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Jesús Soto

Jesús Rafael Soto

100 años de Jesús Soto, el maestro del cinetismo que atrapó la mirada del espectador

Con conciertos, exposiciones y encuentros se celebrará el centenario de uno de los mayores exponentes del cinetismo venezolano. Museos y galerías dentro y fuera del país rinden homenaje al artista nacido en Ciudad Bolívar

Soto

Soto à côté du panneau central de son œuvre “Mur optique”, 1951 Soto with the central panel of his work “Mur optique”, 1951 Soto al lado del panel central de su obra “Mur optique”, 1951

Isabel Soto, hija del reconocido artista plástico venezolano Jesús Rafael Soto, recordó que el maestro del cinetismo solía decir que el espectador en el cine o el teatro se quedaba hasta el final de la pieza. Pero, de cara a una obra plástica, el tiempo es menor: «Escasamente un par de minutos y pasa a la siguiente obra. Sin embargo, Soto buscó atrapar la mirada del espectador, crear en él una reflexión. Eso ha estado presente en todo su trabajo», puntualizó sobre el maestro del movimiento y la repetición.

Jesús Soto nació el 5 de junio de 1923 en Ciudad Bolívar, estado Bolívar. Fue el hijo mayor del matrimonio Emma Soto y de Luis García Parra, quienes tuvieron otros tres hijos. Desde pequeño, quien se convertiría en uno de los grandes exponentes del cinetismo, sintió inclinación hacia las artes; tanto así que rayaba las paredes de su casa. Y en 2023, cuando se cumplen los primeros cien años de su nacimiento, Venezuela celebra la obra del maestro Soto.

«Este centenario es un reconocimiento para su figura como artista. Incluso, quizás personalmente, o para el arte en general. También para celebrar la persona que fue; cuál fue su obra. Y no solo a nivel nacional sino a nivel internacional. Soto es un artista reconocido internacionalmente sin ninguna duda», explicó Isabel Soto, quien se especializó en las Artes Escénicas y es la presidenta de la Fundación Jesús Soto .

Soto

Soto. «Volume suspendu», 1968
200 x 100 x 50 cm
Soto en su Taller con su hija Isabel, París, Francia, 1968. Musée National d’Art Moderne – Centre Pompidou collection © Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados

Celebraciones para el maestro

En Venezuela, diferentes organizaciones, instituciones y galerías comenzaron con los homenajes desde el año pasado. Sin embargo, y con mayor énfasis desde junio, se llevan a cabo una serie de exposiciones y eventos donde el público puede reencontrarse con obras icónicas de Soto. Pero también con la música. Y es que no podría ser de otra manera. Ambas expresiones artísticas comparten un aspecto común: la vibración. Además, Soto dedicó gran parte de su vida a tocar la guitarra.

De esa forma, la Fundación Jesús Soto en alianza con el Ministerio para la Cultura y El Sistema presentan una serie de conciertos cerca de las obras del maestro nacido en Ciudad Bolívar. Por ejemplo, se realizaron presentaciones en La Esfera de Caracas y en la terraza de la Sala Ríos Reyna del Teatro Teresa Carreño, bajo la Extensión amarilla con cubos virtuales. Y el 29 de junio la orquesta Big Band de El Sistema ofrecerá un concierto donde se ubica la obra Volumen virtual suspendido del centro Banaven.

También, en el Museo de Bellas Artes inauguró la muestra Jesús Soto: cosmos en estado de vibración. Y antes, el 12 de mayo, Espacio Arte al Cubo (del Centro Banaven) presentó la exposición Geometrismos. Jesús Soto y su tiempo. Propuesta que reúne el trabajo de artistas contemporáneos con Soto (entre 1950 y 1970) como Gego, Juvenal Ravelo, Martha Boto, Julio Le Parc, Mateo Manaure, Victor Vasarely, entre otros. El 28 de junio, en el Centro Cultural BOD inaugurará la muestra Inmateriales, que cuenta con la curaduría de Ariel Jiménez.

Asimismo, diferentes museos internacionales también prestaron sus espacios para mostrar la obra del venezolano. Por ejemplo, en Estados Unidos: en la Hispanic Society de Nueva York; el Coral Gables Museum, Florida; y también en ese estado, la Ascaso Gallery. Luego, en México en la Galería RGR; la Galería Dan en San Pablo, Brasil. Y, en Francia, el Museé Cantonnal des Beux Arts de Laussane.

Soto

“Esas especies de “esculturas vibrantes” de Jesús Soto no son pues sino una proyección espacial de la pintura, de una pintura que se ha impuesto la tarea de decirnos, de sugerirnos, que la materia y todo lo que existe, desde los inmensos astros que pueblan el universo” / Foto Vasco Szinetar ©

El legado de Soto

Los primeros 100 años de Soto también representan una oportunidad para recordar cómo este maestro del movimiento, la luz, el color y el metal incorporó su obra a espacios públicos. Por ejemplo, en el Centro Banaven (conocido como Cubo Negro), en la autopista Francisco Fajardo con la Esfera de Caracas; o el arte que incorporó al Metro de Caracas y al Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño (tanto en los espacios abiertos como en la Sala José Félix Ribas y el telón de la Sala Ríos Reyna). «Para él eso siempre fue importante. Es decir, salir de los museos o galerías y hacer que toda persona que transita por la ciudad tenga acceso a una propuesta artística», dijo Isabel Soto.

Con respecto al estado de las obras de Soto en espacios públicos, la hija del maestro apuntó que particularmente en Chacaito necesitan atención. Sin embargo, resaltó el mantenimiento que se le ha dado a la Esfera de Caracas y a las del Centro Banaven. Y, cuando fue preguntada sobre el Museo de Arte Moderno Jesús Soto (ubicado en Ciudad Bolívar), Isabel Soto decidió no pronunciarse. Esta institución -inaugurada el 25 de agosto de 1973 y es un edificio obra del maestro Carlos Raúl Villanueva- resguarda más de 700 obras que pertenecen a 130 artistas venezolanos e internacionales.

Soto
Esfera de Caracas

Por otra parte, la presidenta de la fundación resaltó que durante su vida el maestro defendió que el arte es conocimiento. «Si realmente se escuchan los términos que usaba, entendemos que es una obra muy amplia. Pero también tiene una dirección muy clara. El arte para Soto no es expresión, es conocimiento. Tiene que ver con evolución de un lado totalmente racional que viene precedido por una investigación científica», aclaró.

Los inicios en el arte

Explicó Isabel Soto que el trabajo de su padre puede entenderse -entre otras maneras- agrupando las piezas por períodos. Por ejemplo, recuerda Soto, los inicios del cinetista fueron figurativos, inspirados por Paul Cézanne. Sin embargo, desde ese momento comenzó a demostrar su interés por el cubismo y el constructivismo. En el año 1942 obtiene una beca para estudiar en la Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Aplicadas de Caracas. Allí, estudió Arte Puro y Formación Docente en Educación Artística e Historia del Arte. Y fue cuando conoció a Carlos Cruz Diez, Alejandro Otero y Pascual Navarro.

Soto estudiante de arte, Caracas, 1945 © Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados

Desde 1943, Soto comenzó a exponer sus obras en el Salón Oficial de Arte en Caracas. Cuatro años más tarde -y tras culminar sus estudios-, Soto es nombrado director de la Escuela de Bellas Artes de Maracaibo. A la par, se dedicó a la docencia en el Liceo Baralt y en la Escuela Normal.

En 1950 Soto obtuvo una beca para estudiar en París, Francia. Y este paso fue fundamental para el maestro. Después de aproximadamente un mes de viaje en barco, el artista se reunió con Alejandro Otero y Mercedes Pardo, Rubén Núñez, Perán Erminy y el poeta José Lira Sosa. Ese mismo año se grupo forma Los Disidentes que incluyó a Carlos González Bogen, Narciso Debourg, Perán Erminy, Dora Hersen, Mateo Manaure, Luis Guevara Moreno, Pascual Navarro, Rubén Núñez y Alejandro Otero.

Soto
Soto. s/t, 1953
35 x 63 x 8 cm
Colección privada
© Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados

Los Disidentes rechazan el arte figurativo y a la pintura tradicional. De esa forma, se interesan por la abstracción geométrica. Y París para Soto fue decepcionante.

