Estepona is the home of a world-renowned artist who pays tribute to youth, summer and his native country.

Estepona Council announced the opening of the exhibition Quiñones: Al Origen on Friday, August 1 at the Mirador del Carmen, marking the first solo show dedicated to the internationally acclaimed artist Juan Miguel Quiñones.

Famed for his monumental pop art marble sculptures that capture iconic summer objects from his childhood, Quiñones has garnered an enormous amount of praise for his innovative use of classical materials. All carefully carved marbles include ice lollies and skateboards.

The public will be able to see the 180 marble sculptures on display at the opening of the exhibition, which takes place on Saturday, 2 August. They depict summer icons such as icecreams and beach toys. These works are in real-size or in oversized scales. They transform everyday items into monumental replicas that evoke nostalgia. The sculptures, which are based on the classical tradition of marble carving, employ techniques ranging from diamond saw cutting to Renaissance-style inlay, revealing Quiñones’ mastery of the medium.

The curators Mariella Franzoni & Flor Reiners describe this exhibition as “a celebration of the utopia of summer – a time suspended between sun, beach and play.” They discuss Quiñones’ deep connection to the stone-carving tradition, which has been influenced by the quarries of his hometown, Vejer de la Frontera in Cádiz. The exhibition, which will run until December 14, is a homecoming of sorts for Quinones, who was born in Estepona and reflects on the Costa del Sol becoming a tourist mecca ever since the 1960s.

The exhibition has been divided into six themes: Origins, Sketches and The Summer Factory. Punta de la Plata is the sixth section. Sea and Sierra and When The Sun Heats up are the other five. These sections join together Quiñones’ personal memories with the collective urban identity of Estepona and present a mix of newly created pieces and works from private collections.

Quiñones’ sculptures, lauded by international critics, have been displayed in galleries and art fairs across the United States, Europe, and China. The exhibition runs from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm, and 4pm-8pm. Estepona locals can enter for free. Quiñones: Al Origen is a jaw-dropping exploration of art, memory, and a tribute to the joys of growing up on the Costa del Sol.

The Mirador del Carmen is on Paseo Marítimo Pedro Manrique, Estepona. Entry to the exhibition is free.