José Pablo Arriaga (Markina-Xemein, Bizkaia, 1969) started up his artistic and professional course within the context of the crafs family where he comes from. Ever since a young age he studies Furniture Design at different schools both in the Basque Country and Scotland, where he gets several general degrees and masters.


As a designer he has obtained different awards.
1994 Second Prize Designing National Contest in the U.K.
1998 Winner of the Designing Contest in Nájera, La Rioja.
1999 Selected in the International Furniture Contest in Valencia.
2000 Third Prize Designing Contest in Nájera, La Rioja.


SCULPTURE

His sculptural journey starts up at the Art School In Edinburgh (1992-1994), where he fulfils an Introduction to Art course and obtains a grant by The Prince of Wales Foundation.
His search for balance between man and Nature has motivated him to do several journeys in order to complete his training:
2000 London-Paris-Lekeitio: solo canoe voyage for 43 days.
2005 Africa: Voyage started on a sailing boat in Lekeitio (Biscay) up to Senegal where it wrecked. He continued by land to end up in South Africa. He travelled around 15 countries in all.
In this continent he left some sculptures:
“Markina-Senegal”, made with the luff of the wrecked boat, and set on the island of Yoff (Dakar).
“Theresse”, created in memorial of a girl died during the boat trip along the river Kasai (Congo river, RDC).
“Termitarium”, sculpture for the Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of Congo.



OTHERS

However, his creative interest and his working field are wide from the very beginning and this is shown by the following:

2001 First Prize at the Contest for Ideas for the Cultural House in Markina-Xemein.
2001 “Oreka” Installation, Markina-Xemein.
2003 Installation against Irak war, Markina-Xemein.
2003 “Teilak” Installation, Kurutzebarri farm house, Markina-Xemein.
2003 Theatre stage design (FTI Company) for the play “Yuri Sam”





SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1994 Dignon Colletive Gallery, Edinburgh.
1995 Rodger Billcliff Gallery, Glasgow.
2005 Arriaga gallery. Markina Xemein. Basque Country.
2006 Markina town hall. Basque Country.
2006 Zelaieta cultural house. Amorebieta. Basque Country.


COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS.

1994 Edimburgh College of Art. Edimburgh.UK.
1994 Compass Gallery, Glasgow.
1994 New Designer Center, London
1994 Scotis National Museum. Edimburgh.UK.
2006 Puebla de la Sierra.I Sculpture Biennal.Madrid.
2006 Oropesa del Mar. VIII Sculpture Contest. Castellón.
2006 Antonio González Orea. VII Internacional Sculpture Biennal.Andujar. Jaén.
2006 Fundación Diaz Caneja. Palencia.
2006 Monasterio de Uclés.Premio de pintura y escultura CCM. Cuenca.
2006 Conxemar Vigo.
2006 Parla Cultural House. Madrid.
2007 I Sculpture contest .Excultural Bargas Toledo.
2007 International Sculpture Biennal Valladolid. Valladolid.
2007 Spilimbergo Museum. Unquillo. Argentina.

PRIZES

2006 Second Prize I International sculpture Biennal. Valle de los Sueños.Madrid.
2006 Premio adquisición Caja Castilla La Mancha. Cuenca.
2007 Invited to participate in The sixth edition of the Florence Biennale
2007 International wooden Symposium Unquillo. Argentina.