Paraguayan sculptor Roque Ardissone was awarded the 'El Trompo' prize during the fifth edition of the MIRÁ 2026 fair, which runs through May 31 in the historic center of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The distinction, granted by the Fundación Breede, celebrates not only his artistic output but also his work as a patron and facilitator of creative dynamics in the visual arts.
Born in Asunción in 1951, Ardissone holds a degree in civil engineering and has a business background, in addition to being a collector and a formal practitioner of sculpture. In recent years, he has focused on creating large-format works and transferring techniques. In 2021, he founded the Tiki art space, a specialized studio that allows local and regional artists to experiment with complex processes, such as lost-wax bronze casting.
Ardissone has participated in group and solo shows in Paraguay and abroad, including the Oxígeno Art Fair, Pinta Sud Asu, Pinta Miami, as well as exhibitions in Chicago, Pueblo Garzón, and Punta del Este.
The MIRÁ fair, created in 2022 to revitalize the historic core of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and foster exchange among creators, galleries, and the public, brings together more than 2,000 works by approximately 400 national and foreign artists in this edition. The event also honored Bolivian visual artist and curator Raquel Schwartz and artist Heberth Román. The program includes visual arts, designer furniture, architecture, fashion, lectures, live interventions, and fashion shows, with free admission at the former Hogar 'Los Huérfanos' premises.