Aitor Renteria

(Donostia-San Sebastián, Basque Country, 1967)

Artist living in Bilbao, Basque Country. He started his pictorial activity in 2003 through self-learning. Later he studied Arts at the University of the Basque Country, specializing in Painting and Graphic Arts. At the same time, he has carried out several painting and drawing workshops with acquaintance professional painters.

In 2005, he got into contact with the Basque Watercolor Association BWA, completing the courses of its academy. He was secretary of that group from 2006 to 2008, and he has been teaching there since 2010 until 2022.

He has delivered various painting workshops, such as the watercolor demo – conference held in commemoration of the 200th Exhibition of the BWA in the Okendo Centre, in San Sebastián (Basque Country). He has been guest of honor in events such as the Biennale of new watercolor techniques of Caudete (Spain) or the Watercolor Salon of Saint Yrieix la Perche (France), where he also conducted several workshops.

He has received several prizes and mentions in different painting contests, some of them in specific techniques on paper and others open to any procedure. In 2014, he abandoned the quick painting competitions to focus on the realization of personal studio projects and dry paint contests. He has made individual and collective exhibitions in various galleries, museums and exhibition rooms.

Selection of the most remarkable Prizes and Mentions

2022

1st Prize in the Painting Contest of Zumarraga – Urretxu (Basque Country)

2021

Honourable Mention in the International Watercolor Contest of the Julio Quesada Museum (Alicante, Spain)

2020

1st Prize “In confinement” Contest of the Basque Association of Watercolourists

2019

Honourable Mention in the XXXV Celso Lagar Contest of Arts (Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain)

2018

2nd Prize in the International Contest of Arts of the Lopez Villaseñor Museum (Ciudad Real, Spain)
Honourable Mention in the International Watercolor Contest of the Julio Quesada Museum (Alicante, Spain)

2017

2nd Prize in the National Painting Contest of Durango (Basque Country)
2nd Prize in the Painting Contest of Zumarraga – Urretxu (Basque Country)

 2016

1st Prize in the International Painting Awards of Ciudad de Manzanares (Spain)
Honourable Mention in the Watercolor Contest of Benalmádena (Spain)
Finalist Diploma in the Adour-Bidasoa Painting Awards (Irun, Basque Country)
Honourable Mention in the International Watercolor Contest of the Julio Quesada Museum (Alicante, Spain)

2015

1st Prize in the Gabriel Puig Roda Watercolor Awards (Vinaròs, Spain)
Finalist Diploma in the Adour-Bidasoa Painting Awards (Irun, Basque Country)

Most important projects and exhibitions

2018
• “Contemporary Watercolor” International Exhibition (Basque Country)

2017
• “Villa de Noja” Watercolor Biennale (Spain)
• “Transit”, Personal Exhibition in the Torrezabal Center (Basque Country)

2016
• “Silences and Vibrations”, Personal Exhibition in the NH Zubialde Hotel in Bilbao (Basque Country)
• “Fifteen Springs” Exhibition in the AR+51 Gallery in Toledo (Spain),
• Collective realization of a mural on the BAD – Bilbao Art district, for the Basque Public University.

2015
• “Villa de Portugalete” Watercolor Biennale
• International Exhibition of the 70 anniversary of the Basque Watercolor Association

2014
• Realization as guest of Honor of a workshop on new watercolor techniques for the IV Biennial of Caudete (Spain).
• Exhibition of selected works for the end of the Degree in Arts, Bilbao (Basque Country).
• XII International Biennial in the National Museum of Watercolor «Alfredo Guati Rojo» (Mexico).
• Internazionale di acquarello Award «Marche d’Acque»in Fabriano (Italy).

2013
• Participation in the project «Looks from the shore – Artists of Bilbao», in collaboration with the Maritime Museum of Bilbao (Basque Country).
• Watercolor workshop held during the International Exhibition to commemorate the 200th exhibition of the Basque Watercolor Association (Basque Country).
• Exhibition as guest at the II artistic Journeys of Ubeda (Spain).
• FCA international Watercolor Biennale in Vancouver (Canada).

2012

• Guest of Honor in the IV Biennial of new watercolor techniques of Caudete (Spain).
• Exhibition as Guest in the I Artistic Journeys of Ubeda (Spain).

2010
• Realization, as guest of honor of watercolor workshops during the International Watercolor Salon of Saint Yrieix La Perche (France).

2009
• Caja Círculo Room, Medina de Pomar (Spain).
• Christmas Collective of the Basque Watercolor Association, Akros Gallery (Basque Country).

2007
• House of Culture of the City council of Pedrosa de Duero (Burgos).

2004
• Exhibition hall of the World Trade Center of Seville (Spain)