Art Gallery Nika presents the III International Painting Contest for Young Artists, an initiative that reaffirms our commitment to contemporary creation, artistic education, and supporting emerging talent from an early age. Aimed at youth between 7 and 18 years old, the contest was born with the vocation of becoming a meeting space between the creative sensitivity of the new generations and the great figures of culture.

In this third edition, the contest is dedicated to the work and poetic universe of Federico García Lorca, one of the most universal voices of Andalusian and Spanish culture. A poet, playwright, and creator deeply linked to the visual arts, Lorca understood art as a form of knowledge, emotion, and truth, capable of expressing that which cannot always be said with words.

The call for entries takes on a special meaning as it is framed in 2026, the year marking the 90th anniversary of his death (1936–2026). This anniversary invites us to look back at an artistic and human legacy that continues to dialogue with the present and inspires creators across different generations and disciplines.

Born in Fuente Vaqueros (Granada) on June 5, 1898, Federico García Lorca developed a body of work marked by symbolism, emotion, popular imagery, and the concept of "duende," understood as a deep and authentic creative force. His artistic thought offers young participants a starting point to explore painting as a free, personal, and contemporary language.

Through this contest, Art Gallery Nika invites participants to interpret the Lorquian spirit from a modern perspective, fostering creativity, reflection, and plastic experimentation without stylistic or technical limits. Rather than illustrating a specific work, it is about connecting with the essence of his creative universe and translating it into visual language.

The jury for the painting competition will be composed of Tecla Lumbreras, one of the most influential figures in Malaga’s cultural landscape, with a distinguished career as a cultural manager and contemporary art curator whose work has been instrumental in the growth and visibility of the city's art scene; Miguel Tello, President of the Ateneo de Málaga, a historic institution dedicated to cultural dissemination, critical thinking, and the intellectual life of the city; and Francisco Quintero, writer, journalist, and cultural manager, well-known for his literary and cultural outreach as the host of the program Letras Mixtas. The diverse profiles of the jury members ensure a rigorous, multifaceted, and high-quality evaluation of the submitted works.

With this third international edition, Art Gallery Nika consolidates a cultural project that values art as a tool for education, dialogue, and transformation, building bridges between the Andalusian cultural heritage and the new generations of artists.