The news could not be better: the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM), one of the most important museums of contemporary art in Spain, has acquired the work A braid of sacred grass by the artist Laura Segura. This addition is a significant recognition of the artist’s career and an affirmation of the importance of her research on the links between art, nature and spirituality.
A monumental work full of symbolism and spirituality
A sacred grass braid is much more than a sculptural installation. With an impressive height of 12 meters and a deployed length of 18 meters, the piece was created in 2022 for the Festival Calles en Flor en Cáñete de las Torres. The main material is the natural sisal, fiber extracted from the sisal agave and braided by hand by the artist herself.
This monumental work connects ancestral traditions of America and Europe, proposing an intercultural dialogue that is sustained in the simplicity and strength of the artisan gesture. Braiding, a technique loaded with mystical and ritual connotations, symbolizes union, strength and protection. It also evokes cultural and mythological narratives, such as the Brothers Grimm’s Rapunzel story, establishing bridges between past and present.
Blanca de la Torre, curator of the exhibition Hebras y Urdimbres, contributed a curatorial text that deepens the readings of the work, highlighting its ability to generate a space of contemplation where the viewer feels enveloped by the natural and the sacred.
Laura Segura: an artistic practice rooted in nature
Laura Segura develops its line of research around the concept of origin, underlining the deep relationship of the human being with the natural environment. His work is a hymn to the natural, where the artisan process acquires as much value as the finished work. In his creations he uses materials such as cotton, beeswax and natural pigments, giving each piece a physical presence that transmits spirituality and an almost tactile sensoriality.
You can discover more about her career and other works at Marquesa Gallery, where the artist is part of the group of creators who defend an art committed to the essential and the sensory.
IVAM: a reference in contemporary art
The IVAM has consolidated its collection with works that address urgent issues of our time, and the acquisition of A braid of sacred grass underlines its interest in art that dialogues with nature and cultural memory. Founded in 1986, the museum has become an essential space for the research and dissemination of modern and contemporary art.
The incorporation of Segura’s work positions his research in a museum context of great visibility, allowing wider audiences to experience the poetic force of his work.
A milestone for Marquesa Gallery and the projection of new talents
At Marquesa Gallery we celebrate this great news as a reaffirmation of our work to accompany artists exploring new languages and materials. The acquisition by IVAM not only recognises the strength of Laura Segura’s work, but also its relevance in the contemporary artistic context.
These milestones are reminders of the importance of supporting artists whose commitment to subject matter, time and nature enriches the cultural landscape.
An invitation to discover the work of Laura Segura
For those who wish to learn more about his work and that of other artists with an equally engaged and sensory approach, we invite you to visit our showroom and our ongoing exhibitions. The acquisition of A braid of sacred grass by the IVAM is proof of how art can be a bridge between cultures, times and sensibilities, reminding us that beauty also resides in the most primitive gestures: weaving, braiding, uniting.
Update · 2026
In 2026, Laura Segura participates in A media lumbre, an exhibition curated by Blanca de la Torre at the IVAM Centre Julio González. The museum identifies his work among the acquisitions that dialogue with the materials, crafts and traditional knowledge addressed by the exhibition.
Marquesa Gallery presents its work on Musitar, curated by Sema D’Acosta. The profile of the artist and the exhibition card allow you to consult the trajectory, the curatorial text and a selection of works to learn about her research.