Martin Azúa is a Spanish artist and designer born in the Basque Country. He works between Barcelona and Pico Island Azores. His training in Fine Arts gives his work a speculative and experimental nature. One of his first projects was the “Basic House”, a radical interpretation of a Nomad shelter, which since 2007 has formed part of the MOMA of New York collection. He is a passionate observer of nature which he incorporates into many of his works, especially the items of ceramics that he designs. He claims the use of craftsmanship to safeguard the natural diversity of material and technological culture, collaborating with craftspeople of different professions.
Parallel to his more personal work he has designed products and spaces for large companies and institutions. Among those of note feature the design of the first water medals for the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona in 2003, the design of the “Sed” (Thirst) exhibition for the Expo of Zaragoza in 2008, the design of the “Species in evolution” space for Roca, winner of a FAD Architecture Prize in the Ephemeral spaces section in 2009.
He has many solo and group exhibitions and his work forms part of major collections and museums such as the MOMA of New York of the Design Museum of Barcelona, among others.
He has received major awards, among which feature: City of Barcelona Prize 2000, Silver Delta Prizes, FAD Ephemeral Architecture Prize 2008, AD Prize for the best designer of the year 2010, and the prize of the Interiores magazine for the best national professional career 201, Bilbao Bizkaia D. Week 2018 Ambassador.