"His recurrence to the heads is consistent, since more than a decade ago Maquiamelo worked with reduced heads of the Jíbaro peoples, now he surprises us by using a clear reference to the Olmec heads as a source of inspiration".
Alvaro Medina
Historian and Art Critic
Maquiamelo is represented by Rosenbaum Contemporary, and his work has been featured in solo exhibitions at major international museums. He has also participated in seven international biennials, as well as prestigious art fairs around the world, including ARCO, ARTBO, Art Miami, Art New York, Art Palm Beach, LA Art Show, and ZONAMACO.
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BIOGRAPHY
1972 Born in Bogotá, Colombia
Maquiamelo lives and works in Miami
Education
1991–1993
"Trained in Fine Arts under a scholarship granted by visionary USFQ
Chancellor Santiago Gangotena, whose early support helped shape his artistic trajectory.” Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 The Many Faces of Maquiamelo, Rosenbaum Contemporary, United States
Gratitude, Museum of Modern Art, Cartagena, Colombia
2022 Anthology, The Albertina Academy of Fine Arts; Turin, Italy
Unconfined, Casa Cuadrada Gallery; Bogotá, Colombia
2020 Vanitas, ZONAMACO, presented by Casa Cuadrada Gallery; Mexico City, Mexico
Vanitas, LA Galería; Bogotá, Colombia
2019 The Extreme Art of Maquiamelo, CAFAM Cultural Center; Bogotá,Colombia
2017 Divas, Estación Mapocho Cultural Center; Santiago, Chile
2016 Divas, Museum of the Americas; San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015 Heads, LA Galería; Bogotá, Colombia
Divas, Museum of Contemporary Art, Bogotá, Colombia
Awards & Distinctions
2025 Pro bono Artistic Advisor and Member, Organizing Committee, Bog25 Biennial, Colombia
2020 Associate Member, National Sculpture Society, United States
2018 Honorary Member, Museum of Contemporary Art, Bogotá, Colombia
2016 Recipient, Bacatá Prize, Art for Heart Foundation, Bogotá, Colombia
Honorable Mention, Carolina University; San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nominated, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, United States
2014 Invited Guest Artist, II Contemporary Art Biennial of Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2013 Invited Guest Artist, I Southern Biennial of Panama, Panama City, Panama
2012 Awarded Artist, XVIII Biennial de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Publications
2025 Kelli Bodle. Animals. Global Print, United States
2024 Romeo Gabriele and Ricardo Arcos Palma. Unconfined. Global Print, United States
2022 Edoardo di Mauro and Romeo Gabriele. Maquiamelo. Albertina Press, Italy
2018 Álvaro Medina. The Extreme Art of Maquiamelo. Penguin Random House, Grijalbo, Spain
Selected Permanent Collections
Museum of the Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Museum of Contemporary Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Museum of Contemporary Art, Bogotá, Colombia
Museum of Modern Art, Cartagena, Colombia
Museum of Contemporary Art, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Museo Arte Al Límite, Valparaiso, Chile
The Albertina Academy of Fine Arts, Turin, Italy
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