BIO & STATEMENT.

Virginia Rivas. Madrid, 1981. Lives and works in Hervás (Cáceres).

Represented by DDR Art Gallery. Member and founding member of AVAEX Visual Artists and Associates of Extremadura // Member of BNM Blanco, Negro y Magenta, Association of Women Artists of Madrid.

Her training at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Salamanca, the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, and the University of Extremadura fueled her interest in the versatility between the visual and the plastic arts. She currently pursues her career from Hervás (Cáceres), her hometown, where she returned in 2014 after working for a year as an artist/teacher at the Università delle Liberetà in Udine (Italy) on a Grundtvig Scholarship.

She works in painting, video, and installation, media that explore the connection between the individual and the environment and create a sociological discourse from an intimate perspective. She is interested in the viewer as an active agent: their involvement, interpretation, and interaction with the work and the space. She analyzes the social landscape through light, color, and sound, an artistic practice that she combines with workshops and lectures that she gives throughout Europe.

In recent years she has been awarded a scholarship with the Aid for the promotion of Spanish contemporary art, Ministry of Culture, Government of Spain 2023. Aid to visual artists, Regional Government of Extremadura 2023. Aid for artistic research, creation and production in the field of visual arts, Ministry of Culture, Government of Spain 2020. SOS Arte/Cultura Creation Grants, VEGAP 2020. Aid to Visual Artists , Regional Government of Extremadura 2018. And awarded the 13th City of Badajoz Award 2020, the VI Galerías Award for Artistic Intervention Projects of Segovia 2018 and the XXIV Art Nalón Competition in Langreo (Asturias) 2016. Her presence in the BMW Painting Award, the National Painting Competition of the Parliament of La Rioja and the Enate Scholarship, among others, stands out.

Among his individual works is his time at the  Barjola Museum in Gijón, +Mad Don Benito Museum of Fine Arts, the Ávila Foundation, the DA2 Art Center in Salamanca, the Adora Calvo Gallery in Las Rozas, Madrid, the El Brocense Art Gallery in Cáceres, and the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland; and group exhibitions at the Cáceres Museum, the Pazo de San Marcos Hall of the Lugo Provincial Council, the MUBA Museum of Fine Arts in Badajoz, La Cárcel Creation Center in Segovia, the MAC Florencio de la Fuente in Huete, Cuenca, and the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid; as well as participating in the contemporary art fairs ESTAMPA, Art Madrid, FIG Bilbao, Just Mad, JustXL Lisbon, Arte Cremona, Art Jaén, Art Santa Fe, among a hundred other exhibitions.

His work is held in public and private collections such as the Regional Government of Extremadura, the Cáceres Museum, the Indalecio Hernández Foundation, the + Mad Museum of Fine Arts, the Eduardo Úrculo Art Gallery, Badajoz City Council, the Pizarro Work Foundation, the Víctor Francos Díaz Collection, the Marisa Paredes Collection, the Citizen Equality Foundation, the Cáceres Provincial Council, the House of Women and Minors of Badajoz, the Cáceres City Council, and the Garrovillas de Alconetar Inn, among others, and has toured Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.

His work has been seen on La 2 de TVE through Carta Blanca (2020) from Metrópolis and Boek Visual (2019) from La Aventura del saber.

Since 2006 she has worked as an Art Teacher, giving lectures and workshops in Europe through programs such as Erasmus Plus (Spain, 2017) and Grundtvig (Italy, 2013) or projects created by herself such as Women Artists: 500 Years, 2 Decades (2020) for AUPEX Popular Universities of Extremadura (Spain, 2020).

TRAINING

2012 DEA Diploma in Advanced Studies in Art History. Specialization in Video Art. University of Extremadura. 

2006. Graduated in Fine Arts , specializing in Painting. University of Salamanca.

2003/04 Painting, Engraving and Audiovisuals . Accademia di Belle Arti. Venice, Italy.

2001 Artistic Baccalaureate. School of Arts and Crafts. Salamanca.

He has trained with Estrella De Diego, Rosa Olivares, Rafa Doctor, Ignasi Aballí, María Ruido, Javier Codesal, Marta Verde, Mª del Mar Lozano Bartolozzi, José Hernández and José Fuentes, among others. 

CONTEMPORARY ART FAIRS

2022 ESTAMPA. DDR Art Gallery Stand. IFEMA. Madrid.

Art Madrid '22. DDR Art Gallery Stand. Madrid.

