Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Local artist Francisco Javier Calvillo Valdez recently received international recognition by winning second place in the 1er Concurso Internacional de Escultura Monumental de Paja y Maíz (1st International Competition of Monumental Sculpture of Straw and Maize) held in Colima, Mexico.

The sculptor, who astonishes with his creations in sand on the Malecón, participated in the contest, which had artists from Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Finland, South Korea, Czech Republic, Russia and Ukraine making monumental sculptures from straw and corn, during the 2nd International Colima Volcano Festival.

Mexico was represented by sculptors Carlos Ramírez Pereyra, originally from Colima, and Francisco Javier Calvillo Valdez, a resident in Puerto Vallarta.

First place went to the representative of Canada for the sculpture "La Lechuza Blanca," second place was won by Mexico with "El Dios del Maíz," and third place was awarded to Finland's "Maize Vipers."

It should be noted that all of the special mentions - the Artists, Audience and Children's Favorites, as well as the International Audience (via social networks) Awards - were won by Mexicans.

Francisco Javier Calvillo Valdez, a plastic artist from Zapopan, Jalisco, graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a Visual Arts degree. Within his artistic career, he has participated in numerous individual and collective exhibitions in diverse galleries, cultural centers, academic institutions and interventions of public spaces; in addition to his participation in forums, exchanges, contests and cultural festivals in various states of the republic and abroad.

In 2008, Francisco Javier joined the world of ephemeral art with the elaboration of sand sculptures. Since then, he has worked independently to exhibit his works on the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta, using his artistic discipline as a means of promoting the destination through sand sculptures.

He frequently collaborates with the city in coordination with the municipal government or the Tourism Trust for various events and makes sculptures to welcome special groups of visitors to our city.

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust congratulates Francisco Javier Calvillo Valdez, who has great acceptance as a sand sculptor in the artistic, social and business community. Throughout his artistic career, he has developed sand sculptures for social, cultural and artistic events, for hotel and high-end residential projects and events, and for national and international companies, thereby gaining international exposure not only for his works of art but also for Puerto Vallarta.