MADRID, SPAIN.- Mexican painter and sculptor Juan Soriano, 84, was awarded the fourth Premio Vel醶quez de las Artes Pl醩ticas (Vel醶quez Visual Arts Award) for his lifetime achievement over 70 years.

This award is given by the Ministry of Culture and comes with a prize of 90,000 euros. It also includes an exhibition at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. The winner of the award also can select an artist younger than 35 to receive the Vel醶quez scholarship.

Soriano currently lives in Paris and was delighted with the news of this award. The jury of the award was made up by Ram髇 Gonz醠ez de Amez鷄, director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts; Miguel Zugaza, Ana Mart韓ez de Aguilar, Jos� Miguel Ull醤, Jos� Guirao, Estrella de Diego, and Fernando Castro, among others.