«A mi llegada a París, todo el arte estaba realizándose a través de formas que a mí me recordaban las que yo había utilizado para realizar figuras o paisajes. Inclusive los artistas geométricos no me parecían artistas abstractos. Yo veía composiciones de rombos, triángulos, poliedros, toda una serie de elementos que resultaban sugerentes de la realidad figurativa, y yo estaba seguro de que la pintura figurativa usaba para su composición interior el sistema de la llamada pintura abstracta. Para mí eso no era abstracción, sino la simplificación de la figuración», de acuerdo con una entrevista para El Minero de Caracas (1967).

Soto
Soto. s/t, 1953
35 x 63 x 8 cm
Colección privada
© Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados

En París, contribuyó -de acuerdo con la página web oficial- a la eclosión del movimiento cinético. Esto gracias a su participación en la exposición El Movimiento (1955) en la Galería Denise René. Pero además «en exposiciones del Grupo Zero con quienes comparte su investigación sobre la noción de inmaterialidad», se lee en el sitio web.

Cinetismo: movimiento y repetición

Sin embargo, es en 1952 cuando comenzó a trabajar la repetición y la progresión. Basado -en parte- en su experiencia como músico, plasma conceptos de la música a la plástica. A partir de ese momento, Soto trabaja en función de los efectos vibratorios en esculturas e imágenes no solo bi, pero tridimensionales. En ese mismo año se plantea una de las características más representativas de Soto: el espectador ya no es un actor pasivo, sino que participa del fenómeno plástico.

Desde entonces, Soto trabajó el arte cinético. Durante su prolífica carrera, el artista realizó obras que empezaron a finales de la década de 1950 con Vibration. Estas piezas están compuestas por hilos de metal y otros objetos conseguidos en la calle, sobrepuestos a un fondo estriado en blanco y negro. Con ello, se produce el efecto moiré. A partir de ese momento introduce otros elementos como varillas metálicas suspendidas y cuadros de metal.

Luego, en 1967, siguiendo los principios de la vibración de la obra y del espectador como un ente activo en el disfrute de la obra, Soto crea los Penetrables. Obras de metal o nylon suspendidas en el espacio. En 1968 expuso en la Kunsthalle de Berna y en el Stedelijk Museum de Amsterdam. Un año después lo hizo en el Musée de la Ville de Paris. Y pasó a Nueva York, al Guggenheim, en 1974; y en 1983 en el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas (que estaba dirigido por la periodista Sofía Imber). El número de exposiciones colectivas e individuales del maestro superan las 180 alrededor del mundo.

Desde la década de 1960 en adelante, diferentes instituciones a nivel mundial le encargan obras de gran escala para incorporar en espacios públicos como murales y esculturas. Así, hay obras de Soto expuestas en edificaciones de Canadá (Royal Bank of Toronto), París (en el Centro Pompidou y el vestíbulo de la empresa Renault), Caracas y Corea del Sur.

Soto. «Volume virtuel», 1987 570 x 2150 x 1440 cm Musée National d’Art Moderne – Colección Centre Pompidou © Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados
Soto
Soto. «Volume virtuel suspendu», 1977 3000 x 2000 x 1800 cm Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto, Canada © Archivos Soto / Todos los derechos reservados

Para Isabel Soto las obras de su padre «estaban realmente fuera de lo que se hacía en aquella época. Se trató de investigación pura, pero también el conocimiento sensible de los materiales. Él intentó materializar lo que habitualmente acostumbramos a ver y estimular la reflexión», afirmó.

«Lo eterno está en la vibración»

La presidenta de la Fundación Jesús Soto recordó una cita que dijo su padre. «En el espacio donde vivimos nosotros, primero, no hay vacío; está lleno de relaciones, tiene su densidad, su elasticidad. Es una plenitud total, pero es una plenitud inmaterial. Y eso me impacta y me fascina. A partir de ahí empecé a pensar que lo eterno está en la vibración. Justamente, es la vibración que desmaterializa; sea la forma de un cuadrado o la de una varilla o la forma de una Escritura», aseguró.

Luego de más de cinco décadas de trabajo, la obra de Soto se puede encontrar en los cinco continentes. Por ejemplo, en países como Argentina, Alemania, Australia, Bélgica, Brasil, Chile, China, Colombia, Canadá, Corea del Sur, Dinamarca, Egipto, Emiratos Árabes, España, Estados Unidos, Finlandia, Francia, Inglaterra, Israel, Italia, Japón, México, Nueva Zelanda, Rumanía, Suiza, Suecia y Venezuela.

Soto
“Esas especies de “esculturas vibrantes” de Jesús Soto no son pues sino una proyección espacial de la pintura, de una pintura que se ha impuesto la tarea de decirnos, de sugerirnos, que la materia y todo lo que existe, desde los inmensos astros que pueblan el universo” / Foto Vasco Szinetar ©

Además, Soto recibió varios reconocimientos a lo largo de su vida. En 1957 le otorgaron el Premio de Pintura Abstracta, de la Galería Don Hatch, Caracas. Tres años más tarde mereció el Premio Nacional de Pintura, Venezuela; en 1963 obtuvo el Premio de la 2a Bienal Reverón, Caracas, y el Premio Wolf, Bienal de San Pablo, Brasil. El siguiente año, el reconocimiento David E. Bright Foundation Award, durante la XXXII Biennale Internazionale d’Arte di Venezia, Italia. En Caracas, en 1972 lo otorgaron la Orden Andrés Bello en Primer Grado.

La lista continúa con el Doctor Honoris Causa (1978) por la Universidad de Oriente, en Cumaná. Luego, en 1979, la Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (Unesco), París, lo condecoró con el Conseiller d’Honneur Vitalice. Y en 1981 recibió la Medalla Picasso de la Unesco en París (condecoración que recibió nuevamente en 1990). Además, los galardones que recibió el maestro también fueron otorgados por instituciones, gobiernos y museos de otros países como Colombia, Argentina, Italia, Francia, Puerto Rico, Chile, Ecuador, Alemania, Australia, Corea del Sur y otros más.

Jesús Rafael Soto falleció el 14 de enero de 2005. Tenía 81 años de edad. Y sus restos descansan en el cementerio de Montparnasse. Sin embargo, su obra continuará cautivando, haciendo reflexionar e invitando a formar parte al espectador en cada exposición donde alguna de sus Vibraciones, Penetrables, Esferas, Murs, Escritos, Cubos, Volúmenes Estructuras cinéticas. 

Relieve Dark Spots in the Blink of an Eye (Watch THIS)

En el Estanque Sur de Guggenheim se exhibe Sphére Lutetia (1996). Esta obra de grandes dimensiones se concibió originariamente para emplazarse en los Campos Elíseos de París

Colombian Empanadas. Culinary Arts

Empanadas Colombianas
Empanadas Colombianas

Colombian Empanadas. Art of Cooking

A Delicious and Diverse Snack

There are many restaurants and food manufacturer in Miami, Doral or Kendall to buy Colombian Empanadas (Empanadas Colombianas)

The empanada swiftly earned the title of Colombians’ cherished snack, embracing adaptability to suit the unique gastronomic customs across the nation’s diverse regions. Through alterations in size, filling, ingredients, preparation methods, and accompaniments, this corn wrap ascended as the crowned jewel of Colombian cuisine.

Colombian empanadas, the savory delights that have won the hearts and palates of countless food enthusiasts, offer a delicious taste of Colombia’s rich culinary heritage. These pocket-sized pastries, filled with an assortment of mouthwatering ingredients, have become a beloved street food and a cherished part of Colombian culture. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history, ingredients, preparation, and regional variations that make Colombian empanadas an irresistible treat for locals and visitors alike.
Colombian empanadas are more than just a delectable snack; they are a testament to the country’s culinary ingenuity and cultural diversity. Whether you find yourself strolling the vibrant streets of Bogotá or exploring the coastal cities of Cartagena, the aroma of freshly fried empanadas will undoubtedly entice you to take a bite. With their irresistible combination of flavors and textures, Colombian empanadas are a must-try for anyone seeking to savor the true essence of Colombian cuisine. So, the next time you have the chance, be sure to indulge in these savory delights and experience the taste of Colombia, one empanada at a time.


A Brief History
The origins of empanadas can be traced back to Spain, where the word “empanar” means to wrap or coat in bread. The Spanish colonizers brought this culinary tradition to Latin America, and over time, each region developed its unique version of empanadas, incorporating local ingredients and flavors.
Ingredients and Fillings
Colombian empanadas are typically made from a simple dough consisting of cornmeal, water, and salt. The dough is kneaded to achieve a soft and pliable texture, which is then divided into small balls before being flattened into circles. The fillings are what truly set Colombian empanadas apart.
One of the most popular fillings is “papa criolla,” a native Colombian potato variety. These potatoes are boiled and mashed, then mixed with various ingredients like seasoned ground beef, chicken, or pork. The fillings can also include rice, beans, cheese, or a combination of these, resulting in a delightful symphony of flavors.


