At this 29th edition, Fundación ARCO presents the “A” Awards for Collecting

Fundación ARCO, promoted by IFEMA MADRID, has presented this year’s “A” Awards for Collecting, and has recognised five collections: Patricia Phelps de Cisneros - Honorary “A” Award for her support to the arts-, Fundació Sorigué -“A” Award for its Corporate Collection-, Juan Carlos Maldonado Collection - “A” Award for International Collecting-, Fernando Arriola and Yolanda Zugaza -“A” Award for Collecting in Spain- and Álex Ruas Wege -“A” Award for International Young Collector-.

Fundación ARCO has, at this twenty-ninth edition, awarded these prizes recognising the artistic value of the collections by collectors and institutions, as well as their work to support the dissemination of contemporary art.

The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 4 March at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid: It will be followed by the traditional Fundación ARCO dinner, held in collaboration with Cartier, with the aim of raising funds to acquire works of art at ARCOmadrid 2025 for its collection, currently housed at the CA2M Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo Comunidad de Madrid.

PATRICIA PHELPS DE CISNEROS| Honorary “A” Award for her support of the Arts

Founded in the 1970s by Patricia Phelps de Cisneros and Gustavo Cisneros, the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection (CPPC) is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art and culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. Based in Caracas and New York, it has been presided over by her daughter, Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, since 2008.

The collection is divided into five main areas, highlighting 20th-century Latin American geometric abstraction and the Orinoco Collection, which preserves the cultural expressions of indigenous communities in the Venezuelan Amazon. It also houses works by artists who depicted the Latin American landscape between the 17th and 19th centuries, colonial art from Venezuela and the Caribbean, and contemporary works by Latin American and Caribbean artists.

The CPPC has developed an extensive programme of publications, exhibitions and loans in more than 196 museums and nearly 400 exhibitions, as well as donations to more than 20 museums in the Americas and in Europe. It has also established strategic alliances with universities and cultural centres to strengthen research on Latin American art, including the Cisneros Institute at the MoMA in New York.

Recognised for her philanthropic work, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros has received prestigious awards such as the Gran Cruz de la Orden Civil Alfonso X el Sabio and the León de Oro de San Marco. She is a founding member of the Amigos Internacionales del Museo del Prado and the Fundación Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona. A driver for the creation of the Fundación Museo Reina Sofía, she served as a founding patron. Her commitment to education and art continues to be an invaluable legacy for universal cultural history.

FUNDACIÓ SORIGUÉ | “A” Award for a Corporate Collection

Created in 1992 by Julio Sorigué and Josefina Blasco, Fundació Sorigué represents the social, cultural and educational commitment of the Sorigué business group. Its work began with a centre for people with intellectual disabilities, and years later it began building its outstanding collection of contemporary art, recognised as one of the most important in Spain.

The collection began in 2000 with the donation of noucentista paintings by its founders. Since then, under the direction of Ana Vallés, it has grown to include more than 450 works that explore the concept of the human being, and address universal themes that unite people. It combines works by established artists such as Anselm Kiefer, William Kentridge and Bill Viola with emerging creators, generating a dialogue between artistic disciplines and human sensibilities. Through exhibitions, educational programmes and collaborations, the foundation promotes art as a tool for communication and social awareness.

The PLANTA project, unveiled in 2013, embodies the foundation’s latest vision. Located in an industrial environment, this space integrates art, architecture, knowledge and landscape, becoming a meeting point for reflection and creativity. PLANTA has become Sorigué’s flagship, an innovative business leadership tool that demonstrates the group’s purpose and values.

Fundació Sorigué reaffirms its commitment to social and cultural return, consolidating itself as a symbol of innovation and sensitivity in the business and artistic fields.

JUAN CARLOS MALDONADO COLLECTION |“A” Award for International Collecting

Born in Venezuela, Juan Carlos Maldonado is a prominent businessman specialising in insurance, banking and healthcare, whose passion for art has led him to become a benchmark in the collection of geometric abstraction. His collection, which began in 2005, has grown chronologically and geographically over time, including the core of geometric, contemporary, indigenous Ye'kwana from Venezuela and pre-Columbian Peruvian abstraction. The artists who make up the collection range from Latin American, American and European, and include Lygia Clark, Joaquín Torres García, Jesús Rafael Soto, Josef Albers, Leon Polk Smith and Max Bill.

