This exhibition gathers the work of creators who revisit the currents associated with geometric art from a contemporary perspective. Hailing from Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, and with careers in full bloom, these artists, while nourished by the formal emphasis intrinsic to geometric abstraction, turn to new resolutions and media, shifting formal fixation towards novel concepts and narratives.
The sculptures of Juan Abuela (Villa Clara, Cuba, 1974) are characterized by their formal precision and the skillful manipulation of materials, allowing the artist to achieve remarkable finishes that defy the inherent properties of the medium. Exploring these tensions and employing the contrast between raw wood with vivid colors, the works in his Balance series establish a complex equilibrium of curves and straight lines within unconventional forms. Drawing from the grammatical elements of Opt-art and Kineticism, María Andreina González (Maracay, Venezuela, 1970) creates audacious superimpositions of industrial materials to generate dynamic spaces and fields. The succession of parallel lines, the combinations of vibrant colors, and the interplay of negative and positive spaces, alongside the incorporation of grids, reflective surfaces, and occasionally rotating motors, allow her to construct a kind of visual symphony where color and rhythm take center stage. The practice of Luis La Rosa (Caracas, Venezuela, 1972) stems from his exploration of concepts of quantum physics, which has led his recent work to an investigation of lumino-chromatic phenomena. Inspired by the Chromosaturations of Carlos Cruz-Diez and constantly showing his fascination for abstract geometric forms that evoke a sidereal imaginary, La Rosa has developed three-dimensional pieces that involve the reflection of light and the movement of the viewer as profoundly expressive elements. The work of Rafael Montilla (Caracas, Venezuela, 1957) has developed around the cube and other geometric forms, interpreted through a spiritual lens deeply intertwined with sacred geometry and the artist’s personal introspections. As a photographer, urban artist, performer, painter, and sculptor, Montilla offers a perspective where geometry is consistently intertwined with diverse narratives concerning inner existence, the cosmos, or the sustainability of the planet, among other themes.
Based on personal narratives and a photographic-informed gaze, Marianela Pérez (Caracas, Venezuela, 1960) delves into two-dimensional mediums—painting, collage, and digital prints—with a focus on exploring the expansive dynamism of angles. Deepening in these explorations, the artist has ventured into creating three-dimensional metallic artworks inspired by her experiments with angular folds in small paper pieces.
Her contribution to this exhibition also encompasses a series of photographs capturing angular volumes. Félix Carmelo Ríos (Arecibo, Puerto Rico, 1968) creates paintings inspired by the most concrete aspects of geometric art. He arranges fields of color in geometric compositions, transforming each piece into an object that aesthetically interacts with the space. In his recent work, Ríos incorporates textiles and stitching to meld chromatic planes, highlighting the textural interplay between painted canvas and fabrics. Simultaneously, he integrates elements from his personal narrative and his role as a design curator.
The work of Wuilfredo Soto (Caracas, Venezuela, 1961) updates the languages of Op-art and Kineticism, driven by a permanent interest in challenging the viewers gaze, transforming them into an active participant in a mesmerizing perceptual journey. Employing industrial materials such as aluminum, plexiglass, and acrylic paint, alongside state-of-the-art technology for design and execution, Soto adeptly orchestrates the essential components for constructing optically illusory and vivid planes. While the creative exploration undertaken by Sandra Szkolnik (Lima, Peru, 1968) began with origami, her artistic language has evolved around the study of the formal possibilities of lines, triangular planes, and pyramidal volumes, arising from
folding. His expressive search is broad and encompasses an extensive investigation of materials and a reflection on the capacities of folding as a generator of geometry, its potential for repetition and reversibility, and its rhizomatic progression. This exhibition stems from the research conducted for the publication of the book 15
Flourishing Latin American Artists in Miami (Miami, 2023), which compiled the work of creators who, as this group demonstrates, reflect the vibrant plurality of the visual arts in our city.
Katherine Chacón
Juan Abuela received an unconventional artistic education, as a result of his constant interaction with different artistic manifestations, including the legacy of his family that has been dedicated to carpentry for generations. He has held solo shows at the Miami International Fine Arts (MIFA) (2022), and the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (Fort Myers, 2021). His most recent participation in a group exhibition was at Cornell Art Museum in Delray Beach (2023).
Maria Andreina González studied Painting and Drawing with Venezuelan artists Jason Galarraga and María “Nena” Valbuena in Caracas. In the United States, she studied Visual Arts at Patricia Van Dalen’s Studio (Miami). She also attended workshops on Expressive Techniques of Contemporary Painting with Nicolas Wilton and Mixed Media Art with Bibby Gignilliat. Additionally, she has participated in painting workshops at the Boca Raton Museum Art School (2015).
Trained as an artist in Caracas, Luis La Rosa has developed his work of installations on his own inquiries. His most recent group shows were held at Galería Deák 17 (Budapest, 2024), Salon Comparaisons (Paris, 2022, 2024), and Graphicart (Caracas, 2023). In 2021, he received First Place at the 6th Biennial Origins in Geometry (Museum of
Geometric and MADI Art) and was invited to the 4th Edition Triennial at the Ephemeral Open-Air Museum (Dorado, PR).
Rafael Montilla trained as an artist in Caracas (1973-1992). He has held solo exhibitions at the Broward Art Guild (Fort Lauderdale, 2021), Hernán Gamboa Gallery (Coral Gables, 2020), and the Coral Gables Museum (2018). His work has been featured in group shows in Spain, Venezuela, Canada, Holland, France, Italy, and the United States. In 2021 and 2024, he was invited to the Trienal de Tijuana I and II. Pictórica Internacional, Mexico.
Marianela Pérez studied Commercial Art in Beverly (MA) and Environmental Design and Photography in Caracas. She has presented solo shows at Miami International Fine Arts (2023), Miami Dade College. Hialeah Gallery (2022), Spanish River Library Gallery (Boca Raton, 2020), Hernán Gamboa Gallery (Coral Gables, 2019), and Galería Secadero (Caracas, 2014-2015). She has participated in group shows and art fairs in Caracas, Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach.
Felix Carmelo Rios studied Architectural Drawing in Puerto Rico and Interior Design in Miami. He has held two solo shows: ‘Colors, Shapes, and Forms’ at Laundromat Art Space (Miami, 2023) and ‘Rhythms’ at Imago (Coral Gables, 2021). His recent group exhibitions have been presented at Sala de Exposiciones del Plata (Dorado, PR), Laundromat Art Space, and Galería Petrus (San Juan, PR). His work is in the collection of Sabanera Health (Dorado Beach, PR).
Wuilfredo Soto received his training in Caracas. In 2018, he held a solo exhibition in Miami titled ‘Shifting Forms’ at the Eduardo Lira Art Gallery. The latest group shows he has participated in include 6th Kinetic Biennial Boynton Beach at Downtown Boynton Beach (2023), ‘Echo: Works in Geometric Abstraction by Latin American Artists’ at the Arts Warehouse Gallery (Delray Beach, 2021), and ‘Lines of Expression’ at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center (2020).
Sandra Szkolnik studied Graphic Design in Lima (1986-1989) and Computer Applications in Boston (1991-1992). In 2023, she presented ‘Folds’, her first solo show, at Imago (South Miami). She has participated in group shows such as ‘ArtFields’ (Lake City, SC, 2021) and MARJCC 2021 International Women’s Day Exhibition. Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center (Aventura, FL, 2021). Her work has been featured in art fairs in Miami, Santiago de Chile, and Lima.
Media Outlet: MIFA / Contemporary Art Gallery