Preparation and Cooking
The empanada-making process is an art form passed down through generations. Skilled hands fold the dough expertly around the fillings, creating the distinctive half-moon shape. The edges are sealed firmly to ensure that no delicious goodness escapes during frying.
Traditionally, Colombian empanadas are deep-fried to achieve a crispy golden-brown crust. The frying process infuses the pastries with a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the rich, flavorful filling. While frying is the most common method, some regions opt for baking, making them a healthier alternative without compromising taste.

Here is a recipe for Colombian empanadas:
Ingredients:
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Oil for frying

Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and warm water until well combined.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned.
5. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the potatoes, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
7. Remove the filling from the heat and let cool slightly.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
9. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
10. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
11. Cut the dough into 4-inch circles.
12. Place a spoonful of the filling in the center of each circle.
13. Fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges with a fork.
14. Place the empanadas on the prepared baking sheet.
15. Bake the empanadas for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
16. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.


Serving and Accompaniments
Colombian empanadas are often served with a side of ají sauce. This bright and spicy condiment, made from chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro, adds a tangy kick to the empanadas and complements the savory notes perfectly.
Regional Variations
Colombia’s diverse geography and cultural influences have led to unique regional variations of empanadas. In coastal areas, you might find seafood-filled empanadas, such as shrimp or fish, reflecting the abundance of fresh catch. In the Andean regions, empanadas might feature vegetarian fillings, like mushrooms or spinach, catering to a wider range of dietary preferences.

Empanadas are a popular snack and street food in many countries around the world, and Colombia is no exception. Colombian empanadas are made with a dough of cornmeal or wheat flour, and are filled with a variety of savory ingredients, such as meat, potatoes, cheese, and vegetables. They are then fried or baked until golden brown and crispy.


Colombian empanadas are a delicious and affordable way to enjoy a quick meal or snack. They are also a great way to sample the flavors of Colombian cuisine. There are many different types of Colombian empanadas, so there is sure to be one to please everyone.
Here are some of the most popular types of Colombian empanadas:
Empanadas de carne (Beef Empanada): These empanadas are filled with a mixture of ground beef, onions, potatoes, and spices. They are a popular street food in Colombia, and are often served with a side of salsa.
Empanadas de pollo (Chicken Empanada): These empanadas are filled with a mixture of shredded chicken, onions, potatoes, and spices. They are a bit lighter than empanadas de carne, and are a good option for a healthy snack.
Empanadas de queso (Cheese Empanada): These empanadas are filled with a mixture of cheese, onions, and spices. They are a popular choice for vegetarians, and are a great way to enjoy the taste of Colombian cheese.
Empanadas de espinaca: These empanadas are filled with a mixture of spinach, onions, and spices. They are a healthy and delicious option for a snack or light meal.
Empanadas de camarón: These empanadas are filled with a mixture of shrimp, onions, and spices. They are a popular choice for seafood lovers, and are a great way to enjoy the flavors of the Colombian coast.
Mini Empanadas: : Choice of BEEF, CHICKEN, CHEESE RAW or PRE-FRIED. Ready to cook. Keep frozen. COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: Keep frozen until ready to cook. FRYER: Deep fry on 350˚F for approx. 6-7 minutes. AIR FRYER: Cook on 350°F for 8 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of crisp.
Venezuelan Empanadas BEEF, CHICKEN and CHEESE. Venezuelan empanadas are made with corn dough, then stuffed with anything you can imagine (Chicken, Meat, Cheeses, Cazón/shark, Black Beans), and then deep-fried


No matter what your taste, there is sure to be a Colombian empanada that you will love. So next time you are in Colombia, be sure to try one of these delicious snacks.

Jerónimo Villa

Jerónimo Villa
Jerónimo Villa

Jerónimo Villa

About the artist

Jerónimo Villa was born in Bogota, Colombia, in 1990. His artistic education was a musician, and his interest in the visual arts comes from his parents: his father is a sculptor, and his mother is a fashion designer. His early works were paper sculptures. However, in 2009 he began to work systematically and made pieces with wire. Part of his work is focused on using found objects that could be window fragments, which he incorporates from 2020.

He began with the type of work he currently does through carpentry, making stretchers, frames, and other structures. It was working with wood that he discovered sandpaper, and it transformed from an instrument to an indispensable material. He was intrigued by the fortuitous designs that appeared on the used sandpaper and used them first in collages. After that came the transition between the used sandpaper used to treat wood and the new ones he would use on his pieces. The artist sees this process as life and death, wood as a life allegory, and the sandpaper as its executioner who is finishing it slowly. The original transmuting vehicle to wood is the sandpaper, the initial matter, establishing a dialogue between them. Here he is alluding to the material functionality and time as a conditioning factor.

His work uses all wood variants, from whole parts to sawdust. Conceptually he is close to Buddhism through impermanency, the inherent and constant transformation of change, and accepting that nothing is static.

He takes advantage of the material’s visual characteristics, like in the sandpaper’s case, and searches for different colors and textures to create a “landscape” with dissimilar material gradations. By tearing the sandpaper, he exposes the base color, creating dynamism and dimensionality. That’s how these “landscapes” emerge, which imitate the water movement as peaks or create mountains through the superimposition of several layers of sandpaper. By layering the sandpaper, it establishes an accumulation that talks about volume but also about what is hidden from the naked eye.

Another series includes matches, in which he takes off the heads and places them over sandpaper, creating different compositions. Here he develops a similar dynamic to the wood-sandpaper because the sandpaper becomes the transformative element once more.

This artist looks to the materials beyond their intrinsic value, searching for their expressive capabilities. That’s how he finds parallels between certain types of sandpaper used for metals and leather. He creates pieces in which the visual similarities of these two are explored in works that look similar to stitched leather. He uses matches to “sew” sandpaper fragments, which keep in place the sandpaper fragments, similar to a quilt from afar. Here he is working with concepts such as impossibility, fragility, and impermanence challenging all the material’s possibilities. The contact points with textiles allowed him to participate in exhibitions of that nature.

Villa began his residency with D+C Foundation on February 13 and will be at the studio residence for twelve weeks, during which he expects to create a body of works based on two of his series: Turmalina and Aparatos Abrasivos (Tourmaline and Abrasive Apparatus). The second is a tribute to the Colombian sculptor Edgar Negret (1920-2012).

He has exhibited regularly since 2011, and his work has been included in many collective exhibitions in Colombia, the United States, Uruguay, Russia, and Venezuela. In addition, his pieces are in private collections worldwide and institutions such as the Tolima Art Museum in Colombia.

Statement

          Entre lo que la obra expone, hay tres puntos importantes que se han ido desarrollando en el proceso: la imposibilidad, el tiempo y la muerte. El primero se ve plasmado en la constante negación de la función y el resalto de lo imposible, narrando tensiones y enalteciendo oposiciones. Los otros dos, en el empleo del objeto encontrado en desuso u olvido. El trabajo crea estructuras de materia y de historias en piezas volumétricas que tienden a mostrar cierta nostalgia por su tiempo. Toma la decisión de adoptar objetos reposados en el desuso, interviene su forma y su función perdida, y arma estructuras donde la geometría se expresa clara. Los encuentros con la materia prima suelen darse en la calle. Más que abandonados, los objetos tienen cicatrices de la violencia humana, de los golpes del clima y de la naturaleza del material. Parecen decididos a dejar de ser ellos mismos con función determinada, y convertirse en la fricción del tiempo y el olvido. Junto a un caño o recostados en postes, compartiendo el espacio con el hedor de los orines, estos varios sinnombre son recogidos a elección de una curaduría casi totalmente pasional. Van siendo incluidos en un inventario que carece de ese desprecio y anula la desolación.

          El idilio de la vida-muerte es la columna conceptual de la obra. De allí nace y se desarrolla. El objeto encontrado estaba muerto en vida y ahora es resaltado e implementado en un proceso escultórico y conceptual.

