MASSA, Mercè

Born in Barcelona in 1940 and died in Palafrugell (Girona) in 2023. Mercè Hernández-Villaescusa Massa (stage name: Mercè Massa), is a renowned Empordà painter who has held various exhibitions in Spain, France (Paris, Toulouse, and the Côte d'Azur), Andorra, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. For many years she had fixed her residence in Palafrugell, Girona, and she is the daughter of a painter, María Massa, from whom she received a great artistic influence. Among the distinctions she achieved are the Bronze Medal of the Salon International de Béziers (1985, 1986), the Silver Medal of the Grand Prix de la Main d'Or de la Ville de Paris (1987, 1988), the Gold Palm for Belgo-Hispanic Merit (1986), the Gold Medal of Lacapell de Marival, France (1988), the Gold Medal of Bourges, France (1989), the Silver Medal of the Institute Académique de Paris (1989), and the Silver Medal of the Ville de Paris (1989), among others.