It has been a true honour to see my sculptures chosen as the awards for the 2023 Sophia Awards for Excellence, organised by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and presented by Her Majesty Queen Sofía.
This year’s gala was held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, marking the first time the awards have taken place in Texas. The event brings together leading figures from the worlds of art, culture, business and philanthropy to recognise their contribution to the international appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world.
This year’s honourees were Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, international icons of Latin music and culture; Mari Carmen Ramírez, Curator of Latin American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Founding Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas; and Ignacio Torras, businessman and a major supporter of Spanish culture in Houston.
Each of them received one of my Meninas as their award. It makes me particularly proud to see a figure so closely connected to Spanish art and culture become a symbol of recognition for people who help promote our culture internationally.
Seeing my sculptures presented by Queen Sofía in a city such as Houston has been especially exciting. It is one of those moments when art goes beyond the artwork itself and becomes a bridge between people, cultures and countries.
