The Rafael Botí Provincial Foundation, part of the Córdoba Provincial Council, is celebrating the centenary of the La Rambla Pottery and Ceramics Competitions with a retrospective exhibition that opened recently and will run until 22 November. Gabriel Duque, the provincial delegate for Culture and president of the Foundation, highlighted the exhibition's significance, stating, "This showcase allows us to closely examine a total of 17 award-winning works from various categories. This initiative, in collaboration with the La Rambla Town Hall, commemorates the oldest exhibition in Spain."
Duque emphasised the deep-rooted connection between La Rambla and pottery, saying, "La Rambla has shaped its identity through clay for over a century. Discussing La Rambla is synonymous with clay, ceramics, and pottery. Its identity has evolved over time, initially centred on glazing, a fundamental aspect introduced in the 1930s."
He also acknowledged the role of women in this craft, noting their historical involvement in the production process and the artistic declaration of these works. "The institutional support for this tradition has been ongoing for many years," he added.
The exhibition transforms the Centro Botí into a prominent display of a traditional and socially significant craft in the province. Additionally, works from the Dionisio Ortiz School and the exhibition 'Flor es' are installed in the courtyard. The 'Flor es' exhibition, which combines ceramics, live flowers, and contemporary art, features works by artists such as Aniana Heras, Carlos J. Cenamor, Noemi Iglesias Barrios, Olivia Barros Mariño, Yukiko Kitahara, and Ramón Luque. Notably, Aniana Heras won the 2026 award in the category of New Forms and Contemporary Ceramics.
Originally, the competitions included only the category of White or Biscuit pottery, with additional categories like Glazed Ceramics and New Forms introduced in the 1980s. All these categories are represented in the current exhibition. Although the competitions are celebrating their centenary this year, the Association of Potters was established in 1984. In 2012, La Rambla was designated a Zone of Artisan Interest, and in 2013 it received recognition as a Regional Tourist Interest Site. In 2015, a collective of female ceramic painters was awarded the Women in Equality Prize by the Provincial Council, and this year, the role of painter was officially recognised as a craft, highlighting the importance of women's contributions to this artisanal activity.
Álvaro Montaño, president of the Association of Potters and Arts of La Rambla, described the exhibition as a significant event marking the centenary of the first pottery and ceramics exhibition held in 1926. He stated, "We are inaugurating an exhibition of ceramic pottery works that have been awarded in the traditional International Pottery and Ceramics Competition of La Rambla, which we organise annually and which have been created by local artists. These works have previously been displayed in various locations, including the Museum of Ceramics in La Rambla, the Salón de la Pedra in Argentona, Barcelona, and the Casa de Córdoba in Madrid. They will travel to Sevilla at the end of November for an exhibition at the Triana Ceramics Centre."
Jorge Fernández, the mayor of La Rambla, added, "We are celebrating the centenary—100 years of exhibition, 100 years of competition. In 1926, we started with pieces such as water jugs and jars. Innovation has evolved alongside the types of ceramics, but we continue to maintain the traditional biscuit pottery competition, alongside new forms and traditional ceramics with hand-painted decoration. These are the three competitions we present here."
