Mareo Rodriguez
In Portals, Rodriguez is exploring the strength of the Earth’s natural territory as conceived as an energetic and living mantle that is constantly moving and evolving. It is the raw energy of our earth that he is interested in conveying through his art. The Portal paintings employ natural elements of raw linen canvas with the sheen of black lava paint, or gold and copper leaf, providing the paintings with a reflective and light-emitting quality. Mareo also creates sculptures entitled Mantles that resemble ripples of white or black metal on the wall. Unique to this exhibition is a LED light crack that resembles a lightning bolt suspended from the ceiling of the Gallery. Finally, his other relief-style sculptures, made of layers of plexiglass, convey topographical renderings of the natural world. The use of the earth’s materials in the Portal paintings (gold, copper and linen) mimic the organic compositions of his Mantles and Relief scultpures, all together remininscent of “chiaroscuro” presented in a sophisticated style of minimalism inherent in Rodriquez’s overall aesthetic. The strong contrasts of white and black with his glowing cracks, fissures and undulating curves resembleing those discovered in rivers, mountains, lava forms and deserts. They invite the viewer to the unexplored space and to reflect and imagine possible worlds beyond. In many ways, Rodriguez’ artwork is a true tribute to nature and the questions that arise from it.
Recent Artwork
Series
Video Interviews
Artist Information
Artist Website: mareorodriguez.com
Mareo Rodriguez is a multidisciplinary artist born in Mexico City, raised in Colombia and based currently in Barcelona Spain. Growing up in Medellin City, Colombia, Rodriguez was surrounded by majestic mountain scapes, which later inspired him to artistically explore the many minerals and formations that make up the Earth. Rodriguez gained a B.A. of Architeture at UPB Medellin, a Master in Design at Elisava Barcelona and a Master in Arts at UNA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He has exhibited extensively and has participated in different fairs and projects in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Significant projects include “Arte nel Bosco” Land art project in Italy (2016), “Viaggio” at Palazzo Ferrero in Italy (2018), “Carre Latin” at Palais Royal in Paris (2018), and the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival in Emirates (2018 and 2019). Other important exhibitions include his Illumia NFT monolith event in Miami (2021), his “Portals” solo exhibition presenting 4 installations at Valetta Contemporary in Malta, Spain (2021), his participation in the Istanbul Triennial (2022) and his “Wavelength” installation at the Times Art Museum in Beijing, China (2022).
Based in Barcelona, Spain
Origin: Mexico City, Mexico
Biography
1981 Architect and visual artist born in México D.F.
Raised in Medellín, Colombia and based in Barcelona, Spain
EDUCATION
2013 Master in Fine Arts. UNA. Buenos Aires, ARG
2007 Master in Design. ELISAVA. Barcelona, ESP
2006 Fine art course at Bournemouth Arts Institute, UK
2004 Bachelor degree in Architecture at U.P.B. Medellín, COL
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 “PORTALS” Kostuik Gallery. Vancouver, CA
2022 “PORTALS” AM Bjiere. NYC, USA
2021 “PORTALS” Valletta Contemporary. Malta, ESP
2019 “Stones” JLS Gallery. Ciudad de Mexico, MEX
2019 “Black Desert” Madison Gallery. San Diego, Cal. USA
2018 “Expansion” E3 Arte contemporánea. Brescia, ITA.
2018 “Expansion” JLSGallery. CDMX, MEX.
2017 “Expansion” Opera Gallery. Barcelona, ESP
2017 “Scapes” Cage Gallery. Barcelona, ESP
2016 “Estamos hechos polvo” Centre civic Urgell. Barcelona, ESP
2015 “Materia Fugit” Casa Italia. Barcelona, ESP
2015 “Estamos hechos polvo” Nomad Gallery Berlin, GER
2014 “Pieles desiertas” Hotel Charlee. Medellín, COL
2014 “Pieles desiertas” Centro cultural Borges. Buenos aires, ARG
2010 “Topografías intermitentes” Metro Suramericana hall. Medellín, COL
2004 “Fuerzas de la naturaleza” Centro Colombo Americano, Medellín, COL
MAIN GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Five Horizons, Hexton Gallery, Aspen, USA
2022 Wavelength, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China
2022 Triennial, Istanbul, Turkey
2021 Illumia Artrepublical +SuperRare, Miami, USA
2021 Roma Arte in Nuvola, E3 Gallery, Italy
2021 Artverona, E3 Gallery, Italy
2021 Art Madrid, Artburo, Spain
2020 Artverona Fair Digitial, E3 Gallery, Italy
2020 Pinta Miami Fair Digital, GBG Gallery, USA
2020 Praise of the Dark, Macadam Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2020 ARTEFIERA Bologna. Represented by E3 gallery. ITA
2020 ART PALM SPRINGS. Represented by Madison Gallery. USA
2020 ART PALM BEACH. Represented by GBG arts. USA
2019 ARTEFIERA Bologna. Represented by E3 gallery. ITA
2018 ARTVERONA Fair. Represented by E3 gallery. ITA
2018 CARRE LATIN. Palais Royal in Paris, FRA
2018 Subasta Grupo de los 16. CDMX, MEX
2018 AUTENTICA Fair. Ivy Node- Verona, ITA
2018 “TERRRITORIAL LINES” Benjamin Eck Gallery- Munich, GER.
2018 LA ART SHOW represented by Rofa Projects, Los Angeles, USA.
2017 ART CONTEXT Miami Fair; represented by Rofa Projects. USA
2017 ART TORONTO Fair; represented by Rofa Projects. Toronto, CAN
2017 ART MARBELLA Fair, represented by Rofa Projects, Marbella, ESP
2016 ART MED, represented by Imaginart Gallery, ESP
2016 “Geometrías variables” Imaginart Gallery. Barcelona, ESP
2008 ARTEXPO Fair, represented by Arteclásica gallery. NYC, USA
2006 Bournemouth Arts Institute. England, UK
SPECIAL PROJECTS
2019 “We Are” Art installation in Sharjah Art Museum. U.A.E
2018 “Desert Skins” Art installation in Sharjah Art Museum. United Arab Emirates
2018 “Viaggio” Art installation in Palazzo Ferrero. Biella, ITA
2017 “Become Become” Art residency at Arebyte Gallery. London, UK
2016 “Emerging topographies” Land art sculpture, Biella, ITA
PUBLICATIONS
2022 Stir Magazine, India
2022 VC 03 – Valetta Contemporary, Malta
2022 The Found Magazine, China
2021 Nasty Magazine, Italy
2021 Exit Book, Ludvig Rage, Austria
2020 ” Matter is condensed light” Book, Spain
2018 “Expansion” book published by Vanillaedizioni and E3 contemporanea. ITA
2018 “Circuitos del Arte” Latinoamerica- Revista Arte al Límite. CHI
2018 La Perle Magazine, Paris, France
2018 X Y Magazine, Netherlands
2018 Scandale Project, Netherlands
2017 Hotbook Magazine, Mexico
PUBLICATIONS
2022 Stir Magazine, India
2022 VC 03 – Valetta Contemporary, Malta
2022 The Found Magazine, China
2021 Nasty Magazine, Italy
2021 Exit Book, Ludvig Rage, Austria
2020 ” Matter is condensed light” Book, Spain
2018 “Expansion” book published by Vanillaedizioni and E3 contemporanea. ITA
2018 “Circuitos del Arte” Latinoamerica- Revista Arte al Límite. CHI
2018 La Perle Magazine, Paris, France
2018 X Y Magazine, Netherlands
2018 Scandale Project, Netherlands
2017 Hotbook Magazine, Mexico
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