      Sillas, muebles, persianas, troncos, ventanas. Una variedad de objetos intervenidos y congelados en el tiempo. Otros incrustados o con incrustaciones, como el recuerdo que está empotrado en la memoria. Libros, cuerdas, madera, pintura, fuego. Todo un diálogo entre materiales y objetos. La obra adopta los sinnombre y los bautiza con un orden nuevo que habla con el espacio y que ofrece historias maduras; un orden que se instala en la escultura, en la pintura y más que todo, en la poesía. El objeto ahora es un recuerdo, un pasado impreso en la obra. El tiempo ha frenado y ha dejado escenas inmóviles que evaden la muerte y narran sólo un poco de lo que ahora no son.

          El trabajo expresa de diversas formas y por diferentes medios una añoranza por el tiempo ya transcurrido, como la función que ya no existe o la cicatriz que ha dejado el pasado en el material.          

EXPOSICIONES INDIVIDUALES RECIENTES

2022   Tiempos sin asperezas, BEATRIZ ESGUERRA ART, Bogotá, Colombia

2020   Instrumentos para la proximidad parcial, GALERIA LA COMETA, Bogotá, Colombia. (Dúo)

2016    Sinnombres, GALERIA BETA, Bogotá, Colombia. (Dúo)

2015    El Sufrimiento, GALERIA CHRISTOPHER PASCHALL, Bogotá, Colombia.

2014    Tiempo, espacio, objeto y movimiento, MUSEO DE ARTE DEL TOLIMA, Ibagué, Colombia.

2014    Impacto, GALERIA LGM, Bogotá, Colombia.

2013    ACUERDO, GALERIA NUEVEOCHENTA, Bogotá, Colombia.

EXPOSICIONES COLECTIVAS RECIENTES

2022   Líneas cruzadas, PROCESO, Bogotá, Colombia.

2022   Aire, OCRE GALERIA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2022   Blanco 1501, AURA ARTE, Medellín, Colombia.

2022   Fuego, OCRE GALERIA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2022   Conversations in small format, BEATRIZ ESGUERRA ART, Bogotá, Colombia.

2020   En la mira, GALERIA LA COMETA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2019    Alumni show, PCA GALLERY, Il, USA.

2016    Hilemorfismos, GALERIA LA COMETA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2015    VIII Salón Arte Joven, EL NOGAL, Bogotá, Colombia.

2015    Gravitacional, Galería Camenea, Bogotá, Colombia.

2014    Premio Grau, CASA GRAU, Bogotá, Colombia.

2014    Sin título II, Galería LGM, Bogotá, Colombia.

2014    The Secret, CERO GALERIA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2014    Arte a las 7, CENTRO CULTURAL EMBAJADA DE ESPAÑA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2013    Digressions & Detours, CURATOR’S VOICE GALLERY, Miami, USA.

2013    Barrio Bienal, MUSEO DE ARTE MODERNO DE BOGOTA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2013    Línea y Figura, GALERIA LGM, Caracas, Venezuela.

2013    Bienal DESDE AQUI, MUSEO DE ARTE MODERNO DE BUCARAMANGA, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

2013    Colectiva, NARANJO & VELILLA, Medellín, Colombia.

2013    Travesías Textiles, CASA DE LA CULTURA, Punta del Este, Uruguay.

2012    Moving Pictures, PCA GALLERY, Illinois, USA.

2012    Vernitage, PCA GALLERY, Illinois, USA.

2012    Colectiva, CERO GALERIA, Bogotá, Colombia.

2012    Rare Air, PCA GALLERY, Illinois, USA.

2011     In Family Unity – Unity of the World, EKATERINBURG, Moscow, Rusia.

2011     LOPROPIO, GALERIA EL GARAJE, Bogotá, Colombia.

DISTINCIONES

2014   Primer puesto Escultura, PREMIO GRAU, Bogotá, Colombia.

2012   FULL A-I-R SCHOLARSHIP, Prairie Center of the Arts, Illinois, USA.

2011    FULL SCHOLARSHIP, Artula Environmental Arts, Oregon, USA.


Contact: dcfamilyfoundation.com

Guillermo García

Guillermo García
Guillermo García

Guillermo García

Guillermo Garcia Cruz was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and resides in Dubai. His artistic formation included attending the Fundación de Arte Contemporáneo, Montevideo, Uruguay; Advanced Painting at the Washington Studio School and Drawing and Painting in Contemporary Art at Corcoran College of Art, Washington, DC.; and the National School of Fine Arts in Montevideo, Uruguay. In addition, he is a professor of Visual Art at the Instituto de Profesores Artigas in Montevideo, Uruguay.

His work can be found in many collections worldwide, among those Cisneros Fontanals Foundation (CIFO), Northwestern University Collection, Chicago, USA; Luis Bassat Collection, Barcelona, Spain; Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami, Florida, USA; Alberto Rebaza Collection, Lima, Perú; and DiGood Collection, Madrid, Spain. His works have been featured in several publications, including a feature by ARTnews during Sao Paulo’s SP-Arte 2023, among the best pieces in the fair.

García Cruz’s work uses a novel approach to replicating how images are perceived. His work looks like it was a computer error or glitch in its pixeled look. He also uses primary software colors in some of his paintings, reinforcing that idea. He says that his “current body of work seeks to question what happens in a variety of fields during this moment of change, when we all feel a little bit disoriented, anxious, or curious about what is about to occur.”

During his residency, García Cruz will develop a project in which he will create a series of works from these ideas.

STATEMENTS

UNTITLED SPACES

At the beginning, Untitled Spaces Project departs of visual experiments that come from real and fictitious structures of exhibition spaces, galleries and museums. These works seek to investigate in different ways the interrelation between the artistic object, represented as an organic pictorial presence, and the artistic institution that contains it, expressed visually as its architectural structure. The contextual space becomes the main theme of this work, looking to question the of validation problem in the current system of contemporary art.

This process begins inside the room through painting and then extends into space, resemantizing construction materials to talk about the wall that becomes the artwork. But then it takes a broader dimension when leaving the exhibition space. Now the work determines new unconventional spaces that contain it, where the piece is taken to the other side of its initial role, to transform the new alternative placement in part of this interaction and to come back to be exhibited as a photograph of this action.

GLITCHED SPACES

The current artwork of Guillermo García Cruz introduces the concept of Glitch to his institutional investigation. Glitch is a term that comes from computer science and refers to a temporary error that is corrected in some moments. In contrast to the bugs, the glitch doesn’t destroy the system, instead, it is temporarily twisted. This temporary twist is assimilated to the global crisis we are experiencing in different ways, an event comparable to the changes of paradigm created by Berlin’s Wall Fall, or the World Wars, being the first time that such a big globalized event hits the millennial generation. 

This “failure” affects all aspects of this new way of acting and behaving, and obviously the field of art does not escape this. That is why it is important to ask certain questions about the weight and influence of the institution or structure as a container and validator of what happens in this field, in such a particular context. This investigation has many layers, but in the first place this displacement is metalinguistic, referring to a global disruption that is related to the functioning of the art institution. 

The virtual fairs, the 3D tours, the long distance exhibitions, the NFTs, have come to stay?, Or are they part of this glitch that will come back when the “error is corrected in the system”? Actually, we have no idea of how this will affect the way we understand art, to the spaces or to the walls that traditionally validate what is art and what is not, but definitely we know we have been living in the middle of an earthquake. 

Extended Statement and investigation interests

My current body of work seeks to question what happens in a variety of fields during this moment of change, when we all feel a little bit disoriented, anxious or curious about what is about to occur. I have been working for several years specifically about the importance of art institutions versus personal expression. So since last year it was impossible to avoid what was happening everywhere outside the studio, even at a personal level. In 2020 I was preparing my most important exhibition at Lima, and suddenly strong restrictions were declared, so I had to cancel it and be rescued by a military airplane sended by the Uruguayan government, because every airport was closed from one day to another in Peru.

This particular experience and the rest of facts we all know made me start seeking a way to express this state of mind into my painting. And made me investigate more about the basis of geometric painting in Latin America. That’s why I started to introduce this ¨glitch¨concept, I wanted to find the most minimal way of talking about all these things, without being literal. 

All this investigation got stronger when I went deeper in my roots as an uruguayan artist and discovered the importance of the MADI movement in modern art. They discovered that painting should not necessarily be conditioned by the rectangular canvas, on the contrary,  the canvas shape should follow the structure of the painting. With these two facts I found the need to work harder and deeper investigating about how a minimal change can affect the whole structure, working from the pictorial and sculptural field.

Condensed CV

Born: 1988, Montevideo, URUGUAY.

Visual Artist

Director at MAG, Espacio de Arte, Montevideo Uruguay.

