MADRID.- The Spanish capital today opens its arms to one of the most influential photographers of our time, Joel Meyerowitz. A landmark exhibition showcasing his pivotal early work, "Europa 1966-1967," premieres at the Centro Cultural de la Villa "Fernán Gómez," coinciding with the announcement that Meyerowitz is the recipient of the esteemed PHotoEspaña 2025 Honorary Award.

Meyerowitz, a New York native born in 1938, is celebrated globally as a pioneer who fundamentally shifted the perception and use of color in art photography. This exhibition, which originated at the Museo Picasso Málaga, offers Madrid audiences a deep dive into a transformative year that helped forge his signature style. Running until July 13th as a highlight of the PHotoEspaña 2025 festival, the show is a must-see for photography enthusiasts.

Curated by Miguel López-Remiro, the exhibition brings together over 200 photographs, many of which have rarely or never been publicly seen before. These stunning images, presented as large-format vintage prints in both vibrant color and classic black and white, chronicle Meyerowitz's extensive road trip across ten European countries. The collection offers a rich tapestry of life observed on the street, featuring compelling portraits, candid everyday moments, and evocative urban and natural landscapes. Adding a touch of historical significance, the exhibition also includes original prints from Meyerowitz's first solo show at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

The backstory of these photographs is as captivating as the images themselves. In 1966, at the adventurous age of 28, Meyerowitz made the bold decision to leave his advertising job behind and dedicate himself entirely to photography. He embarked on a year-long, 30,000-kilometer journey across Europe, camera in hand, ultimately capturing some 25,000 images. A particularly fertile and influential period was his six-month stay in Malaga, Spain. Here, he became immersed in the local culture, befriending the renowned Escalona flamenco family and taking a remarkable 8,500 photographs along with numerous high-quality recordings of flamenco performances. This deep connection to Spain left an indelible mark on his artistic vision.

The experience fundamentally shaped Meyerowitz's unique approach to capturing reality. His return to New York saw his career skyrocket, culminating in that seminal MoMA exhibition in 1968, where many of the images from his European travels were first introduced to the art world, solidifying his reputation as a groundbreaking artist.

Adding a significant honor to the exhibition's opening, Joel Meyerowitz has been awarded the PHotoEspaña 2025 Honorary Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates a career spanning decades, marked by continuous innovation and profound influence. Meyerowitz's long list of accolades includes two Guggenheim Foundation fellowships, awards from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, and the Centenary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society. A prolific author with 53 books to his name, his powerful documentation of Ground Zero after 9/11 also saw him represent the United States at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2002. His work is held in the permanent collections of major museums worldwide, including MoMA, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Meyerowitz's presence and exhibition are key components of PHotoEspaña 2025, a festival celebrating its 28th edition and dedicated to exploring photography's vital role as an instrument of memory, critical dialogue, and an agent of change.

Visitors to the Centro Cultural de la Villa "Fernán Gómez" have a rare opportunity to experience the vibrant texture of 1960s Europe through the eyes of a master photographer and celebrate the enduring legacy of Joel Meyerowitz, a true titan of the medium.