Andrea Franco Salgado wins the second edition of the José Luis Soler Curatorial Prize from PHotoESPAÑA

2026/06/29

Curator Andrea Franco Salgado has won the second edition of the José Luis Soler Curatorial Award, an initiative promoted by PHotoESPAÑA and the José Luis Soler Collection that recognizes the talent of new generations of professionals dedicated to the research, interpretation and dissemination of photography and contemporary art.

The award, which pays tribute to businessman, collector, and patron José Luis Soler, once again highlights the fundamental role of curating within the art world. Following the success of its inaugural edition, the prize reaffirms its commitment to promoting new exhibition narratives and showcasing contemporary photographic heritage.

The winning project, A Shimmer of Possibility, offers an innovative interpretation of the José Luis Soler Collection through a lens that expands the boundaries of photography into the language of cinema. The exhibition constructs a journey based on visual sequences, ellipses, and narrative tensions that invite the visitor to actively participate in the creation of meaning, transforming each image into a space open to interpretation and personal experience.

The exhibition will be open from September 2026 to January 2027 at the José Luis Soler Room, located in Bombas Gens (Valencia), as part of the Official Section of PHotoESPAÑA 2026. The jury highlighted the strength of the curatorial approach, the quality of the selection of works and artists from the José Luis Soler Collection, as well as the educational and inclusive nature of the project, designed to connect with audiences of different generations and enriched with a program of complementary activities.