Professor at Universidad Catolica del Uruguay (Licenciatura en Artes Visuales)



Selected Group and Solo Exhibitions

2021 – Glitched Space V, Solo Exhibition, Galería del Paseo, Punta del Este, Uruguay

2021 – Open Studio, Impakto Gallery, Lima, Peru

2021 – Barranguet Arts Residency, Solo Exhibition, Connecticut, USA

2021 – Swab Art Fair, Barcelona

2021 – Otra Art Fair, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2020 – Untitled Space V, Recoleto Creative, Solo Exhibition, Valencia

2020 – Alchemy, Solo Exhibition, Latchkey Gallery, NYC.
2020 – ROOM 45, Solo Exhibition, Programa Taide, Madrid.

2020 – Dúo, Galería Nueva, Madrid
2020 – Final Selection, Premio Paul Cezanne, Subte Municipal
2020 – Qué es Liminal, Group Exhibition, Espacio Ercilla 24, Madrid

2019 – JustMad Art Fair, Madrid, Solo Booth

2019 – JustLX Art Fair, Lisboa.

2019 – Art Lima art fair, Peru.

2019 – Evidencias, Solo Exhibition, Espacio de Arte Contemporaneo, Montevideo

2019 – Untitled Spaces III, Solo Exhibition, Galería Juan Risso, Madrid. 2019 – Art on Paper art fair, NY.

2018 – Pinta Miami Art Fair, Solo Booth, Platforms Curated Sections (Curador Roc Laseca).

2018 – Premio PAUL CEZANNE, Final Selection, Group Exhibition, EAC Museum, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2018 – Este Arte Art Fair 2018, Punta del Este, Uruguay.

2017 – Uruguay Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Tianjin Art Academy, China.

2017 – Este Arte Art Fair 2017, Punta del Este, Uruguay.

2016 – Temporada 22, Group Exhibition, EAC Museum, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2016 – SERES, Group Exhibition, Centro Cultural de Mexico, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2016 – Premio PAUL CEZANNE, Honorable Mention, Group Exhibition, EAC Museum, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2015 – RIZZO, FOGLINO, GARCIA CRUZ, Group Exhibition, Galeria Diana Saravia, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2015 – INVADIR SIN CONQUISTAR, Performance with Santi Senso, CCE, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2015 – RETRATO CONTEMPORANEO, Group Exhibition, Subte Museum, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2014 – ANDY NY Tribute Exhibition with Vicky Barranguet, New York, USA.

2014 – Inauguracion Marte Galería de Arte, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2014 – Galeria Diana Saravia, Embajada de Mexico, Group Exhibition, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2014 – TALKING BACK, Solo Exhibition, Sofitel Hotel Casino Carrasco, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2014 – Episodio 3, Group Exhibition, Pera de Goma, Montevideo Uruguay.

2014 – GARCIA CRUZ, Solo Exhibition, Interamerican Development Bank, Washington DC, USA.

2013 – CONVENTIONAL, Solo Exhibition, Embassy of Uruguay, Washington DC, USA.

2013 – Arte 58, Torre 58, Montevideo, Uruguay 2013 – Revolutum, A Hispanic Heritage Exhibition, Harlem School for the Arts, New York, USA.

2013 – Fernandez, Barranguet, Garcia Cruz, Dejavu Art and Fashion, New york, USA.

2013 – Arty Nights, BG MOCA Internacional, Portezuelo, Uruguay.

2012 – INMANENTE, Solo Exhibition, Diana Saravia Gallery, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2012 – Pink Spring 2012, World Trade Center, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2012 – Arte en Demolición II, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2012 – Marte Invita 2012, Marte Centro Cultural, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2011 – Arte en Demolición 2011, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2009 – Viñetas Sueltas 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

2009 – Montevideo Comics 2009, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2006 – Cátedra de Alicia Goyena, Montevideo, Uruguay

2006 – Hotel San Rafael. Maldonado, Uruguay

2005 – XXIV Salón Leonístico de Artes Plásticas de la Juventud, Biblioteca Nacional, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2005 –Yo Diseño, Casablanca Arts Center. Montevideo, Uruguay

​Awards and recognitions

2021- Commission for the permanent Collection of Chicago Northwestern University

2021 – Carmen and Lluis Bassat award, at Swab Art Fair, Barcelona

2016 – Honorable Mention, Premio Paul Cezzane, Montevideo, Uruguay. 

2011 – Honorable mention ISUSA National Painting Contest, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2008 – 6th Prize, National Youth Painting Contest, Lions Club,Montevideo, Uruguay.

2008 – 2nd Prize , Montevideo Comics Drawing Contest, Montevideo, Uruguay.

2005 –  1st Prize, National Youth Drawing Contest, Lions Club,Montevideo, Uruguay.

2005 – 1st Prize, “Knock out a las drogas” Logo Contest, organized by Uruguayan Government.

2005 – 1st prize, Sprite Illustration Contest at Montevideo Comics 2005, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Cultural Managment and Teaching

Taller Garcia Cruz

Since 2013 creates TGC, Art School for young and adult students. Areas: Comics, Illustration, Drawing, Painting

MAG

Since 2013 is the Founder and Director of MAG, Multidisciplinary Visual Arts Space ( Prado, Uruguay).

UCU

Since 2015 works as Professor at Licenciatura de Artes Visuales (Universidad Católica del Uruguay)

Contact: Dcfamilyfoundation.com

GLADYS RAMIREZ NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CITY THEATRE

Gladys Ramirez New Executive Director of City Theatre
Gladys Ramirez New Executive Director of City Theatre

GLADYS RAMIREZ NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CITY THEATRE

Gladys Ramirez has a new significant career challenge, stepping into the role previously held by Susi Westfall, the founder of City Theatre, a fact that Ramirez is well aware of.

“In Miami, everyone knows Susi, so very big footsteps to fill,” says Ramirez. “Susi came to be at the helm of a large cultural institution in Miami when that wasn’t a thing.” Ramirez adds, “When I graduated from New World School of the Arts, there weren’t a lot of women in charge, much less Latin women. For me to be a Latina woman in this position now, I have a lot to live up to, and I don’t want to disappoint the community.”

A fixture in the Miami arts community theater, Ramirez realizes that so many members of the community, in one way or another, have been involved with City Theatre and says, “Susi has been wonderful about letting me do my thing and turn the chapter on to this new era of City Theatre. She’s been very encouraging and we’ve worked well together.”
Westfall will remain on the City Theatre’s Board of Directors and leaves the organization in more than capable hands. Ramirez’s life in theater began at the ripe old age of 10 when she was in the school production of “Annie.” But she wasn’t interested in playing the red-headed lead; she was a fan of another role.
“I saw Carol Burnett play Ms. Hannigan, and I auditioned and got the part in the school production. It was my first taste of theater in fifth grade, and that’s where so much of my personal passion comes from,” said Ramirez.
She continued performing in plays throughout high school, and her connection to City Theatre began shortly after when she participated in six seasons of their Shorts Gone Wild, their LGBT series. She was also working with Fantasy Theatre Factory.
“I was going wherever I could find work, and I kept getting hired back for Shorts Gone Wild, and I loved it. That experience allowed me to play a wide range of characters instead of being stereotyped to play the Latin girl,” said Ramirez.
Margaret Ledford, City Theatre’s Artistic Director, gave Ramirez her first opportunity to direct, and that led to five or six more directing positions.
Prior to taking over at City Theatre, she worked in community engagement and public programming at both ICA Miami in the Design District and the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach, where she was Director of audience engagement.
“All of this was a great learning experience. I got to see things from the other side, learn about organization and management, as well as managing larger budgets,” she said.
Then, like so many people, the pandemic changed things for her, and she felt she needed to get back to her first love, theater.
“I felt like I’d accomplished a lot. I knew I wanted to do my own thing, then Margaret and I started the conversation. She mentioned Susi was considering transitioning, and I came to City Theatre in October 2021 as general manager,” said Ramirez.
Over the course of that year when Ramirez was general manager, she says, “Susi began going over everything it took for the transition.”
Being in charge also comes with personal goals and missions which, as Executive Director, Ramirez has many.
She wants to put the “city” into City Theatre and invest in the community. As the launching pad for Hollywood darling Oscar Isaac, who did a Summer Shorts as well as the careers of other playwrights, Ramirez knows they have support around the country.
“My role now is the perfect storm, utilizing my community engagement and programming with theater background and making what we produce and how we present it a major investment,” she said.
That includes developing their successful City Reads program further, expanding it to other cities and counties and for other ages, ultimately developing community partnerships.
“We want to use our platform to extend the conversation. Those kinds of ideas are what we want to move forward with,” Ramirez said.
Also, taking a look at how their programs fit into one another and how they are reaching audiences even from a development standpoint, and continue the momentum of Give Miami Day where “what we raised for was phenomenal for our size,” she said.
Finally, “we need to work on the drain of talent both on stage and behind the scenes, what can we do to bring the theater community together to have these resources, have local people in these roles and find ways to collaborate with the theater community,” she said.
Ramirez is up to the task, saying, “I’m entering the stage in my life that I want to put my head down and do this, take ownership.”

