Dénia sculpture winner sends powerful message about protecting the ocean

An artwork carrying a message about the future of the world’s oceans has taken first prize at a popular outdoor sculpture competition in Dénia, celebrating the creativity of artists while bringing environmental themes to the Mediterranean waterfront.

Mapi Gómez won the top award in the eighth edition of Esculturas frente al mar (Sculptures by the Sea) with her piece, Save the Ocean. The prize was presented at Marina Dénia on Wednesday, October 14, marking the conclusion of this year’s exhibition.

The winning sculpture received €1,500, with two other artists also recognised for their contributions to the competition, which has become an established cultural feature of the marina.

Three artists recognised in Dénia

The second prize, worth €1,000, went to Laura Moret for Concierto al mar (Concert to the Sea), while Salvador Mollá secured third place and €500 for Venus de la mar (Venus of the Sea).

Three additional special mentions were awarded to artists whose work stood out for particular qualities. Michel Touma was recognised for artistic development, Rosa Montoro for originality and Laura Gabari for the monumental scale of her sculpture.

The awards were presented by representatives of Dénia Town Hall and Marina Dénia, including Mayor Rafa Carrió, Culture Councillor Raúl David García and marina director Gabriel Martínez, alongside members of the judging panel.

The competition uses a shared voting system rather than leaving the decision entirely to professional judges. Their assessment accounts for 50% of the result, while votes from members of the public contribute 30%. The participating artists themselves account for the remaining 20%.

This approach gives visitors and the creative community a direct role in deciding which works receive recognition.

An outdoor gallery beside the Mediterranean

This year’s exhibition brought together 23 artists, transforming the waterfront at Marina Dénia into an open-air gallery where sculpture could be enjoyed against the backdrop of the sea.

The participating artists included Mapi Gómez, Laura Moret, Salvador Mollá, Rosa Montoro, Michel Touma, Laura Gabari and Manuel Jesús Hernández, alongside a wide range of other creators.

The works represented different artistic approaches, giving the exhibition a varied character and offering visitors an opportunity to encounter contemporary art outside a traditional gallery setting.

The initiative is part of Isla Arte, a cultural strand of the wider Isla Marina Dénia project. Its aim is to introduce artistic experiences into public spaces and strengthen the connection between culture, the local community and the Mediterranean environment.

Keeping art accessible to the public

Marina Dénia has used the competition to establish the port as more than a place for boats and waterfront leisure, creating opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with art during a walk along the marina.

The eighth edition continues a project that combines public participation with professional artistic recognition. With 23 works included this year, the exhibition also highlighted the range of creative talent taking part in the regional and national art scene.

Gómez’s winning title, Save the Ocean, gives the competition a timely environmental dimension, placing the protection of the marine world at the heart of a cultural event held beside the Mediterranean.

The 2026 awards bring this year’s edition to a close, recognising the artists whose work made the waterfront exhibition possible.