Puerto Vallarta Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña led a special donation ceremony yesterday for a monumental sculpture titled “Lluvia,” created by renowned Mexican artist Jovian. The artwork is located on Paseo Díaz Ordaz (the Malecón) in the city center, along Galeana Street.
Standing three and a half meters tall and weighing 650 kilos, the sculpture has a commercial value of $60,000 and was generously donated to the municipality through the Corsica Gallery, in collaboration with the Instituto Vallartense de Cultura (IVC).
The sculpture depicts the figure of a young man with open arms, gazing upward at the sky, symbolizing a welcoming gesture to both locals and visitors, and evoking a sense of rain and renewal.
“In this beautiful piece, we see a work that enhances the Puerto Vallarta boardwalk,” said Dávalos, in the presence of Jean Pierre Renucci, owner of the Corsica Gallery; the president of the Municipal DIF System; Candelaria Tovar de Dávalos; and Marina de los Santos Álvarez, director of the IVC.
Dávalos emphasized that the city functions as a vast open-air gallery, and its sculptural heritage is a vital part of its cultural landscape and tourist appeal. “The more we promote our sculptures worldwide, the greater the recognition of Puerto Vallarta,” he added.
Jean Pierre Renucci expressed his gratitude for the joint donation between Jovian and Galería Corsica, describing it as a gesture of appreciation for a city that has given him so much. He emphasized that it is only fair to give back what the city deserves. Renucci also highlighted that Vallarta merits high-quality, contemporary artwork.
Since the installation of “Lluvia,” the city now boasts 149 publicly registered sculptures across various parks and public spaces. Marina de los Santos Álvarez reported that 34 of these artworks are installed along the beachfront.
Jovian, a resident of Puerto Vallarta for 21 years, is an accomplished visual artist whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across Mexico, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and France.
