Local is Global

The Banco Sabadell Art Collection – Documentary Photography was established in 2013. Its holdings were initially built around Spanish and international works—most of them previously unseen in Spain—presented at the DOCfield Festival, organised by the Photographic Social Vision Foundation in Barcelona until 2018 to promote the social value of documentary photography and photojournalism. Since then, the collection has been expanded with award-winning works from the prestigious annual World Press Photo contest, as well as photographs from other sources.

Local Is Global presents, for the first time, a selection of more than 50 photographs from this collection. It brings together compelling visual testimonies of recent events, chosen for their sensitivity and strong social commitment. Faithful to the values of the finest photojournalism, the exhibition explores issues that connect local realities with global challenges: migration, the effects of climate change, economic and political crises, civil protest, and the body as both a site of conflict and a space of identity and resistance.

At a time when we are overwhelmed by an endless flow of images, this collection highlights the rigour and responsibility with which its photographers approach their work. It also celebrates their talent for renewing visual narratives, creating emotional and intellectual connections between audiences and the realities they document. This exhibition invites us to cross borders, recognise ourselves in others, step into their lives, and witness—without filters—the complex journey we share as humanity, with the aim of stimulating our senses, deepening our understanding and strengthening our critical thinking.

2026

06.03 – 18.05     Sala de Exposiciones Sabadell-Herrero, Oviedo