Madola, National Craft Award

The ceramist Maria Àngels Domingo Laplana , known artistically as Madola, has been awarded the 2024 National Crafts Award by the Government of Catalonia, in recognition of her artistic career and her contribution to contemporary art through ceramics. This award, awarded by the Consortium of Commerce, Crafts and Fashion of Catalonia (CCAM) , aims to highlight people and companies that have excelled in the world of crafts. In addition to the prestige that this award brings, it includes a financial award of 7,000 euros and a commemorative piece.

Born in Barcelona in 1944, Madola trained in ceramics at the Escola Massana and holds a PhD in Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona. Throughout her career, she has participated in numerous individual and group exhibitions both in Spain and abroad, including countries such as France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Slovenia, the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico and China. Her work is characterized by the fusion of traditional elements with a contemporary and conceptual vision, using ceramics as a means of expression to explore themes such as nature, architecture and the human figure. Her pieces, often large-format, stand out for their expressive power and their ability to dialogue with the space that surrounds them.

In this edition, other relevant categories have also been distinguished. The Emprèn Award has been awarded to Avantva Coop , a natural cosmetics workshop formed by female artisans who are committed to the production and marketing of ecological products within this sector. The Prestigia Award has gone to the Associació Ceramistes de Catalunya , in recognition of more than two decades dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of Catalan ceramics, especially through the magazine Terrart. On the other hand, Sonia Benítez Jiménez has been awarded the Best Handicraft Award for her work in incorporating traditional techniques in the creation of artistic fabrics and fabrics for the home. Finally, the Restaura Award has been awarded to Jorquera Pianos , a family business with a long history in the conservation and restoration of pianos and other musical instruments, a task to which they have been dedicated since 1853.

These awards value the diversity and richness of Catalan craftsmanship, as well as its capacity for innovation and adaptation to new times. In the case of Madola, it continues to be the object of study and admiration, consolidating her as a key figure in the contemporary craftsmanship scene.