Disrupting the rhythm of the art world

Charlie Quezada, Photo by Jose Rozon.
Charlie Quezada, Photo by Jose Rozon.

Homework Gallery, Disrupting the rhythm of the art world

Starting from the need to reinvent art and make creativity a meeting point to generate dialogues and active debates, Homework Gallery gets ready to see the light during Miami Art Week. The platform consisting of an innovative and nomadic art gallery is led by Aurelio Aguiló and Mayra Mejia, who are determined to break down the walls and broaden the horizons of the international art scene through the democratization of talent. Their first action? v00001, an exhibition opening December 1 at The Knoxon, a mid-century roadside motel on a strip of Biscayne Boulevard. Do not miss it!

After almost 2 years defined by cancellations and postponements of events and presentations, art progressively returns to its natural state. Lots of events now overlap on the calendar, in which we come across fairs as important as Miami Art Week or Art Basel Miami Beach 2021. But if there is something that has been highlighted during this unprecedented phenomenon we have all experienced, it is that creativity (and the world as a whole) needs solutions never seen before. Formulas that surprise us, making us regain hope in the ability of human beings to continually renew ourselves and not remain anchored in the past.

Being fully aware of this premise, the nomadic art gallery Homework Gallery is now launched to challenge the guidelines that governed the creative scene until now. Their first exhibition, v00001, brings together various creatives inviting us to experience redolence in this collection of artists who address their relationship to memory and time through their use of various mediums. From the Colombian-born London-based visual artist Julian Chams to the interdisciplinary artist Laura Sofía Pérez, whose work materialised in the form of videos, films, sounds and installations, addresses important topics ranging from philosophy to ancestral knowledge or feminism.

Ten artists and three artisans are the protagonists of this first exhibition, in which we find different creative disciplines including sculpture, painting or installations. Endless ways to capture their own creative universes that coexist with each other, creating a dialogue between the different works. It is precisely that conversation between creators in a friendly and welcoming environment that Homework Gallery intends. Besides the two aforementioned artists, Elisa Bergel Melo, Patricia Encarnación, Laura Isabel Fernández, Carlos “Varkito” García, Carlos Llamas, Mayte Nicole, Gustavo Peña and Charlie Quezada will also present their work. You can visit the exhibition until January 15, 2022, at The Knoxon, located in the historic MiMo district.

Charlie Quezada, Photo by Elisa Bergel Melo.
Charlie Quezada, Photo by Elisa Bergel Melo.

Homework is a nomadic gallery known for its innovative approach to curation, utilizing experimental art space[s] to temporarily host thought-provoking exhibitions that challenge traditional views on art and the art world as a whole.

Imagined by Aurelio Aguiló and Mayra Mejia, homework provides a platform for a variety of artists to showcase their work and engage with a global audience. The exhibitions, carefully curated by the in-house team, stimulate intellectual discourse and critical analysis. At times they are interactive and multidisciplinary in nature, often featuring a combination of works from established and emerging artists.

homework’s mission is to open up the art world and create an inclusive, accessible platform for communities to be able to engage with contemporary art and culture from around the world. It’s cutting-edge approach to the traditional art world has given critical exposure to an array of talented artists during key dates of the art world calendar and enabled them to thrive in the current art climate. homework aims to engage viewers on multiple levels, inspiring creative thought, and encouraging dialogue and discourse wherever they go.

Charlie Quezada, Photo by Jose Rozon.
Charlie Quezada, Photo by Jose Rozon.
Julian Chams.
Julian Chams.
Elisa Bergel Melo
Elisa Bergel Melo

How to become a paid artist

How to become an artist (with career options and salaries)

Indeed Editorial Team

The art world can provide you with a lucrative income stream for your artistic talents. As an artist, you can pursue a career in fields such as fine art, graphic art or the world of digital entertainment. All of these can give you a high level of job satisfaction and perhaps allow you to freelance, which means you can accept the projects that appeal to you and choose your own working hours. In this article, we provide information on how to become an artist and explore career options in this creative field.

How to become an artist

If you’re wondering how to become an artist, you may want to know that it’s not necessary to attend art school. While many artists have a degree in art subjects like drawing, graphic design or sculpture, amateur artists can develop their skills through an internship or apprenticeship with a professional artist. It’s important to interact with other like-minded artists and establish a network of contacts with whom you can share ideas and experiences.

Many self-taught artists have honed their skills through practice and experience. If you feel you’d benefit from professional guidance to improve your skills, you could enrol in a community class. Enquire at your local library or art supplier for details of local classes or workshops. You can take some preliminary steps to establish what you want to achieve as an artist:

1. Identify your passion

Start by choosing the type of art you are most passionate about that matches your talent as an artist. You may enjoy painting, sculpture, calligraphy, photography, or computer software to create your art, such as graphic design and animation. Amateur artists can develop their skills through an internship or apprenticeship with a professional artist. It’s essential to interact with other like-minded artists and establish a network of contacts with whom you can share ideas and experiences.

2. Identify your market

Decide the purpose of your art. Are you doing it for yourself or are you doing it for other people to enjoy? Do you want to inform people, entertain them, make them think or simply have something original to look at in their home? Do you want to display your creations in a gallery or street market, sell them online or work on unique commissions for individuals? Once you’ve established which market appeals to you most, you can formulate a plan of action to promote yourself and your work.

3. Create a portfolio

Create a portfolio. This is a personal gallery of your best work. It’s an essential and powerful marketing tool, something to show prospective clients what you do. A portfolio can be in print format for face-to-face meetings with clients or online. Post images of your work on your website and social media accounts if you have them, which helps you promote yourself and sell your work. If you can design an e-commerce website, people can browse, choose one of your art pieces and pay online. You can also post images of your work on community marketplace websites.

4. Consider the job opportunities

Professional artists can work for organisations or as freelancers. Some artists set up their own studios, while others work on company premises or for other artists in their studios. Some artists work on commissions for specific work, while others create artwork for general sale. Unless expressly stated in an employment contract, a professional artist in traditional employment can also accept freelance projects.

Types of artist careers

Earnings depend on where you choose to work. As a professional artist, you can earn a healthy income from several sources. You can accept full-time employment and earn a regular salary. As a freelancer, you can get commissions from individuals after negotiating an agreed fee. You may create a unique piece of artwork, decide on a price tag and advertise it for sale. You could also embark on a career as a visual effects artist where you can design and create animations for film. Here we explore some of the job opportunities for artists and the salaries they offer:

1. Cinematographer 

Primary duties: Cinematography is the art of developing the overall visual qualities of images and still frames that make up the final production of a film. Cinematographers collaborate with the camera, lighting and sound crews, film directors and production teams. They typically possess skills such as communication, analytical and time management.

2. Photographer

Primary duties: A photographer uses print or digital cameras to record images of people, events, locations and other subjects. They work in many industries, including arts and entertainment, real estate, construction, sales, education, sport, advertising and the media. Photographers may work full-time or freelance for clients in the industries mentioned above or for private clients.

3. Videographer

Primary duties: A videographer records video and film productions and live events, often collaborating with other film and videography professionals. They document real-life stories, live entertainment and social events like sports fixtures, weddings, graduation ceremonies and other special occasions. Some record legal proceedings or business training sessions, while others create adverts and promotional content.

4. Graphic designer

Primary duties: A graphic designer develops and creates artwork for a variety of purposes. Graphic designers can work in industries such as marketing, sales, manufacturing and entertainment. A graphic designer works to clients’ specifications to design promotional materials, logos, graphic media, short animations and other computer-aided designs. Graphic designers can work in an employer’s office or remotely from home, either as employees or as self-employed freelancers.

5. Concept artist

Primary duties: Concept artists typically visualise and create various forms of media, including detailed sketches, drawings and paintings of vehicles, buildings, characters and environments. They work in fields such as advertising, graphic design, architecture, print publications, animation and video games. Many concept artists work in offices, while others work remotely from home.