DUO PROJECT. JustMad. Beatriz Pereira Gallery Stand. Madrid.

JUSTLX Lisbon. DDR Art Gallery Stand. Lisbon (Portugal).

A Fair. DDR Art Gallery Stand. Milan (Italy).

2020 DUO PROJECT Art Madrid. Curator: Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta. DDR Art Gallery Booth. 

2019 ONE PROJECT. Art Madrid. Commissioner Nerea Ubieto. DDR Art Gallery Stand. Madrid. 

FIG Bilbao. International Festival of Printmaking and Paper Art. DDR Art Gallery Stand. Bilbao.

JUSTLX LISBON Contemporary Art Fair. Commissioner Semiramis García. DDR Art Gallery. Lisbon. 

2014 Modern and Contemporary Art Fair. Javier Román Gallery Stand. Cremona (Italy).

2013 Art Santa Fe International Art Fair. Gaudí Gallery Booth. New Mexico, USA.

2009 ARTJAÉN. 3rd International Art Fair. La Tea Gallery Stand. Jaén (Andalusia).

2008 Inside Video. FORO SUR Street Ibero-American Contemporary Art Fair. Cáceres.

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS

2024 The Blank Spaces. Curator Adonay Bermúdez. Barjola Museum. Gijón. 

On Lightness. Curator Ana Rincón. +Mad Museum of Fine Arts. Don Benito.

2023 Color in season. Ávila Foundation. Avila.

2021 Variations. Europa Room. Regional Government of Extremadura. Badajoz.

Variations. Adora Calvo Gallery. Las Rozas, Madrid.

2018 Sound Map. Curated by Julio C. Vázquez. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres.

Painting music, listening to paintings. Pérez Comendador-Leroux Museum. Hervás (Cáceres).

SOUNDSCAPE. DA2 Domus Artium Contemporary Art Center 2002. Salamanca.

2017 SYNESTHESIA. Rufino Mendoza Exhibition Hall. Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz).

SYNESTHESIA. Eduardo Úrculo Art Gallery. Langreo (Asturias).

SYNESTHESIA. Curator Miguel F. Campón. Anabel Segura Room, Alcobendas Art Center. 

2016 SYNESTHESIA. WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization United Nations. Geneva (Switzerland).

2014 Attraverso la finestra. La Loggia Art Gallery. Udine (Italy). 

2012 Nothing Serious. Ambroz Valley Inn Exhibition Hall. Hervás (Cáceres).

2010 Small Format. Mouse Head. Contemporary Creative Space. Cáceres.

2009 The Fish's Insides. La Tea Gallery. Plasencia (Cáceres).

Small World. Espacio Espora Gallery. Madrid.

2008 Signs of Identity. Barrantes Cervantes Palace, Pizarro Foundation. Trujillo.

Signs of Identity. Hebrew Hall. Las Claras Cultural Center. Plasencia.

Identitas–Identitatis. Mouse Head. Contemporary Creative Space. Cáceres.

Reflect Yourself. Youth Space Exhibition Hall. Salamanca City Hall. Salamanca.

2007 Childhood Moments. Pérez Comendador-Leroux Museum. Hervás (Cáceres).

The One Who Looks from the Other Side. Experimental Art Space. Fonseca Palace. Salamanca.

2006 Disfigurements. García de la Huerta Sociocultural Center. Zafra (Badajoz).

2005 1st Steps. Municipal Exhibition Hall M. Zarza Project (Cáceres).

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 26th Fine Arts Award. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

I forgot I forgot you. BNM. Gamazo Warehouses. ENAIRE Foundation. Santander.

2023 Women in Picasso's Life. BNM. Women's Institute. Madrid. 

13th National Painting Competition, Parliament of La Rioja. Parliament of La Rioja. Logroño.

2022 24th Fine Arts Award. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

D [ONES]. BNM. La Muralla Hall. University of Valencia. Valencia. 

ENATE Scholarship. ENATE Art Gallery. Lower Halls, Huesca.

2021 It's Light. Adora Calvo Gallery. Las Rozas, Madrid.

OPENING Carabanchel. Beatriz Pereira Gallery Stand. Madrid.

2020 Esquecín that esquecín you. BNM. Pazo de San Marcos Room of the Lugo Provincial Council. Lugo.

IMPRISONED. BNM. Costa Rican Women's Museum. Costa Rica.

