Urvanity, now in its fifth edition, from May 27th to 30th at the COAM in Madrid, has consolidated its position as the meeting place for New Contemporary Art. This year, for the first time, the fair presents the Urvanity 2021 Acquisition and Residency Awards for the artists participating in this edition, together with some of the best international art collections and foundations. Here we tell you about them!
MONTRESSO*ART FOUNDATION AWARDS
Settled in Morocco since 2009, the Montresso* Art Foundation is a hybrid place that aims to support the creation and promote the diversity of fields of the current artistic research.
In its fifth edition, Urvanity Art is pleased to announce the collaboration with the Montresso* Art Foundation to strengthen support for New Contemporary Art. Thereby, the Montresso* foundation will award an Acquisition Prize and a Residency Prize to two of the artists participating in Urvanity Art Fair 2021.
- Acquisition Prize: The selected work of the awarded artist will enter the Permanent Collection of the Montresso* Art Foundation.
- Residency Award: The winning artist will enjoy a residency at the Jardin Rouge – a creative laboratory where artists benefit from a period of research, but also visibility – in Marrakech, for a duration of 1-2 months.
Award Winners
“La Alegoría del Hombre” by Mario Anton, represented at Urvanity 2021 by Lariot Collective, has been acquired by Montresso* Art Foundation.
Elena Rato, represented at Urvanity 2021 by Furiosa Gallery, has won the Montresso* Art Foundation residency award.
THE MER COLLECTION AWARD
The MER Collection, with main warehouses in Segovia, is the result of the dedication, perseverance, and collector’s enthusiasm of the married couple Elena Rueda and Marcos Martín Blanco, and their son Rafael Martín – the trio from which the acronym of the collection derives.
It began in the 1980s and has matured into one of the most important international private collections in Spain and Europe. Thanks to its efforts, to educate its visual culture, and its curiosity to study and learn about contemporary art, the MER Collection brings together nearly 800 works with both national and international names, such as Luis Gordillo, Eric Fischl, Lisa Yuskavage, Norbert Bisky, Marilyn Minter, Hugo Crosthwaite, Bill Viola, and Miquel Barceló, among many others.
In this fifth edition, the Urvanity Art fair collaborates with the MER Collection in this search for new names and trends in art, highlighting the best artistic talents of the current scene of New Contemporary Art, through an Acquisition Award. One artist will be selected from among the participants in the fair, whose work will become part of the MER Collection.
Award Winner
“Bostezo” by Imon Boy, represented at Urvanity 2021 by La Causa Art Gallery, has been acquired by the MER Collection.
SOLO COLLECTION AWARD
The SOLO Collection is an international art project, based in Madrid, whose mission is to promote, support and disseminate Contemporary Art through collecting and patronage of the artwork of today. This creative effort was launched 7 years ago by the Spanish entrepreneurs Ana Gervás and David Cantolla, resulting in a collection, heterogeneous in technique, of more than 800 works by both national and international artists – among them: Keiichi Tanaami, Kaws, Peter Saul, Ryan Heshka, Laurence Vallieres, Sergio Mora, D*Face or Paco Pomet; as well as to a strong commitment to emerging talents and digital art.
This objective of promoting and enhancing the value of New Contemporary Art, shared with Urvanity Art, has resulted in a SOLO Collection Acquisition Award of a minimum of 5000€ for the next edition of our annual fair to be held at COAM from May 27th to 30th of the same month. The winners, chosen from among the artists participating in the fair, will become part of the Collection.
Award Winner
“Feiticeira II” by Richard Burton, represented at Urvanity 2021 by Lariot Collective, has been aquired by Colección SOLO.
NADINE RESIDENCY AWARD
Nadine Foundation – located in Madrid – is a non-profit and independent organization that supports projects of young artists with a social and environmental vocation.
During the fifth edition of the Urvanity Art Fair at COAM, Nadine Foundation will grant a Residency Award valued at 12,000€ to one of the participating artists.
One artist will be selected, from among those registered at the fair, to develop a 3-month residency in the city of Madrid, during the months of September, October, and November of this same year 2021. The purpose of the call is the completion of the final work to be exhibited and commercialized. The work may address any theme that has the purpose of reflection and dialogue around a social or environmental problem.
Award Winner
Mario Mankey, represented at Urvanity 2021 by Swinton Gallery, has won the Fundación Nadine residency award.
