Benidorm to host monumental Jaume Plensa sculptures in public spaces
They arrived in Benidorm last spring and have drawn thousands of visitors in recent months. The two large-scale works by artist Jaume Plensa, Silvia and María, belong to the Hortensia Herrero Foundation and will depart Benidorm this Tuesday. Their temporary relocation to Plaza de Santa Ana is part of a display supported by Benidorm City Council during the foundation owner’s stay in the city.
Historical and Cultural Heritage Council Member Ana Pellicer welcomed the transfer, noting that it reinforces the administration’s pledge to bring art closer to residents through street displays. The move helps transform Benidorm into a genuine open-air museum where art becomes part of everyday life for locals and visitors alike.
The councilor highlighted a shared commitment between the Hortensia Herrero Foundation and Benidorm City Council to a street art program. He expressed confidence that this productive collaboration will endure, with further partnerships expected to deepen the project and broaden access to prominent works in public spaces.
Around the town there are still opportunities to encounter other notable artworks. Nearby works include the installation by Belgian artist Arne Quinze titled My Secret Garden, as well as the monumental swans by Taiwanese sculptor Hung Yi along the Paseo Marítimo de Poniente. Visitors can also explore a range of photography exhibitions such as A Walk in Life and Fruit Cuckoo, distributed by Art Espais Urbà de Ponent, El Campo, Pont and Hispanitat. Additional pieces by Vicente Miña and Nuria Crivillés highlight matriarchal themes of the Mosuo community in China at Urbà Carrasco and Els Tolls d’Art Espais.
Other notable art experiences in Benidorm you can visit
Within Boca del Calvari Museum the exhibition Guardians of the Sea. La Torre de les Caletes remains open and is supported by the Provincial Council of Alicante. It continues through mid-November, coinciding with the Grand Patronal Festivals. Espai d’Art La Casilla currently hosts Fent el plànol toponímic de la Serra Gelada i les Penyes de l’Albir, a project coordinated by Jaume Fuster, inviting guests to explore the region’s geographic and cultural landmarks through curated imagery and maps.
Benidorm’s public art program demonstrates how civic spaces can become dynamic galleries. The Plensa sculptures, nestled among palm-lined streets and coastal views, invite conversations about identity, memory, and community. As residents stroll through plazas and promenades, the city’s evolving sculpture collection offers a layered experience of contemporary artistry meeting everyday life. (Attribution: Hortensia Herrero Foundation and Benidorm City Council announcements)