Hints of Sangria

Waking up to good news is always a gift.

This morning I opened my inbox to find a message beginning with “Dear Florin, Congratulations…”, the kind of words that can change the rhythm of an ordinary day.

My drawing The Fool’s Coronation has received an Honourable Mention in The 2025 Almenara Art Prize, which also means I qualify as a finalist and remain in the running for one of this year’s prizes. The outcome will be revealed at the Awards Gala in November.

Out of all accepted works, less than 1% were selected for this recognition, spanning a wide range of styles, from Impressionism to HyperRealism, and across ten categories. Each category includes only ten finalists and ten honourable mentions, all of whom have a chance to be awarded.

You can view all the finalists and honourable mentions here: The Almenara Collection 2025.

I am also invited to the Awards Gala, dinner, and party in Córdoba, Spain, on November 7th, 2025. The event will be held at the Real Círculo de la Amistad, a historic venue that promises an unforgettable evening.

The Almenara Art Prize has brought together an impressive panel of jurors, including Bryan Mark Taylor, Jeremy Lipking, Amaya Gurpide, Tom Richards, Evgeniy Monahov, Daniel Graves, Carmen Drake, Gabriela Gonzalez Delloso, Steven Higginson, Jordan Sokol, Julie Bell, Rupert Alexander, Eleinne Basa, Aki Kano, Peter Trippi, Kai Lun Qu, Emilie C. Dietrich, Kim Diment, Isabela Palacios, Vanessa Rothe, Dr. Micah Bleiweiss Christensen, Debra Joy Groesser, Bill Suys, and Zhang Hongbin.

I’m honored to have The Fool’s Coronation recognized among such diverse and remarkable works, and I look forward to discovering on November 7th whether it will also be awarded a prize, and to celebrating with fellow artists in Spain.

Sometimes, a day begins with coffee. Other times, it begins with the taste of sangria and possibility.