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
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.'
José Ballivián
Visual artist specialized in performance, photography, installation and drawing.
For more information about José, please visit: José Ballivián by Kiosko, Jose ballivian_Blogspot
J. Ballivian art catalog =>
Graciela Rodo Boulanger (b. 1935, La Paz)
Contemporary Bolivian painter celebrated for her stylized depictions of children. At times reminiscent of Fernando Botero, her paintings are characterized by their multiple, round-faced figures engaged in everyday activities, often rendered against a muddy background with a primary color scheme. (Artnet)
To learn more about Boulanger and her artwork:
instagram@gracielarodoboulanger
La Razon - 'Graciela Rodo Boulanger, un piano y un taller'
Cecilia Lampo (b. 1952 in La Paz)
Photography courtesy of Cecilia Bayá
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.
For more information about Cecilia Lampo, please visit Cecilia Lampo by Kiosko.
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.
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)
Carolina Sanjines (b. 1961)
Photography courtesy of Cecilia Bayá
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
Raquel Schwartz (b. 1963, La Paz)
To learn about Raquel and her work, please visit: Raquel Schwartz (Kiosko).
Gaston Ugalde (b. 1944, La Paz - 2023)
Gaston Ugalde describes his work 'Atemporal' Video: Cecilia Bayá, 2018
Visual artist whose work was deeply rooted in Bolivian traditions and filled with socio-political references. He is considered a video art pioneer in Latin America, and his work includes performance, painting, sculpture, installation, land art, photography, and printmaking.
For more information about Gaston Ugalde and his work, please visit:
Gaston Ugalde official website
'Gaston Ugalde: artista multidisciplinario' (interview by Marcos Grisi, June 26, 2022)
Vanity Fair : Step by Step (Feb 26, 2021)
La Razon: Gastón Ugalde: ‘El rol del artista es transformar el mundo’ (Dec 2020)
'A Minute with Gaston Ugalde' (Ministry of Nomads, June 26, 2018)
Meet our up-and-coming artists:
Inés Fernandez de Córdova (b. 1992, Santa Cruz)
Bolivian-Slovenian artist and printmaker, born in Bolivia but currently based in London. Her practice explores space, rhythm, and repetition, playing with the viewer's perception through photography, drawing, and printmaking. Her artwork features in numerous private and public collections, and she has exhibited widely across London since 2011. (Jealous Gallery)
To learn more about Inés, please visit her website and Instagram.
In May 2023, Inés Fernández de Córdova had her first Solo Exhibition 'Vertical Sprint' at Jealous Gallery in Shoreditch, and later in September, Jealous Gallery presented her artwork at the British Art Fair held at Saatchi Gallery. Currently, Inés is exhibiting in the 'Sombras y Armonías' exhibit at Manzana 1, Espacio de Arte, in her native city, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Sharon Pérez Sillerico (b. 1989, La Paz)
Afro-Bolivian plastic artist and graphic designer. Her work intervenes in furniture, doors and windows with portraits painted on metal.
Sharon combines her creative talent with her passion to promote and value the rights of Afro-Bolivian people and hopes to motivate the new generations to make Afro-Bolivian art.
Sharon 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 also pursuing a specialization in Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Studies in the CLACSO network.
Sharon has held individual and collective exhibitions nationwide in Bolivia and represented Bolivia in the Intl. art exhibition MINUEGRA 2013 in Brazil in 2017.
Sharon was also twice the 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 a lecturer and exhibitor at the Festival Intl. de Cultura in Sucre (2019), and lecturer at TEDx UMSA 2019. among others. In addition, Sharon was the coordinator of the Nucleus Afro with the Museo Nacional de Arte.
Sharon began 2021 with the exhibition at the Manzana 1 Gallery (SC) and 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.
For more information about Sharon and her work, please have a loot at her Portfolio:
Pagina Siete: 'Sharon Pérez, la artista que trenza la historia del pueblo afroboliviano'.
Sharon talks about her work at SDCELAR (PensarculturaspodcastMundo (Spanish))
Contemporary Art Galleries in Bolivia
KIOSKO, located in Santa Cruz, is also member of the prestigious Triangle Network.
Galería Nota, IG: (@_nota_gallery)
Mérida Romero - Espacio de Arte
For more galleries, click here