For him, the carob represented his bond with his origins, reminding him of Mont-roig del Camp, a small town in Catalonia where he spent much of his childhood and youth, and of his commitment to the ideas of authenticity, memory, and roots. His connection to his homeland remained strong even as he engaged with international avant-garde artists and tried to create a universal visual language.
For us at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the carob will forever now also be tied to a fond memory, that of receiving a Miró Carob Award, which Fundació Joan Miró (FJM) bestows a symbol of thanks to people and institutions who have supported its mission over the years at its Patrons’ Gathering. This year’s event was especially meaningful, as it coincided with both FJM’s 50th anniversary and SNF’s 30th.
A 2022 SNF grant to Fundacio Joan Miró supported a relaunch of the Joan Miró Prize, and our partnership reflects a shared commitment to amplifying promising creative voices, fostering dialogue through the arts, and broadening public exposure to bold, values-based artistic expression.