Lithe, curvilinear swirls of muted earth tones meet gradations of black and white in Mauricio Cadavid’s intriguing artworks. Almost Surrealist in figure and form, these works recall the likes of Andre Masson, and yet conjure a fresh, contemporary spark of vivacious liveliness. Trained in a variety of artistic practices, including print-making, drawing and painting, Cadavid culls his imagery and forms from art historical precedents as much as his own imagination. Jaggedly articulated lines are juxtaposed with soft, supple figuration. Rooted in realism, the artist employs the strategies of early abstraction, such as Cubism, in order to breathe vibrant spirit into traditional artistic practices. Through his contemporary works, Cadavid connects to the past and to our history, thematically and formally recalling the work of masters such as Velasquez or Titian in a beautiful elaboration of new reality. “Passion, enthusiasm and energy is part of the process of elaboration,” he explains.
A Colombian native, Mauricio Cadavid has exhibited widely in both South and North America, and was a MacDowell Fellow.