In 2016, Maldonado consolidated his commitment to art by establishing his collection in Miami, where he opened a branch in the Design District. From here, he organises exhibitions and publications that promote the study and dissemination of geometric abstract art in a universal context.

In addition to his work as a collector, Maldonado is a member of the International Board of the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid and the Advisory Board of Acquisitions of the Institute of Contemporary Art of Miami.

With an inclusive vision, Juan Carlos Maldonado continues to promote dialogue between artists, collections and institutions, consolidating his legacy as a promoter of geometric abstract art and Latin American culture on the international stage.

FERNANDO ARRIOLA AND YOLANDA ZUGAZA | “A” Award for Collecting in Spain

Founded 20 years ago by Fernando Arriola and Yolanda Zugaza, the Arte Contemporáneo Alkar Collection ACC Bilbao has established itself as a benchmark for contemporary art in Spain. With over 450 works by 210 international and emerging artists, the collection covers a wide range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, installation and video, reflecting the diversity and richness of contemporary artistic expression.

In its early years, ACC Bilbao focused on local artists such as Ignacio García Ergüin, Txomin Badiola and Eduardo Chillida, cementing its identity with a strong commitment to Basque art. Subsequently, the collection broadened its focus to include works by renowned national artists such as Miquel Barceló, Luis Gordillo and Antonio Saura, consolidating its relevance within the contemporary Spanish panorama and marking a dialogue between local and national artistic expressions.

Since then, it has acquired works by iconic figures such as Georg Baselitz, John Baldessari, Louise Bourgeois, Anselm Kiefer and Richard Serra, and has broadened its scope to include world-famous artists such as Olafur Eliasson and Tracey Emin. In its commitment to emerging art, it also supports promising creators such as Jacobo Castellanos, June Crespo and Secundino Hernández, promoting new voices in the artistic panorama.

Born as a private initiative focused on local talent, the collection has evolved into a global projection, integrating works by international artists that enrich its narrative. This growth will be reinforced in 2025 with the opening of an art centre in Bilbao, designed by the prestigious architect Juan Herreros, which will consolidate ACC Bilbao as a dynamic and constantly evolving space, a symbol of the cultural wealth of the Basque Country and its connection with the world.

ALEX RUAS WEGE | “A” Award International Young Collector

Alex Ruas Wege is a young Brazilian interior designer who has lived outside Brazil for almost a decade. He currently resides in Lisbon, where he founded ARW DESIGN STUDIO, which operates in London, Lisbon and São Paulo. Alex has cultivated a deep appreciation for beauty and creative innovation, inspired by his extensive travels around the world. In addition to his interest in architecture, Alex is a passionate art collector who seeks to convey emotion and beauty through the careful curation of the collection.

Housed in his residences in Lisbon and London, the collection is a rich mix of Brazilian and international artists, reflecting his broad vision and deep appreciation for innovative expression. Brazilian designers such as Erika Verzutti, Laura Lima and Aislan Pankararu bring fresh perspectives that challenge traditional aesthetics. Anna Maria Maiolino and Carlito Carvalhosa explore the expressive power of shapes and materials. Lucia Koch and Marina Perez Simão transform spaces and emotions with their vibrant installations and use of colour. Internationally, Alex includes works by artists such as Studio Drift, Tomás Saraceno and Olafur Eliasson, whose installations integrate elements such as light and movement to create immersive and interactive experiences. In addition, Teresa Solar Abboud, Ugo Rondinone and Étienne Chambaud contribute their unique lines of work, ranging from colourful narratives to meditative sculptures.

These artists enrich Alex’s collection with a variety of styles that complement his architectural designs and promote a dialogue between Brazilian and international art. Each piece, selected for its ability to harmonise and enhance spaces, reflects his commitment to innovation and a global artistic vision, making his collection a vibrant reflection of his professional and personal career.