Back to Artists 2014
Gaston Ugalde
John in Coca Leaves
About the Artwork
‘The first time I heard J. L. was involved with coke was in late 60’s…70s. And was curious about Andean rituals with plants and others…and cocaine a derivate of coca leaves helped him to go to deep experiences in different inner levels – music – creativity – ways of thinking – openness to communicate etc…as did happen with most important artist-intellectuals – geniuses…so to create a portrait of him in coca leaves is a tribute to his peacefulness – philosophy…that coca leaves also gives you!!’
Further links:
artpulsemagazine.com/gaston-ugalde-repositioning-rituals
outsideonline.com – Coca Is It
About the Artist
Gastón Ugalde – Born in La Paz, lives and works in La Paz.
Ugalde (Venice Biennale 2009, 2001) is considered a visual arts leader in the region who is referred as the ‘Andean Warhol’ by art critics and was the recipient of the prestigious Konex award to creativity along with noted Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in 2002.
Architecture, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia.
Economics and Political Science studies, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada.
Completed studies at the Vancouver School of Art, Vancouver, Canada.
Since 1972 has had 81 solo-shows and over 160 collective exhibitions.
Selected Exhibitions
2014 Paris Photo LA, solo-show; Bolivar Hall, London; Museo de America, Madrid
2013 Reality Check, MassArt Boston; Monumental Installation IADB Washington, DC; Smithsonian, American Indian Museum; Intersections, Museum of Latin American Art Long Beach California; Coral Gables Museum, Florida; Art-Lima, Perú
2012 Art Platform Los Angeles; Houston Fine Art Fair; Art Wynwood; Art Monaco; Scope NY; Pinta London; Almas de Sal, Museo Nacional de Arte, La Paz; FIA Caracas
2011 ARTBO Bogota; Boundaries, Museum of Latin American Art Long Beach California; Houston Fine Art Fair; The Latin American Revolution, LMNT Miami; Art Palm Beach; ARTbeat Washington DC; Pinta NY; Modern Panic, London; Buenos Aires Photo; Pinta London
2010 Saatchi Gallery, London; Villa Hais Museum, Berlin; Museum Am Dom Trier; Siguaraya Gallery, Berlin
2009 53rd Venice Biennale; Trienal, Santiago de Chile
2008 Nota Gallery, La Paz; Art Santa Fe, New Mexico; Arteamericas Miami
2007 Bienal de Valencia; Casa de las Americas, Madrid
2006 Cuerpos Pintados, Sao Paulo
2005 Museo de Arte Moderno, La Paz; Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
2004 Museum of Contemporary Art Santiago; La Recoleta Buenos Aires; N Gallery Dusseldorf
2002 Evan Gallery, New York
2001 49th Venice Biennale
1999 XII Bienal de la Havana
1997 I Visual Arts Biennial of Mercosur, Porto Alegre
1996 Seven Visual Artists from Bolivia, Museum of Contemporary Art, Santiago
1992 Expo Seville ’92
1991 Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas
1990 Mito y Magia en las Americas, MARCO Contemporary Art Museum, Monterrey
1989 II Cuenca’s Biennial of Painting
1987 I Cuenca’s Biennial of Painting
1986 VII Biennial of San Juan; IV Latin-American Biennial, New York; I International Biennial of Painting, Miami; II Bienal de la Havana
1985 XVII Biennial of Sao Paulo; Neo-Expressionism de Tres Continentes
1984 Neo Expressionism from Three Continents; New Forms of Figuration, Center for Inter American Relations, New York
1982 XII Biennial of Paris
1979 XV Biennial of Sao Paulo
1978 I Biennial, Latin-American Art, Sao Paulo
Prizes and Awards
1970 O. F. Y. Grant, Government of Canada; 1973 Centennial Prize, Simon Fraser University, Canada; 1975 I Premio de Pintura I Bienal INBO, La Paz; 1978 Primer Premio de Pintura Pedro Domingo Murillo, La Paz; 1979 Primer Premio Bienal de Maldonado, Uruguay; 1980 Gran Premio Pedro Domingo Murillo, La Paz; 1984 Premio WOLA Washington Office on Latin American Art; 1986 Gran Premio I Bienal Internacional de Pintura, Miami; 1996 Medalla de Oro del público, Esculturas Coca Cola, Olimpíadas de Atlanta; 1999 Gran Premio Pedro Domingo Murillo, La Paz; 2002 Gran Premio Fundación Konex Mercosur, Buenos Aires along with Oscar Niemeyer; 2008 Primer Premio Bienal Internacional de Santa Cruz-Bolivia, Premio adquisición Chandon-Buenos Aires.
Landmark Art
Culpina K 2001; Villa Alota 2002; Vila Vila 2003; Salar de Uyuni 2004; Tiwanaku 2005; El Alto 2006.
