Esther Gatón, Professor of IE School of Architecture & Design, Awarded Alhambra Emerging Art Prize at ARCOmadrid 2026

Madrid, 9 March 2026 – Esther Gatón, artist and professor of IE School of Architecture & Design's Bachelor in Design, has been awarded the 10th Alhambra Emerging Art Prize at ARCOmadrid 2026. The award recognizes her project "Lazos y Calles," which Gatón will develop throughout 2026 and present at ARCOmadrid 2027. This prize supports emerging talent by funding the production of new works within the framework of the international contemporary art fair.

Gatón’s proposal combines research in flexible biomaterials with the craft tradition of puppetry, creating a sculptural and performative installation inspired by the Spanish folk dance Paloteo. The project will take the form of mobile sculptures made from vegan flexible biomaterial, wood, willow branches, cotton thread, metal rods, and paint. Activated remotely, the structures will generate a series of gestures and movements that evoke the choreography and rhythm of traditional dances.

Conceived as an experience intended to be observed slowly and attentively, "Lazos y Calles" (Threads and Streets) explores the intersection of material experimentation, performance, and cultural memory. Through these animated sculptures, Gatón reflects on the expressive potential of objects and the ways in which movement can transform sculptural forms into narrative devices.

The award was announced during ARCOmadrid 2026 following deliberations by an expert jury that included Claudia Segura, Head of the Collection at MACBA – Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona; Blanca de la Torre, Director of IVAM – Institut Valencià d’Art Modern; and Laura García-Lorca de los Ríos, President of the Federico García Lorca Foundation. In its statement, the jury highlighted the originality of Gatón’s work and its engagement with one of the oldest theatrical traditions - puppetry - while reinterpreting it through a contemporary artistic language and handcrafted techniques.

Leading Contemporary Art Fair

ARCOmadrid is one of Europe’s leading international contemporary art fairs and a key meeting point for artists, galleries, collectors, and cultural institutions. Held annually in Madrid, the fair brings together galleries from around the world and serves as an important platform for emerging artistic talent and international cultural exchange.

Esther Gatón's practice explores the relationship between objects, movement, performance, and storytelling. Her work often draws on vernacular traditions, craft techniques, and theatrical languages such as puppetry to create installations that combine sculpture, choreography, and narrative. Gatón has exhibited internationally and collaborated with institutions and cultural platforms dedicated to experimental art and design. Gatón is a professor of IE School of Architecture & Design's Bachelor in Design, where she teaches "Foundations of Interior Design: Crafting Meaningful Spaces". 

*Photo on the cover by Sergio Albert, courtesy Cervezas Alhambra.