6. Illustrator

Primary duties: Illustrators work closely with authors and writers to create sketches, drawings and paintings to illustrate books and other written materials. They often work on a contract basis but can also work with ad agencies and media publications. They typically possess skills such as attention to detail and communication..

7. Art framer

Primary duties: An art framer may work in an art gallery or a framing shop. An art framer employs technical and specialised carpentry skills and art principles to design, create and assemble artworks within prefabricated or custom-made frames for paintings, photographs, documents and memorabilia. They also collaborate with artists and photographers displaying their works in art galleries.

8. Curator

Primary duties: An art curator oversees exhibits and collections in an art gallery or museum. They help to develop organisational methods for cataloguing, storing and archiving artworks. They may also help to develop plans that encourage visits from the community.

9. Gallery manager

Primary duties: Gallery managers ensure the overall financial success of an art gallery or museum. They collaborate with artists, update gallery exhibits and create art displays and exhibitions. They are also responsible for updating and maintaining the artwork catalogues.

10. Art teacher

Primary duties: An art teacher with the appropriate teaching credentials works in educational institutions, like schools and colleges. Their primary function is planning and delivering lessons to students in various settings. They may also work closely with other school faculties to connect art concepts to core subjects like mathematics.

11. Art therapist

Primary duties: Art therapists encourage people to express themselves through art. This is helpful for people who struggle to express their emotions verbally. Art therapists may work with children and adults with behavioural or emotional difficulties, learning disabilities or poor mental health, people on the autism spectrum or those who are speech impaired. The requirement for registration as an art therapist is the completion of an approved postgraduate qualification.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at the time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and the candidate’s experience, academic background and location.

Art Basel Names Bridget Finn as Director of Miami Beach Fair 2023

Bridget Finn
Bridget Finn

Art Basel Names Bridget Finn as Director of Miami Beach Fair 2023

Finn’s career encompasses work in galleries and curatorial projects. In 2017, she co-founded the gallery Reyes | Finn in her hometown of Detroit, along with Terese Reyes. However, the partners have mutually decided to wind down operations this month. During its existence, Reyes | Finn gained recognition as a gallery to watch and made notable appearances in several US art fairs, including the past two editions of Art Basel Miami Beach. Their solo presentation of artist Nikita Gale in the fair’s Positions section was even recognized as one of the best booths of the 2022 edition by ARTnews.
In an email interview with ARTnews, Finn expressed her appreciation for the significance of Art Basel Miami Beach in the creative ecosystem of the Americas. The fair holds a crucial position at the intersection of North and South America, playing an essential role in fostering connections and cultural exchange among galleries, artists, and art communities in the region and beyond.
While in Detroit, Finn launched an initiative called Art Mile Detroit to support the city’s art scene. This initiative showcased digital exhibitions from local galleries, institutions, and artist-run spaces. Additionally, she initiated Flourish, a fundraising effort that included a charity auction at Christie’s. The proceeds from this event supported research for STXBP1 disorder, a condition her daughter has.

With Finn’s extensive experience and passion for the art world, Art Basel Miami Beach looks forward to a promising future under her leadership.

Before joining Reyes, Finn held various positions in the art world. She served as the head of the contemporary art program at Mitchell-Innes & Nash, a prominent Chelsea gallery, from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, she worked as the director of strategic planning and projects at Independent Curators International (ICI) from 2010 to 2013, where she currently serves as a board member. Additionally, she had multiple roles at Anton Kern Gallery between 2007 and 2010. Finn also co-founded Cleopatra’s, a collaborative curatorial project in Greenpoint, alongside dealers such as Bridget Donahue and Colleen Grennan. The project operated from 2008 to 2018.
Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s director of fairs and exhibition platforms, praised Finn’s leadership abilities and dedication to supporting galleries, artists, and art communities. He highlighted her extensive knowledge of the gallery ecosystem, her understanding of the North and South American art markets, and her strong art-world network across the region.
Starting with the 2024 fair, Finn will assume the role of the director of Art Basel Miami Beach. For the 2023 show, she will report to de Bellis, who will lead in the interim. The application period for this year’s fair has closed, and the full list of exhibitors will be announced in September.
Expressing her vision for the Miami Beach fair, Finn mentioned her intention to familiarize herself with the position before fully immersing herself as the Director. She expressed excitement about collaborating closely with the team and partners in Miami Beach to enhance the show’s offerings for galleries, collectors, and audiences from both local and international spheres.
The title of Finn’s position, Director of Art Basel Miami Beach, is a new role as the fair was previously overseen by Art Basel’s Americas director. Since July 2021, when Noah Horowitz left Art Basel to join Sotheby’s before returning as Art Basel’s CEO, the fair has been without a dedicated leader. This restructuring reflects a broader change in leadership at Art Basel, with each fair now having its own dedicated director, all reporting to de Bellis. The Hong Kong and Basel fairs have already named their dedicated directors—Angelle Siyang-Le and Maike Cruse, respectively. The Paris+ fair also appointed a standalone fair director, Clément Delépine, several months before its inaugural edition.
Horowitz emphasized that this new structure allows Art Basel to deliver high-quality shows in each city while being relevant to the local and regional culture. Adeline Ooi, who previously led the Hong Kong fair, will retain her position as Asia director and focus on steering Art Basel’s initiatives across the region, including the collaboration with Art Week Tokyo in November. There are currently no plans to create an Americas director position or launch a new art fair within the new structure. Horowitz reiterated Art Basel’s commitment to delivering exceptional art fairs worldwide and exploring opportunities to engage existing and new audiences with compelling value propositions.

Errors in art open doors to creativity

Mistakes in art open doors to creativity

Failure, sin, wrong, mistake, and slip are all terms that can be used to describe something that is not successful or does not meet expectations. However, in the context of art, these terms can have a more nuanced meaning.

Ultimately, whether or not failure, sin, wrong, mistake, or slip is seen as a positive or negative thing in art depends on the individual artist and the context in which the work is created. However, there is no doubt that these terms can be used to create powerful and challenging art.

 Do not be afraid of making mistakes in your artwork, be open to make mistakes in your artwork.

  • Failure in art can be seen as a necessary part of the creative process. When artists fail, they learn from their mistakes and grow as artists. Failure can also be seen as a way to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of art. In the realm of art, failure is often viewed as a natural and necessary part of the creative process. Artists frequently experiment, take risks, and push boundaries, and not every endeavor will result in success. Failure can be seen as an opportunity for growth, learning, and self-discovery. It allows artists to explore new techniques, perspectives, and ideas, ultimately leading to personal and artistic development. Embracing failure in art can foster resilience, innovation, and the ability to adapt and evolve as an artist.
  • Sin in art can be seen as a way to explore taboo subjects or challenge religious or social norms. Sin can also be seen as a way to express the artist’s own personal struggles or demons. The concept of sin is often associated with religious and moral frameworks, and its interpretation in art can vary depending on cultural and individual perspectives. Throughout history, artists have explored themes related to sin, morality, and spirituality, often using their artistic expression as a means to reflect and provoke discussions about ethical dilemmas, social issues, and human nature. Art can challenge societal norms and confront taboos, sparking conversations that delve into the complexities of sin and its consequences. It serves as a platform to explore the moral dimensions of human existence and offers viewers an opportunity for introspection and reflection.
  • Wrong in art can be seen as a way to question the accepted standards of beauty or taste. Wrong can also be seen as a way to create something that is deliberately provocative or unsettling. The notion of “wrong” in art can be subjective and elusive. Artistic expression is deeply personal and can diverge from societal conventions and expectations. What may be considered “wrong” by some individuals or within certain cultural contexts can be seen as innovative, thought-provoking, or even revolutionary by others. Artists often push boundaries, challenge traditional notions, and disrupt established norms, inviting viewers to question their preconceptions and explore alternative perspectives. The idea of “wrong” in art can be a catalyst for critical thinking, sparking discussions, and expanding the boundaries of creativity and expression.
  • Mistake in art can be seen as a way to add an element of surprise or humor. Mistake can also be seen as a way to show the artist’s vulnerability or humanity. Mistakes in art can be transformative and serve as opportunities for unforeseen discoveries. Sometimes, what might initially be perceived as an error or a deviation from the intended outcome can lead to novel artistic directions, innovative techniques, and unexpected artistic breakthroughs. Artists often embrace mistakes as valuable learning experiences, allowing them to experiment, adapt, and grow. The ability to embrace and learn from mistakes fosters resilience, flexibility, and creative problem-solving, ultimately contributing to the evolution of an artist’s practice.
  • Slip in art can be seen as a way to create something that is accidental or unplanned. Slip can also be seen as a way to capture the beauty of imperfection. In the context of art, a “slip” can refer to an accidental or unintended mark or gesture made by the artist. It can occur while applying paint, drawing, sculpting, or engaging in any other artistic medium. Slips can sometimes be seen as happy accidents that add an element of spontaneity, texture, or visual interest to the artwork. Artists may choose to incorporate slips into their creative process intentionally, recognizing their potential to create unique and captivating effects. Slips in art can also be interpreted metaphorically, representing moments of vulnerability, imperfection, or spontaneity that inject a sense of authenticity and humanity into the work.