Lines of Salon II. Need for Art. Las Claras Cultural Center. Plasencia.

2018 21st Fine Arts Award. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

25 Years of Young Art in Langreo. Curator Gabino Busto. Langreo Art Gallery (Asturias).

They and the social fabric. Commissioner Concha Mayordomo. Florencio de la Fuente Medical Center. Huete (Cuenca).

Women Standing Up for ART. Curator Rosana Soriano. March 8. Extremadura Assembly.

2017 20th Fine Arts Award. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

17th Timoteo Pérez Rubio Painting Prize. Town Hall Hall. Oliva de la Frontera (Badajoz).

IMPRISONED. BNM. LÉCRAC Cultural Center. Palencia.

Cáceres Open. Curator Jorge Díez. Visual Arts/Public Space. Extremadura Culture Foundation. 

Feminine Art. Curator Rosa Perales. Department of Culture. Isla Palace. Cáceres.

2016 Stories from the Camino. Francisco Zurbarán Scholarship Recipients. Regional Government of Extremadura. Traveling.

19th Badajoz City Painting Prize. Luis de Morales City Museum. Badajoz.

26th Calamonte Youth Competition. Calamonte (Badajoz).

16th UNED Painting Competition. Plasencia.

2015 Overture. Badajoz Provincial Council. MUBA Badajoz Museum of Fine Arts. 

Modern, Post War, Contemporary Art. Galleria d'Arte & Casa d'Asta Picenum. Cingoli (Italy).

EXTREMADURA: 5 Views. 1 Destination. Government of Extremadura. Itinerant.

19th Indalecio Hernández Painting Prize. Indalecio Hernández Foundation. Valencia de Alcántara.

CRUZARTE. Red Cross. NEVACAM Art Gallery. Cáceres.

Pavilion of Illustrious Women. Carmen Martín Gaite Library. Carlos III University of Madrid.

6 Artists. 6 Views: A Set Table. Nevacam Room. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

EXTREMADURA: 5 Views. 1 Destination. Government of Extremadura. Itinerant.

Art against AIDS.  Extremadura Anti-AIDS Committee. Moctezuma Palace. Cáceres.

EXPERIENCE ART. María Nieves Gallery. Villafranca de los Barros (Badajoz).

2014 ARTE 50 Plastic Arts Exhibition. Casa Pía Cultural Center. Lisbon (Portugal).

Manifest Enemies. Exhibition Hall of the Mérida School of Art and Higher Education.

Exhibition of Spanish Artists. Gallery 9 Ocher. Montemor-O-Novo (Portugal).

2013 5th Exhibition of National Artists. María Nieves Gallery. Villafranca (Badajoz).

Collettiva di Natale 1973 – 2013. Galleria d'Arte La Loggia. Udine (Italy).

Christmas Collective. Gaudí Art Gallery. Madrid.

Feminine Art. Curator Rosa Perales. Department of Culture. Isla Palace. Cáceres.

2011 1st Solidarity Art Exhibition in Extremadura. Caja Badajoz Social Work Hall. Mérida. 

2010 Young Extremadura Artists 2010. Organized by the Regional Government of Extremadura. Traveling.

Contemporary Artists. Alcazaba Cultural Center of the Mérida City Council. 

1st Laura Otero Painting Competition. Bishop Solís Palace. Miajadas (Cáceres).

2009 12th Fine Arts Award. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres Provincial Council. Cáceres.

2nd Biennial of Fine Arts. Extremadura Assembly. Mérida.

OPTICA, International Video Art Festival. Paris (France).

3rd Juan José Narbón International Painting Competition. Veletas Museum, Cáceres.

16th Spanish Solidarity Film Festival. Cáceres.

The Art of Equality. FIC. Círculo de Bellas Artes. Madrid. 

2007 Fivars' 07 Awards. Fivars Montepego Gallery. Pego (Alicante).

XVII National Competition “Young Calamonte”. Calamonte (Badajoz)

Screening of “The Other Side.” House of Shells, Salamanca.

From Silver to Blue. Villagarcía de Arousa Cultural Center (Galicia). 

2006 Castile and León International Photography Festival Explorafoto. Salamanca.

10th San Marcos Award. University of Salamanca. 

Reunart'06. MUVa Exhibition Hall. Santa Cruz Palace. Valladolid.

