Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia, begun in 1882 by Antoni Gaudí, is about to take a decisive new step. On March 25, 2025, the project committee announced the selection of three contemporary artists—Javier Marín, Miquel Barceló, and Cristina Iglesias—to design proposals for the building's main façade, known as the "Glory" façade. This is the last major part of the monument still unfinished. The selected artist(s) should be announced in the coming months.
Three major figures of the Spanish-speaking artistic scene
The committee chose three artists with distinctive aesthetics and international backgrounds. Mexican sculptor Javier Marín, known for his powerful works blending pre-Columbian, Baroque, and modern references, has already completed major religious commissions in Italy. Majorcan artist Miquel Barceló, familiar with large-scale sacred projects—notably at Palma Cathedral in Mallorca and, more recently, at Notre-Dame de Paris—combines painting, ceramics, and sculpture in a work influenced by the sea. Finally, Cristina Iglesias, a key figure in Spanish contemporary art, has exhibited at the Venice Biennale and designed monumental installations combining metal, glass, and water.
The "Façade of Glory," facing the Mediterranean Sea, is intended to represent the history of humanity, the teachings of Jesus, and the vision of the Last Judgment. Its construction will be based on Gaudí's initial plans, while leaving ample room for contemporary artistic interpretation. The Sagrada Familia's completion, scheduled for 2035, will mark the end of a project that has lasted more than 150 years and has become one of the most famous in the history of architecture.
