As a child, drawing allowed me to express and live my dreams. Drawing was like traveling to another world; a pen and plenty of paper were all I needed to be happy…
Over time, that need to create became a
artistic quest that has remained constant throughout my life.
Two guiding threads run through my work. The first is the search for beauty through oneself
Matter: light, color, textures, and forms possess their own language, capable of evoking emotion without
the need to resort to figurative representation. The second is paper, a material that has
always accompanied, first as a collage element and later as a fundamental support of my
paint.
My beginnings were linked to abstraction through matter. I experimented with large formats,
incorporating papers, pigments, and industrial materials, fascinated by the beauty that emerges when the
Elements interact with each other. This research led to my academic work, The Magic of Matter
live, directed by Dr. Carmen Grau, and allowed me to delve deeper into the work of artists like Francisco
Farreras, one of my great references.
Those years were marked by exhibitions, awards, and educational trips. I studied at
I attended the Brussels Summit thanks to an Erasmus scholarship and furthered my studies at the National University
Autonomous University of Mexico. In 2001 I received the First Prize for Painting from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of
San Carlos.
Later, motherhood transformed my way of working. The formats became more intimate, and I found
In watercolor, one essential medium is water, color, and paper. Since then, my painting has sought not only beauty.
and emotion, but also to give voice to a female perspective on the environment and to demand a fairer place
for women in our society.
Over the years, painting naturally led me to teaching. Sharing watercolor has
It has become an essential part of my work. In my workshops, I don't just teach: I sit down and paint.
Together with my students, sharing processes, doubts, findings, and discoveries. Each session
It becomes a space for exchange where learning flows in both directions. I understand the
Teaching as a territory of shared research in which each person contributes a unique perspective
which also enriches my own artistic practice.
For me, there is no clear boundary between art and life. I paint every day: in the studio with my students,
During trips, walks, or any moment that invites you to stop and observe. The notebooks of
My notes always accompany me, and in them I collect impressions, colors, atmospheres, and small scenes
everyday things. Painting doesn't occupy a separate space in my life; it's part of how I inhabit it.
daily.
Painting is my way of looking at the world.
Carmen Ibarra
CARMEN IBARRA (Valencia, September 7, 1969)
ACADEMIC TRAINING
2003
DEA Painting Projects Program. Third cycle. Doctorate. Research thesis: “The magic of living matter” Directed by Dr. Carmen Grau. Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Academic stay at the Postgraduate Program in Visual Arts of San Carlos. National Autonomous University of Mexico.
1999
Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Faculty of Fine Arts of San Carlos. Polytechnic University of Valencia.
1998
Academic Year 97/98 (5th year) at Êcole Superieure des Arts Visuels La Cambre. Brussels. Painting Specialty.(Erasmus)
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
2001
First Prize of the II Painting Prize of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos. Work in the San Pio V Museum in Valencia.
Second Medal of Honor in the X City of Tudela Painting Prize. Catalogue.
1999
Talens Grant 98/99. Work in the Talens Foundation. Barcelona.
1998
Awarded for the Circuit d'Art Jove 98 by the Institut Valencià de la Joventut. IVAJ. Individual catalog. Valencia.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
Modern Falleras on Radio City Valencia.
2021
Modern Falleras in Falla Borrull Socors.
2019
Aigua Viva. Watercolor exhibition at the Quaes Foundation, Valencia.
Flow Flowers. Christmas exhibition at the Clero7 studio. Ruzafa, Valencia.
Modern Fallas queens in Avoriaz, Ruzafa, Valencia.
2017
Carmen Ibarra, abstract paintings. Sedano. Benicassim.
2016
Maps. Laland Russafa. Valencia.
2014
Expo-workshop. Intramurs. Valencia.
Carmen Ibarra Viguer, abstract painting. Melchor Zapata Hall, Benicassim.
2013
Seaflowers. Exhibition hall of the tourist office, Oropesa del Mar.
2006
Carmen Ibarra. Imprevisual, Valencia.
2004
Carmen Ibarra. Swiss Group Bank, Zurich.
1999
Carmen Ibarra. Casa del Fester, Benidorm.
Carmen Ibarra. Circuit D'art Jove. Houses of culture of: Campello, Càrcer, Mutxamel, Benidorm, Castelló de Rugat, Catarrosa, Bigastro, Godella, Sax, Massamagrell, Almussafes, Alcala de Xivert, Villahermosa del Rio, Poblallarga, Sumacarcer, Alcàntara del Xuquer, Algiros, Venta del Moro, Uriel, Benissa, Jérica, Moncofa, Almassera, Ondara, Altea, Foios, Caudete de las Fuentes and Albal.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS BY SELECTION IN AWARDS
2018
The National Painting Prizes “Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos”. Two decades of cultural patronage (Valencia, 2000-2018). City Museum, Valencia. Catalogue.