VI Jaurena Art Painting Prize. Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona).

2005  X Primeira Exposicao Internacional de Artes Plásticas. Vendas Novas (Portugal). 

AWARDS

2024 BNM Honorary Member Award. Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. Madrid. 

2023 Grants for the Promotion of Contemporary Spanish Art. Artistic Creation and Production. Ministry of Culture. Government of Spain.

2023 Grants for Visual Artists. Regional Government of Extremadura.

2023 Selection/Catalog. 13th National Painting Competition, Parliament of La Rioja. Logroño.

2021 Selection/Catalog. 36th BMW Painting Award. Madrid.

2020 Acquisition Prize. 13th Badajoz City Painting Prize.

Selection/Catalog. 35th BMW Painting Award. Madrid.

2020 Grants for artistic research, creation, and production in the field of visual arts. Ministry of Culture. Government of Spain.

2020 SOS Art/Culture Creation Grant. VEGAP Visual Management Entity for Visual Artists.

2019 Finalist. XXXI Sant Marçal Painting Contest. Marratxí Town Hall (Mallorca).

Art Containers. AUPEX. Badajoz Provincial Council. Cáceres Provincial Council. Hervás (Cáceres).

2018 Grant for Visual Artists. Regional Government of Extremadura. 

2018 Intervention Award. VI Gallery of Artistic Intervention Projects. La Cárcel Creation Center. Segovia.

2017 ERASMUS+. ART HAS NOT AGE. Extremadura. European Union.

2016 Runner-up. 24th National Art Nalón Visual Arts Competition. Langreo (Asturias).

Acquisition Award. 9th Badajoz City Painting Prize.

1st Prize in Painting. 16th UNED Painting Competition. Plasencia.

2015 Runner-up. 19th Indalecio Hernández Painting Prize. Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres).

2013 Grundtvig Scholarship. OAPEE  Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain. Udine (Italy).

2012 First Prize in Painting. 12th Young Artists Competition. Cáceres Youth Institute.

2011 Youth Creation Grant. Youth Initiative Office. Regional Government of Extremadura. 

2010 2nd Prize in painting. 4th Juan José Narbón International Painting Competition. Cáceres.

2009 Francisco de Zurbarán Fine Artists Scholarship. Regional Government of Extremadura. 

2007 Francisco de Zurbarán Fine Artists Scholarship. Regional Government of Extremadura. 

2007 Ministry of Education and Science Scholarship. Frances King School of English. London, England.

2003/04 Erasmus Scholarship. Accademia di Belle Arti. Venice (Italy).

PUBLICATIONS

Individuals

2024 The Blank Spaces. Principality of Asturias. Barjola Museum. Gijón. 

2021 Variations. Spanish Ministry of Culture. Regional Government of Extremadura. Europa Hall. Badajoz.

2018 Sound Map. Cáceres Provincial Council. El Brocense Art Gallery. Cáceres.

2016 Synesthesia. Langreo City Hall. Eduardo Úrculo Art Gallery. Langreo (Asturias).

2008 Identity Marks. Regional Government of Extremadura. Hebrew Hall. Las Claras Cultural Center. Plasencia.

Collectives

2017 Cáceres Abierto. A contemporary art and culture project that integrates interventions in public spaces. Regional Government of Extremadura. Cáceres.

2010 Young Artists. Zurbarán Fellowship. Regional Government of Extremadura. Mérida.

COLLECTIONS 

Cáceres Museum

Indalecio Hernández Foundation 

Regional Government of Extremadura

Eduardo Úrculo Art Gallery

+Mad Museum of Fine Arts of Don Benito

Badajoz City Council

Pizarro Foundation

Sofia Olazabal Collection

Victor Francos Diaz Collection

Marisa Paredes Collection

Provincial Council of Cáceres

Citizen Equality Foundation

Women's Institute of Extremadura

Women's Institute of Madrid

Fariña Wineries

Cáceres City Council

University of Extremadura

UNED Plasencia Associated Center

Alconetar Bridge Inn in Garrovillas

Youth Institute of Cáceres

House of Women and Children of Badajoz

AUPEX Association of Popular Universities of Extremadura

Auriga Studios

> Private collections in Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland.

Virginia Rivas 's works can be seen at:

DDR ART GALLERY , Calle de la Encomienda 21, 28012, Madrid. 

info@ddrartgallery.com

Tel. +34 659819791