Santiago Parra
Biography
Santiago Parra was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1986. He studied Literature at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, followed by an art education at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá and later at the Academy of Art University to study Fine Arts in San Francisco where he also learnt about Motion Pictures and Television.
Parra is known for his large, abstract and highly expressive black and white paintings. His canvases capture the suspended flatness of the calligraphy-like imagery, harmonizing two seemingly incompatible aesthetic moments, spontaneity and pondering, which are all shaped by movement, strength, gravity and skill of the Columbian artist’s creative process. He explores the expressive possibilities of the quintessential abstract form. With an audacious manner he redefines abstract structures with bold sculptural brushstrokes. His work is both an aesthetic exploration and a questioning of the essence of abstract image making.
Works
Exhibitions
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Group Show: Past, Present, Future
11 May - 3 Jun 2023Opening just one month before the 5th anniversary of JD Malat Gallery, 'Past, Present, Future' brings together a carefully curated selection of artworks created between 2017 and 2023 by its...Read more -
Santiago Parra: Unconscious
9 Sep - 1 Oct 2022There is a moment in this intense concentration where consciousness shuts down giving way to the unconscious mind, in this moment I enter a trance and begin to paint, it...Read more -
Summer Exhibition 2022
25 Jul - 3 Sep 2022JD Malat Gallery is delighted to present its Summer Exhibition of 2022 featuring artworks by Andrew Litten, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Conrad Jon Godly, Zümrütoğlu, Georgia Dymock, Georg Óskar, Katrin...Read more -
Summer Exhibition 2021
21 Jul - 4 Sep 2021JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present its 'Summer Exhibition 2021' featuring works by Anotherview, Jean-Pierre Cassigneul, Petra Cortright, Ian Cumberland, Katrin Fridriks, Wesley George, Georg Óskar Giannakoudakis, Conrad Jon...Read more -
Santiago Parra: Black Matter
16 Jul - 12 Sep 2021'I know I am expressing myself when I paint but I can't explain the source of the resulting gestures. I am not in any way suggesting that black matter is...Read more -
Under 35 To Watch – PARALLEL
17 Mar - 24 Apr 2021JD Malat Gallery is excited to announce our group exhibition of 2021, 'Under 35 To Watch'. On display on the virtual exhibition platform PARALLEL, 'Under 35 To Watch' presents an...Read more -
ST MORITZ POP-UP
23 Dec 2020 - 11 Apr 2021JD Malat Gallery is proud to present its new pop-up space in the world's most unique Alpine Metropolis, St Moritz. From the 23rd of December 2020 to 31st of March...Read more -
Santiago Parra: Upheaval
14 Jul - 15 Aug 2020'When suddenly without wanting it, my arms lift the brush and a splash marks the beginning of the painting, in stupor I watch how the brush moves up and down,...Read more -
Abstraction and The Natural World
1 Apr - 8 May 2020JD Malat Gallery is proud to present the best of its abstract painters in 'Abstraction and The Natural World'. This online exhibition aims to demonstrate the multifaceted nature of painterly...Read more -
Santiago Parra: Rising Action
15 Nov - 15 Dec 2018Groundbreaking Colombian artist, Santiago Parra creates his own, visual language to tell his story in Rising Action, his ambitious, first UK solo exhibition at Mayfair's JD Malat Gallery from 16...Read more
Press
Publications
Art Fairs
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artmonte-carlo 2022
14 - 16 Jul 2022 -
ZONAMACO 2022
9 - 13 Feb 2022 -
Contemporary Istanbul 2021
5 - 10 Oct 2021JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present its group show for the 16th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, bringing together highly expressive works by the following...Read more -
Contemporary Istanbul 2020
19 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present a selection of works from Contemporary Istanbul OVR. Today we would like to tell you more about the...Read more -
ZONAMACO 2020
5 - 9 Feb 2020JD Malat Gallery is honoured to present a solo exhibition and new body of work by Colombian artist Santiago Parra for the 18 th edition...Read more -
CONTEMPORARY ISTANBUL 2019
11 - 15 Sep 2019JD Malat Gallery are pleased to announce our participation in the 2019 edition of Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair. We will showcase an original and incomparable...Read more
Video
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'Unconscious' by Santiago Parra
September 28, 2022JD Malat Gallery is pleased to present Unconscious, a solo exhibition by Santiago Parra, an internationally-recognised abstract artist, born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1986. Following...Read more -
'Upheaval' by Santiago Parra at JD Malat Gallery
July 27, 2020Visit the powerful solo exhibition 'Upheaval', by the acclaimed abstract painter Santiago Parra, on show at JD Malat Gallery until the 15th of August. Make...Read more -
Artist in Focus | Santiago Parra
April 23, 2020Head over to Instagram @jdmalatgallery to learn more about the dynamic work by leading contemporary abstract expressionist @santiagoparra_ with an exclusive Q&A. Santiago Parra was...Read more