2002
10th City of Tudela Painting Prize. Painting Exhibition at the Castel Ruiz Centre in Tudela.
Senyera Award. Exhibition at the Royal Museum of the Shipyards, Valencia.
2001
Incipit. Young Award from the UCM at the National Museum of Anthropology, Madrid.
IX City of Tudela Painting Prize. Painting Exhibition at the Castel Ruiz Center in Tudela.
Drawing Competition of the Ateneo of Seville. Collective exhibition in the Velázquez Room of the Exmo. Ateneo of Seville.
Second Painting Prize of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts San Carlos at the El Corte Inglés department store in Valencia.
Miniature Painting Competition at the Shoe Museum. Elda.
On the prowl Young Artist Award from the UCM at the National Museum of Anthropology. Rooms of the Ministry of Culture. Madrid.
2000
Benicarló Painting Competition. Benicarló Municipal Historical Archaeological Museum.
1999
New Talents, Talens Award Selection. Group Exhibition at ACEA'S. Promotion of Visual Artists. Barcelona
1997
Cevisama. Collective Exhibition of Ceramic Designs, at the International Trade Fair. Valencia.
1996.
Drawing contest. Collective Exhibition at the House of Culture of Alcoi.
Painting competition. Collective Exhibition at the House of Culture in Paterna.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND ARTISTIC EVENTS
2026
Exhibition 6 views towards life, at the Alzira cultural center.
Russafart in Lalambik, Valencia
2024
There were three of them. Titaguas House of Culture, along with Ana Karina Lema and Keka Catalá
Russafart in Lalambik
2022
Women against war(s). Jarit, Russafa.
Imaginary Constructs between two sees. Bloom Gallery Valencia
Russafart 2022 in Clergy 11.
2020
Fleurs et Flots, Carmen Ibarra and Yu-Han Lu. The Maison des Agustines, Versailles.
2019
Up to the cunt. International Festival of Erotic Arts. Ruzafa, Valencia.
2022-2008
Russafart, Valencia.
2017
Christmas Market. Studio of Begoña Zornoza, Valencia.
2016
Wanderers. Come and see, Valencia
Fira Xicotet Format. Altea.
Christmas Fair. The Twelve Islands, Valencia.
2015
Bowie Tribute. L'Arteria. Valencia.
2013
Christmas at L'Arteria. L'Arteria Gallery. Valencia.
Small Format Fair. Xam Foundation. Valencia.
Workshop by Carmen Ibarra & Erik Lu. Ciutat Vella Oberta. Valencia.
The Power of Red. International Group Exhibition. Obrapropia Cultural Center, Valencia.
On Paper. Group exhibition of contemporary painting and graphic art. Al Marge, Espai d'Art. Javea.
Bibliophilia. Group art exhibition for World Book Day. Obrapropia Cultural Center. Valencia
Extended Art. Group exhibition of art on paper. Obrapropia Cultural Center. Valencia
2012
Feminine Territory. Beyond Painting. Obrapropia Cultural Center. Valencia
Extended Art. Paper art fair. Obrapropia Cultural Center. Valencia
Art Jaen 2012. Provincial Museum of Jaen.
2006-2002
Fira del Xicotet Format, Altea.
2005
Foc Expo. Leisure and Culture Fair of Moncofa, Castellón.
Group exhibition at Café-Galería Imprevisual, Valencia.
From shore to shore Group exhibition. Ca revolta, Valencia.
2004
Conference: Diving into abstract painting. FOC Expo, Moncofa. Castellon.
Conference: The magic of living matter at Academia Arte XXI. Valencia.
2003
IV International Conference of Women. Museum of Modern Art of Cuenca. Ecuador.
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Josep Renau Room of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Valencia. (catalog)
Migrant Day. City Museum. Cuernavaca. Mexico.
2002
Balcony. Altea Town Hall. (catalog)
Collective. Constipart, Chair.
Space-2. Painting and installation, with Manu Muñoz. Ca revolta, Valencia.
2000
Disappearances: Enigma and identity. Josep Renau Room of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Valencia.
1998
Pro UNICEF . CAM Llotgeta. Valencia. Catalog.
Paintings with Monica Jover. The Temptation, Galician Cultural Center, Brussels.
Expo-Erasmus. La Cambre Gallery. Brussels.
1996
Collective Exhibition of Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Higher School of Architecture. UPV, Valencia.
Collective Exhibition of Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Valencia Fine Arts Circle.