibition of the 29th Autumn Painting Salon can be visited at the Tinto and Odiel Rooms of Casa Colón from 14 to 24 October, with free entry. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 11:30 to 13:30 and 17:30 to 20:30, and Saturdays from 11:30 to 13:30. The exhibition will be closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Regarding the winners of this edition, first prize winner Pablo Merchante studied Fine Arts at the University of Seville and continued with a Master's in Idea and Production focused on Contemporary Art at the same institution. Merchante is a plastic artist with an established international career, encompassing extensive experience in artistic residencies, recognitions, and exhibitions in Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and the United States. The second prize was awarded to Granada-born Rosa Aguilar, who graduated in Fine Arts from the University of Seville and trained in Artistic Ceramics at the Val del Omar Art School, complementing her studies with landscape and painting workshops alongside artists such as Chema Cobo and Francesc Torres.
