Coderch & Malavia Spanish

Coderch & Malavia is a renowned Spanish sculptor duo, comprised of artists Joan Coderch and Javier Malavia

 

Joan Coderch was born in Castellar del Vallés, Spain, in 1959, and graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Barcelona in 1984. Javier Malavia, born in 1970 in Oñati, Spain, earned his degree from the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia in 1993. The two sculptors met while working for the same porcelain manufacturer, and after discovering their shared artistic vision, they decided to establish their own studio in 2015. By merging their unique sensibilities, they amplify each other’s creative processes, producing works that reflect a harmonious collaboration.

 

Inspired by the figurative sculptures of masters like Maillol, Rodin, Marini or Bourdelle, Coderch and Malavia center the human form in their aesthetic exploration. The originality of their work lies not only in their shared creative vision but also in their collaborative approach: they create their sculptures together, combining their individual sensibilities into a single voice. This process, where both artists contribute hands-on to the creation of each piece, imbues their sculptures with a deep sense of unity and purpose. The result is a body of work where the representation of the human body is elevated to the level of poetry.

 

Their creative process begins with a live model posing in the studio, where they approach the figure through the three Platonic principles of “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.” Their sculptures, cast in bronze and carefully welded for durability, reflect a commitment to both technical mastery and emotional depth. What sets their work apart is its honesty and authenticity: they explore a wide range of human attitudes and emotions, from the mimicking of nature to the search for deeper meaning. The connection between figure and posture, the blending of beauty with discipline, and the expression of profound human feeling are all central to their practice. At the heart of their art is the human being in all its complexity.

 

Coderch and Malavia have participated in over 20 collective and solo exhibitions and have been recognized in numerous prestigious competitions, earning many awards. In 2017, they won the Reina Sofía Painting and Sculpture Prize for their work Hamlet, and in 2019, they received First Prize at the 14th ARC International Salon Competition for their sculpture The Swan Dance. Other accolades include the Mariano Benlliure Sculpture Medal, the TIAC Art Prize, and the Arcadia Contemporary Award. Their sculptures are held in private and public collections across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Joan and Javier currently live and work in Valencia.