The Member
PHotoESPAÑA
PHotoESPAÑA was born in June 1998 with the aim of being a photography festival carried out by society. Promoted by the Contemporary Foundation and organized by La Fábrica, PHotoESPAÑA makes Madrid and Spain become each year a meeting point for the world of Photography. A festival designed and made in Spain, which has become an international reference thanks to the work and involvement of specialists and agents from the artistic, cultural, and political fields, the collaboration of institutions and the participation of the public. The Festival has always had an international vision, directing its gaze to large artistic territories: Europe, North America, Latin America, the Far East, etc. However, Spanish photography has always had a relevant role in PHotoESPAÑA, whose intention is to present a panorama that accounts for its richness, energy and plurality. The seventeenth edition, in 2014, was entirely dedicated to the evolution of Spanish photography from the XIX century to the present, highlighting the work of young creators who are contributing new ways of looking at photography and who enjoy an important international echo. One of the most personal characteristics of the Festival is the choice of a general commissioner who is in charge of programming for three consecutive years. Three years are enough to develop theories and concepts around the photographic fact.
Nominations
Discover the artists selected by
PHotoESPAÑA
since
2018
Since its first edition in 1998, PHotoESPAÑA festival has been defending photography as the ideal means of creation today. For each edition, we choose the photographers who either that year or the previous one have developed or are currently developing a project that resonates in our society.
In its 25-year history, PHotoESPAÑA has overseen breakneck changes to society, asserting photography’s place throughout as an ideal medium with which to create. Our
festival has always been produced by and for society, giving photography an important spotlight. Surveying the history of this discipline, the festival has brought many
prominent artists to Spain. In line with this international perspective, we strive to be a bridge of sorts between European and Latin American photography.
PHotoESPAÑA joined the FUTURES platform when it began in 2018. So far, we have nominated 25 European and Latin American photographers residing in Spain, all of whom were at key junctures in their careers. Some have participated in the festival’s emerging photography programmes; some have been the finalists in our prizes; whilst others have followed our Master’s in Photography and Visual Projects.
For every edition, we choose photographers who have developed – or are developing – a project that resonates with society. The environment, immigration, technological advances and the economy are just some of the themes that concern our authors.
Every year, PHotoESPAÑA, as a member of Futures since 2018, nominates a group of artists to join the platform and show their work. In this edition, we are presenting a collective exhibition of their works at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid in the official section of the festival. In 2021, the PHotoESPAÑA festival is celebrating its 24th anniversary with 86 exhibitions in Madrid and in six other Spanish cities, bringing together the work of 376 national and international photographers and visual artists.
Every summer, since 1998, the festival has become a meeting point for the photography world and an international benchmark thanks to the work and engagement of artists and specialists in the artistic field, the collaboration of institutions and the participation of the public.
