Fundació Foto Colectania, a magnificent art initiative.

Foto Colectania, founded in Barcelona in 2002, is one of the few Spanish foundations specialized in photography. As a private non-profit organization, it promotes photography and spurs on photography collecting through its exhibitions, conferences and other activities. In addition, Foto Colectania has its own collection as well, which consists of more than 2500 works by over 40 Spanish and Portuguese authors.

Sponsors and friends

The Dwelling Life of Man . (c) P. García

How can such an institution survive in a country where it is quite difficult to live on art? The key aspect is its running based on the contribution of sponsors, members and external collaborators. There are several forms of becoming a “friend”, member or sponsor, with annual fees ranging between 60 and 1000 euros for individuals. In exchange they enjoy some privileges, such as free catalogs, discounts, trips and an original photo once a year. There are other options likewise for companies, schools or sponsors.

The Dwelling Life of Man

Inauguration of The Dwelling Life of Man. (c) P. García

The Foto Colectania Foundation is now presenting, along with the Suñol Foundation, the exhibition The Dwelling Life of Man, curated by Régis Durand. This exposition examines the way men live in the world: how they appropriate it, change it and finally leave their mark on the reality of emotions, life, work or nature. It includes more than 165 photographs and videos by the most important names in international photography, such as the classics Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Lee Friedlander, Ed Ruscha, Stephen Shore, William Eggleston, Helen Levitt, Andreas Gursky and Roni Horn.

Friedlander's photo at the exhibition. Florida. (c) Lee Friedlander

In Foto Colectania there is always something fascinating to see: great collections, images by masters of photography and exhibitions on very diverse topics. All in a white diaphanous space, where visitors can enjoy a peaceful feeling of serenity while contemplating good photography, but also having a coffee on the coach and taking a look at the catalogs and publications in the Foundation’s library.