Abraham Cruzvillegas
Encyclopedia
Abraham Cruzvillegas is a Mexican
conceptual artist. He is known for his work with "found objects".
(UNAM). He later became a professor and went on to teach Art History and Theory at UNAM.
As a sculptor and writer, Cruzvillegas began as a central participant in a new wave of conceptual art in Mexico City during the late 1980s and 90s, studying under Gabriel Orozco
from 1987 to 1991. Along with Orozco, Damian Ortega, Dr Lakra
, and Minerva Cuevas
, Cruzvillegas was considered part of a new movement in Latin American art (which has been compared to the YBA boom in Britain in the 1980s).
Since that period, Cruzvillegas has shown his work in one person and group exhibitions in a number of galleries across Europe, South America and the United States. In 1994, his work was shown in the Fifth Havana Biennial
; in 2002 in the XXV São Paulo Biennial; in 2003 in the Fiftieth Venice Biennale
; in 2005 in the 1st Torino Triennale; in 2008 in the Bienal de Cali, in Colombia; in the Tenth Havana Biennial
, and the Seventh Bienal do Mercosul in Portoalegre. His work has been shown at the New Museum, New York
and at Tate Modern
in London.
He is also the co-author of two books in collaboration with the Mexican artist Dr Lakra
.
Reviewing Cruzvillegas' 2003 show, Holland Cotter
wrote, "In all Mr. Cruzvillegas's work, little is stated but much is said".
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
conceptual artist. He is known for his work with "found objects".
Biography and works
He studied Philosophy and Art at the National Autonomous University of MexicoNational Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM). He later became a professor and went on to teach Art History and Theory at UNAM.
As a sculptor and writer, Cruzvillegas began as a central participant in a new wave of conceptual art in Mexico City during the late 1980s and 90s, studying under Gabriel Orozco
Gabriel Orozco
Gabriel Orozco is a Mexican artist, who in 1998 was called "one of the most influential artists of this decade, and probably the next one too." He was born in Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico and educated in the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas between 1981 and 1984. He then continued his education...
from 1987 to 1991. Along with Orozco, Damian Ortega, Dr Lakra
Dr Lakra
Dr Lakra is an artist and tattooist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Apart from tattooing, his art involves embellishing found images and objects—for instance, dolls, old medical illustrations, and pictures in 1950s Mexican magazines—with macabre or tattoo-style designs.He has shown work internationally...
, and Minerva Cuevas
Minerva Cuevas
Minerva Cuevas is a Mexican conceptual artist.She studied at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas. UNAM . She is known for the social and political research that guide her projects usually developed as site-specific interventions. Her production includes installation, video and photographic...
, Cruzvillegas was considered part of a new movement in Latin American art (which has been compared to the YBA boom in Britain in the 1980s).
Since that period, Cruzvillegas has shown his work in one person and group exhibitions in a number of galleries across Europe, South America and the United States. In 1994, his work was shown in the Fifth Havana Biennial
Havana biennial
The Havana Biennial Art Exhibition takes place in Havana every two years, and principally aims at promoting the « Third World » contemporary art...
; in 2002 in the XXV São Paulo Biennial; in 2003 in the Fiftieth Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
; in 2005 in the 1st Torino Triennale; in 2008 in the Bienal de Cali, in Colombia; in the Tenth Havana Biennial
Havana biennial
The Havana Biennial Art Exhibition takes place in Havana every two years, and principally aims at promoting the « Third World » contemporary art...
, and the Seventh Bienal do Mercosul in Portoalegre. His work has been shown at the New Museum, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and at Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
in London.
He is also the co-author of two books in collaboration with the Mexican artist Dr Lakra
Dr Lakra
Dr Lakra is an artist and tattooist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Apart from tattooing, his art involves embellishing found images and objects—for instance, dolls, old medical illustrations, and pictures in 1950s Mexican magazines—with macabre or tattoo-style designs.He has shown work internationally...
.
Analysis
For the 2002 São Paulo Biennial, Cruzvillegas wrote: “However art makes itself evident, it shall remain, above all, raw source material in all its natural, unstable, physical, chaotic and crystalline states: solid, liquid, colloidal and gaseous. It is the joy of energy."Reviewing Cruzvillegas' 2003 show, Holland Cotter
Holland Cotter
Holland Cotter is an art critic with the New York Times. In 2009, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Cotter was born in Connecticut and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned his A.B. from Harvard College in 1970, where he studied English literature under poet Robert Lowell and was an...
wrote, "In all Mr. Cruzvillegas's work, little is stated but much is said".
Residencies
- 2005 Residency at Atelier Calder, Saché, France
- 2006 Altadis Contemporary Art Prize, France-Spain
- 2006-2007 Residency at Brownstone Foundation, Paris
- 2007 Residency at Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Umbria, Italy
- 2008 Artist Research Fellowship, Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, Washington DC
- 2008 Residency at Cove Park/CCA, Glasgow, Scotland
- 2009 Residency at the Wattis Institute/CCA, San Francisco
- 2010-2011 DAAD Artists in Berlin Residency Program
External links
- Found and Lost, Frieze Magazine, October 2006
- Review of Autoconstrucción, Frieze Magazine, January 2009
- kurimanzutto gallery page
- 'The Art of the Nuevo', Financial Times, November, 2010
- 'A Mexican in Paris', Vice Magazine
- TateShots: Abraham Cruzvillegas The artist on his piece Autoconstrucción. 17 March 2011