Gustavo Torner, born in Cuenca in 1925, is the recipient of the I Eusebio Sempere Award for artistic creation and thought. This prize, established by the Alicante City Council Culture Department, recognizes his enduring impact on modern art and his insightful approach to artistic practice. The recognition arrived last December, underscoring Torner’s influence as both a creator and a thinker. His reaction to the news reflected a deep appreciation for Sempere as a person and as an artist, highlighting a shared legacy that bridges generations.
Torner is renowned as a painter and sculptor connected with the Cuenca Museum of Abstract Art, and he maintains a long friendship with Eusebio Sempere. On the award day, he received a prize of 10,000 euros and a sculpture presented by a member of the Cultural Council, Antonio Lastres. The occasion also featured a visit by MACA’s curator, Rosa Castells, who traveled to Torner’s hometown to participate in the ceremony alongside other important figures in the local art community.
During the ceremony, the mayor emphasized the significance of the moment, noting that the award honored both Torner’s personal life and his professional trajectory. The occasion highlighted Sempere’s time in Cuenca, celebrated through encounters with other artists and the continuing dialogue between their works.
Gustavo Torner wins the I Eusebio Sempere Award and reconnects with the Onil artist
Rosa Castells reflected on the decision to honor Gustavo Torner, describing it as a just tribute to a generation of artists who renewed contemporary plastic arts with energy and vision. The conversation that accompanied the award was filled with anecdotes and reflections on Torner’s unique personality, creating a memorable and historically meaningful moment.
At the age of 97, the artist expressed mixed feelings about the moment: pride in receiving an award bearing his name, coupled with a touch of sadness that Sempere is no longer present. He remarked that recognition can serve as motivation and validation, comparing it to a simple reward that reinforces good behavior. His career, spanning eight decades, stands as a testament to sustained commitment to art.
Pioneer in renewing the arts
The jury, consisting of Cultural Council Member Antonio Manresa, MACA curator Rosa Castells, and a panel of professionals including Jordi Teixidor de Otto, Yolanda Romero Gómez, Isabel Tejeda Martín, and Daniel García Andújar, unanimously decided to award the prize to Gustavo Torner de la Fuente. The decision highlighted the quality and relevance of his overall artistic production.
Torner is recognized as a pioneer in renewing the languages of contemporary art during Spain’s mid-20th century, offering an alternative to the more traditional, state-aligned art of the early Franco era after the autarky period. His work in the mid-1950s involved experiments with photography and informal painting, laying groundwork that would influence neo-dada movements over the following decade. In the 1970s he developed a strong interest in geometric abstraction and sculpture, expanding his repertoire into multiple media.
Turner, the artist
Torner’s artistic output spans painting and sculpture, but also includes graphic design, stage sets, theater and opera costumes, tapestries, stained glass, public sculpture, interior design, and exhibitions. His career embodies breadth and versatility, shaping institutions and exhibitions alike. He contributed to a range of major projects, including strategic planning for the expansion of the Prado Museum, the renovation of the rooms at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and the successful development of the Guerrero Center in Granada. His work has influenced countless artists and institutions, helping to redefine contemporary art in Spain and beyond.