Blend Explores Creative Formats of the Future with the Most Disruptive Artists

Immersive and augmented reality art experiences, avant-garde art installations, exhibitions of works that merge artificial intelligence with art, audiovisual projections, conferences, round tables and live performances. These are some of the activities offered by Blend, the new international festival of creative industries in Barcelona to discover the most innovative formats today through a lineup of world-class artists who are setting trends on the international scene.

The new event, which will take place on November 8 at Fira de Barcelona's Montjuïc venue, is organised by the British agency Flip180, with the collaboration of Fira de Barcelona, and its main goal is to promote collaborative innovation and become the event where emerging ideas can be transformed into tangible business solutions. 

To this end, it will bring together a thousand creators from over 14 disciplines linked to the fields of architecture, design, art, branding, music and audiovisuals. It will also feature three installations with shows and immersive projections, as well as conferences with 12 internationally renowned speakers.

The new festival has announced its full lineup of speakers and activities, including celebrated multidisciplinary artist Trevor 'Trouble' Andrew, also known as GucciGhost, who will present some of his works, characterised by the fusion of street art and fashion, on the stage of Blend.

The event will also feature the Nigerian-born British photographer, entrepreneur and social activist Misan Harriman, the first black photographer to be published in Vogue magazine and official portraitist of Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Henry of England. On the other hand, Harry Yeff, also known as Reeps100, will show attendees why he is a global leader in experimental art centered on voice technology.

Gaza and art against war

One visual artist who won't be able to attend Blend in person this year due to the war in Gaza, but who will have his own exhibition at the show, is Palestinian Maisara Baroud. The Gaza-based visual artist caught the attention of the international media with his impressive exhibition 'I am Still Alive' (2024). Through his art, he creates a daily documentation of the fear and destruction he sees around him.

In addition, multidisciplinary digital creatives Tatiana Halbach and Søren Christensen, also known as Desilence, will present their innovative creations, while digital artist Solimán López, a conceptualist and researcher specialising in science, biotechnology and interactive and digital art, will also take the stage.

The festival will also feature creative executives from companies that work with innovation on a daily basis, such as Nike, Ogilvy and Snapchat.

Blend is a one-day, free-to-attend, international festival designed to bring creative minds and brands together to learn, imagine and develop high-impact collaborations. It will be held alongside the MIRA festival of digital arts and contemporary music, which will take place on November 8 and 9, making Fira the focal point of creative innovation at a global level thanks to the synergies that could emerge between the two events.