Learn about our Bolivian Artists
Roberto Valcárcel (b.1951 in La Paz - 2021 )
Roberto Valcárcel was an interdisciplinary visual artist, considered the father of contemporary art in Bolivia. He studied Graphic Design and received his Master's Degree in Architecture in Darmstadt, Germany. He was also a photographer, pedagogue and intellectual. “His artistic proposal is transgressive, in terms of experimentation with new materials and the way in which he raises their conceptual meanings. In a career spanning more than 40 years he has demonstrated mastery of every technique he uses: drawing, painting, photography, performance, installations and object art, generating impeccable pieces that raise awareness of those who connect with them" by Eduardo Ribera BlueBox, Curator - XX Biennial of Visual Arts of Santa Cruz in 'Exhibition in Tribute to Roberto Valcárcel by Manzana1'
More about Valcárcel :
'What is Art according to Vacárcel' Production of the Aparapita Museum, 1917.
'Interview with Valcarcel as a Photographer' by Nardy Rodriguez -UEB, 2019
Herminio Pedraza (1935-2006, Santa Cruz)
Modernist painter who has gone through different stages: impressionism, surrealism, abstract expressionism, until he defined his style in Fauvism, within which he has made his most outstanding works. He had his first artistic studies at the school of Bellas Artes in Santa Cruz, as student of the prominent Hungarian artist Jorge Rózsa. He was part of the trio of artist known as holy cows, formed by Kuramotto, Callaú and Pedraza, who notoriously influenced the course of the plastic arts in Santa Cruz.
Pedraza was "a colorist, who expresses himself through color, even drawing with color, communicating ideas and perception through his own peculiar style" by P. Querejazu; "his work has to be considered not only an account of the life and traditions of the Bolivian East lands, but as an active component in the construction of the identity of people native of Santa Cruz (identidad cruceña)" by Franca Calmoti. Quotes taken from the online book Tribute to Herminio Pedraza 1935-2006 by Manzana1.
For more information: Herminio Pedraza - La libertad del color (The freedom of color)
Gaston Ugalde (b. 1944 in La Paz)
Visual artist whose work is deeply rooted in Bolivian traditions and filled with socio-political references. For more information about him and his work, please visit Gaston Ugalde official website.
Cecilia Lampo (b. 1952 in La Paz)
Cecila Lampo is a visual artist (photography, painting) and art curator. Her current work reflects on the environment she inhabits: natural, urban and social. She uses intervened photographs, paintings, wooden objects and reflective texts on art. She pays special attention to the order of things and using various techniques she has configured notebooks, installations and texts that allow her to perceive models of life and action.
Guiomar Mesa (b. 1961 in La Paz)
Latest work: Mar de Sal (Sea of Salt) (2021) is a collection of paintings that represent the majestic Salar de Uyuni.
About the artist and her collection by Paginasiete: Guiomar Mesa and the Salar in oil painting
Alejandra Alarcon (b. 1976 in Cbba)
Graduated in Plastic Arts from 'La Esmeralda National School of Painting', in Mexico, with hundreds of exhibitions in several Latin American and European countries. In addition, he has a degree in sociology from the UMSS. 'All her works are conceived in series - she has 16, since 1994 - because, as she herself says, a painting is insufficient to say, the entire chain is necessary.'
Raquel Schwartz (b. 1963 in La Paz)
To learn about Raquel and her work, please visit: RS at Kiosko.
Carolina Sanjines (b. 1961)
Carolina works the techniques of bronze sculpture, ceramic modeling, wood carving, oil painting and engraving. To learn more about her please visit her webpage: carolinasanjines.com
José Ballivián
Visual artist specialized in performance, photography, installation and drawing.
J. Ballivian art catalog =>
Meet our up-and-coming artists:
Sharon Pérez Sillerico (b. 1989 in La Paz)
Afro-Bolivian plastic artist and graphic designer. She combines her creative talent with her passion to promote and value the rights of Afro-Bolivian people.
She intervenes furniture, doors and windows with portraits painted on metal, and at the same time she hopes to motivate the new generations to make Afro-Bolivian art.
She completed a graduate study in art curation at Univ. Nuestra Señora deLa Paz (2013), and one in structural
violence at the Univ. Salesiana (2017). She is currently pursuing a specialization in Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Studies in the CLACSO network.
Sharon was also twice winner of the Residencia Leche for the elaboration of living arts projects (Cbba. 2019 & Virtual 2020 format); she participated in the Intl. Visitor Leadership Program organized by the State Dept. of USA; she was lecturer and exhibitor at the Festival Intl. de Cultura in Sucre (2019) and lecturer at TEDx UMSA 2019. among others. In addition, Sharon was coordinator of the Nucleus Afro with the Museo Nacional de Arte.
Sharon began 2021 with the exhibition at the Manzana 1 Gallery (SC) and she was selected as part of the 2021 Women Models program of Paceña. Currently she is taking part in an artistic residency at the British Museum in London.