Rafael Pérez Hernando Gallery

Rafael Pérez Hernando Gallery

Rafael Pérez Hernando opened its doors for the first time in the autumn of 2004 in Calle Orellana in Madrid, although its activity dates back to 1996, when a series of exhibitions were held in an initial space located in Calle Claudio Coello. These exhibitions were dedicated to Spanish painters of renowned trajectory, pointing out a specific period in their production, and paying special attention to paper as a medium. Three were the most outstanding exhibitions, each of them including a carefully produced catalogue: “Antón Lamazares (1981-83)” which took place in 1997, “Bonifacio: Works on paper (1970-90)” in 1998 and “Manuel Hernández Mompó, circa 1966” in 1999-2000.

The activity in the new space in Orellana starts with the exhibition “Joan Hernández Pijuan. Works on paper: 1987-2002” which opened in November 2004. More than 15 years have passed since then. Just as people evolve, the gallery, the artists and their works are also changing. Eclecticism and a rigorous personal selection articulate the meaning of the exhibitions. The interest in young creators coexists with the highlighting of the careers of painters with greater international recognition, such as Joan Hernández Pijuan, Giorgio Griffa, Susana Solano or Claude Viallat. Rigour and coherence are pursued in the projects, where colour, imperfection, light, emptiness and balance coexist.

Artists
ALICIA MARTÍN
ANGELA BURSON
ANNE BUCKWALTER
BEATRIZ OLANO
CLAUDE VIALLAT
FELICIDAD MORENO
FILIPPOS TSITSOPOULOS
GIORGIO GRIFFA
JOAN HERNÁNDEZ PIJUÁN
JULIÁN GIL
KEN MATSUBARA
LINA ESPINOSA
MARTA BARRENECHEA
MIGUEL ÁNGEL BARBA
OFELIA GARCÍA
POLLY SHINDLER
REGINE SCHUMANN
ROSALÍA BANET
SABINE FINKENAUER
SIMON CALLERY
SUSANA SOLANO

Partnerships
ALFONSO FRAILE
ALMUDENA LOBERA
ANA H. DEL AMO
ANTÓN LAMAZARES
BONIFACIO
BORIS HOPPEK
CATALINA MENA
CLARA CARVAJAL
EDGAR PLANS
EDUARDO VALDERREY
FEDERICO HERRERO
GONZALO CAO
JAVIER CALLEJA
JUANMI
LARAMASCOTO
LAURA RAMIS
LUIS VIOQUE
MARÍA BUENO
MARÍA GIMENO
PABLO VALLE
PATRICK SAYTOUR
SOFIA PASHAEI

ART FAIRS

ARTESANTANDER 2023
Angela Burson
15.07.2023 – 19.07.2023
Inquire

Susana Solano
ARCO Lisboa 2023
Simon Callery | Susana Solano
25.05.2023 – 28.05.2023
beatriz olano

BAD+ 2023
Beatriz Olano | Claude Viallat
04.05.2023 – 07.05.2023
rosalia banet banquete quemado2

ARCO Madrid 2023
Felicidad Moreno | Giorgio Griffa
22.02.2023 – 26.02.2023
Angela Burson

ESTAMPA Madrid 2022
Angela Burson | Anne Buckwalter
13.10.2022 – 16.10.2022
Rosalía Banet

SWAB Barcelona 2022
Rosalía Banet
06.10.2022 – 09.10.2022
Anne Buckwalter.

ARTESANTANDER 2022
Anne Buckwalter
16.07.2022 – 20.07.2022
Claude-Viallat.-2021-464,-2021

ARCO Lisboa 2022
Giorgio Griffa | Claude Viallat
19.05.2022 – 22.05.2022
Rafael Pérez Hernando @ ART PARIS 2022

ART PARIS 2022
Julián Gil | Beatriz Olano
07.04.2022 – 10.04.2022
Alicia Martín. Glass delusion. Instalación realizada con fragmentos de cristales y libros.

ARCO Madrid 2022
Alicia Martín | Edgar Plans
23.02.2022 – 27.02.2022

RPHART ESTAMPA JULIÁN GIL
ESTAMPA Madrid OCTOBER 2021
Julián Gil
21.10.2021 – 24.10.2021
Sabine Finkenauer Arte Santander

ARTESANTANDER 2021
Sabine Finkenauer
24.07.2021 – 28.07.2021

ARCO Madrid 2021
Joan Hernández Pijuán | Simon Callery
07.07.2021 – 11.07.2021

ESTAMPA Madrid APRIL 2021
Bonifacio | Antón Lamazares
08.04.2021 – 11.04.2021

ARCO Madrid 2020
Javier Calleja | Lina Espinosa
26.02.2020 – 01.03.2020

ARTISSIMA Turín 2019
Antón Lamazares | Susana Solano
01.11.2019 – 03.11.2019

ESTAMPA Madrid 2019
Beatriz Olano | Sabine Finkenauer
17.10.2019 – 20.10.2019

ARTBO Bogotá 2019
Regine Schumann | Julián Gil
19.09.2019 – 22.09.2019

ARTESANTANDER 2019
Felicidad Moreno
13.07.2019 – 17.07.2019

ARCO Madrid 2019
Claude Viallat | Giorgio Griffa
27.02.2019 – 03.03.2019

ARTBO Bogotá 2018
25.10.2018 – 28.10.2018

ESTAMPA Madrid 2018
Susana Solano | Ofelia García
18.10.2018 – 21.10.2018

SWAB Barcelona 2018
Regine Schumann | Miguel Ángel Barba
27.09.2018 – 30.09.2018

ARTESANTANDER 2018
Miguel Ángel Barba
14.07.2018 – 18.07.2018

ARCO Madrid 2018
Sabine Finkenauer | Julián Gil
21.02.2018 – 25.02.2018

ARTISSIMA Turín 2017
Joan Hernández Pijuán | Laura Ramis
02.11.2017 – 05.11.2017

ARTBO Bogotá 2017
Bonifacio | Antón Lamazares
25.10.2017 – 29.10.2017

SWAB Barcelona 2017
Sabine Finkenauer | Regine Schumann
28.09.2017 – 01.10.2017

ESTAMPA 2017
Laramascoto
21.09.2017 – 24.09.2017

ARTESANTANDER 2017
Claude Viallat
15.07.2017 – 19.07.2017

ARCO Madrid 2017
Claude Viallat
22.02.2017 – 26.02.2017

ARTISSIMA Turín 2016
Bonifacio
03.11.2016 – 06.11.2016

ARTBO Bogotá 2016
Claude Viallat | Sabine Finkenauer
26.10.2016 – 30.10.2016

SWAB Barcelona 2016
Sabine Finkenauer | Marta Barrenechea
29.09.2016 – 02.10.2016

ESTAMPA Madrid 2016
Laura Ramis
22.09.2016 – 25.09.2016

PAREIDOLIE Marsella 2016
Sabine Finkenauer
27.08.2016 – 28.08.2016

ARTESANTANDER 2016
Marta Barrenechea
16.07.2016 – 20.07.2016

ARCO Madrid 2016
Susana Solano
24.02.2016 – 28.02.2016

ARTISSIMA Turín 2015
Antón Lamazares
05.11.2015 – 08.11.2015

SWAB Barcelona 2015
Javier Calleja | María Bueno
01.10.2015 – 04.10.2015

ESTAMPA Madrid 2015
Sabine Finkenauer
24.09.2015 – 27.09.2015

ARCO Madrid 2015
Giorgio Griffa | Joan Hernández Pijuán
25.02.2015 – 01.03.2015

SWAB Barcelona // ESTAMPA Madrid 2014
Javier Calleja
02.10.2014 – 12.10.2014
Galería Rafael Pérez Hernando 2023

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