National Photography Center showcases collection in 'Photographic Constellations' exhibition at Niemeyer Center

On October 2, 2026, the National Photography Center (Centro Nacional de Fotografía, CNF), a state-owned institution under the Ministry of Culture, unveiled the exhibition 'Photographic Constellations: Thinking Through Images' at the Niemeyer Center in Avilés. This marks the first public presentation of the CNF's collection since its establishment, aiming to represent contemporary Spanish photography.

The exhibition comprises 102 works from 38 artists, showcasing significant names, styles, and trends in contemporary Spanish photography. It underscores the CNF's commitment to preserving, researching, and promoting Spanish photographic heritage through collaborations with various institutions across the country.

A Diverse Representation of Photography

The exhibition includes works from all National Photography Award winners to date, such as:

• Gabriel Cualladó (1994)
• Javier Vallhonrat (1995)
• Cristina García Rodero (1996)
• Humberto Rivas (1997)
• Joan Fontcuberta (1998)
• Alberto García-Alix (1999)
• Chema Madoz (2000)
• Toni Catany (2001)
• Joan Colom (2002)
• Carlos Pérez Siquier (2003)
• Ramón Masats (2004)
• Ouka Leele (2005)
• Pablo Pérez-Mínguez (2006)
• Manuel Vilariño (2007)
• Bleda y Rosa (2008)
• Gervasio Sánchez (2009)
• José Manuel Ballester (2010)
• Rafael Sanz Lobato (2011)
• Eugeni Forcano (2012)
• Alberto Schommer (2013)
• Colita (2014)
• Juan Manuel Castro Prieto (2015)
• Isabel Muñoz (2016)
• Cristina de Middel (2017)
• Leopoldo Pomés (2018)
• Montserrat Soto (2019)
• Ana Teresa Ortega (2020)
• Pilar Aymerich (2021)
• Cristóbal Hara (2022)
• Laia Abril (2023)
• Jorge Ribalta (2024)
• Carmela García (2025)

Additionally, the exhibition features works by Velázquez Prize winner Marisa González (2023) and emerging voices such as Yolanda del Amo, Paula Anta, Mar Sáez, Jorge Yeregui, and Jon Cazenave, presenting a pluralistic view of Spanish photographic creation.

The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on photography as a meeting space between different generations, sensibilities, and forms of representation. The images encourage new interpretations of both past and present, highlighting the diversity of languages, approaches, and concerns within contemporary photographic practice.

'Photographic Constellations: Thinking Through Images' will be open until January 31, 2027, at the Niemeyer Center, a significant venue for contemporary art and culture in Spain. Following its presentation in Avilés, the exhibition will tour various cities, with the first stop planned for Salamanca next year.

Accompanying Activities and Publications

The exhibition will be complemented by a publication featuring the exhibited works and two essays by Mónica Carabias Álvaro, director of the CNF, and writer Lara Moreno.

The CNF aims to serve as a connector among artists, professionals, institutions, and photography and visual arts communities nationwide. Upcoming activities include:

• A Collecting and Photographic Heritage Day titled 'Custodied Images' in León on October 6, focusing on photographic heritage conservation.
• A seminar 'Niépce, 200 Years Later: The Legacy of the First Photograph (1826-2026)' in Ciudad Real on October 22, organized by the University of Castilla-La Mancha in collaboration with the CNF.
• The first edition of the Image Week in Soria from October 22 to 28, involving various local institutions and promoting community engagement through a participatory project 'Album of Soria' for collecting and digitizing local photographs.

International Outreach

The CNF is also extending its reach beyond Spain, presenting the exhibition '7x7: Contemporary Spanish Photography' at the Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Spain and India. This exhibition, running from October 8 to November 30, features works by artists such as Jorge Arévalo, Julia Carbonell, David Expósito, Lucía Herrero, Bandia Ribeira, Laura Silleras, and Virginia Villacisla, offering an international audience insight into contemporary Spanish documentary photography.

Additionally, a conference titled 'Beyond the Document: Photography as an Experience of Knowledge' will take place in Paris on November 10, organized by the CNF in collaboration with Casa de Velázquez, Sorbonne University, and Complutense University of Madrid, as part of the Bicentennial of Photography promoted by the French Ministry of Culture.