About

Born in Bogota, Colombia, lives and works in Memphis, TN, USA.

Nelson Gutierrez is an artist exploring the psychological and social implications of conflict. Most of his work is composed of two and three-dimensional pieces, conceptual objects and installations that reflect current sociopolitical issues. Different materials such as charcoal, ink, wood, metal, blood, wax, water, glass, light and photographs are juxtaposed in a way that provide symbolic relevance to the topic being explored. Different mediums are used to express feelings of collective longing, fear, grief and hope. In doing so, his work also speaks to our shared humanity in a way that is relatable to all.  

Education

M.A. Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, England, 1999
B.A. Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogota, Colombia, 1990   

Professional Experience

Founder. 2021 Projects. Memphis,TN. USA.2021
Exhibition Committee Member. Brooks Museum Of Arts. Memphis,TN. USA. 2018 – 2021.
Artist Advisory Council (AAC) Member. ArtsMemphis. Memphis, TN. USA. 2016 – 2019.
Official Advisor. Locate Arts, Nashville, TN. USA. 2015 – 2019.
Consultant Teaching Artist, DCPS, Washington D.C. USA
Teaching Artist, Arts for Learning, Miami, Florida, USA
Associate Professor, UJTL, Faculty of Fine Arts, Bogota, Colombia
Adjunct Professor, Universidad de Los Andes, Faculty of Fine Arts, Bogota, Colombia

Individual Shows

2023     A Journey into the Shadows. Edge Zones Contemporary Art. Miami, FL. USA
2021     Open Studio.Curated by Marina Pacini.2021 Projects. Memphis, TN. USA
2020     Nelson Gutierrez. The Billboard Gallery. Urban Art Commission. Memphis, TN.USA
2017      The Death of Fear. Artist-in-residence during the exhibition “Memphis Cartonera”. Clough-Hanson Gallery. Rhodes College. Memphis, TN. USA
2014      Mediating Dissent. DC Arts Center. Washington, DC. USA
2013      Nelson Gutierrez. Mediating Dissent: Observing Global Unrest. Curated by Laura Roulet. McGuireWoods Gallery. Lorton, VA. USA
2013      The Death of Fear. Fisher Art Gallery. Alexandria, VA. USA.
2012      The Death of Fear. Workhouse Art Center. Lorton, VA. USA
2006      Dog days. Edge Zones Contemporary Art. Miami, FL. USA
2004      Fashionable Emergencies. Project Room at Edge Zones , Miami, FL. USA
2001      Earth, Fragments.  Camarin del Carmen.     Bogota, Colombia 
2000      Colombia without landmines.  Alzate Avendaño. Bogota, Colombia  
1998      Nelson Gutierrez.  Ecomuseo.  Bogota, Colombia
1997      Recent Works.     Independent Gallery. Bogota, Colombia
1994      Acrylics. Gimnasio Moderno. Bogota, Colombia
1991     “Human Spaces” Graduate Thesis. UJTL. Bogota, Colombia

Group Shows

2023   Jet Lag. The Martha And Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art. Memphis, TN. USA
2020     Radius I. Bradbury Art Museum. Jonesboro, AR. USA
2019     Spotlights. Barcu International Art Fair. Bogota, Colombia.
2019     Anxiety & Belonging. Slocumb Gallerie at ETSU. Johnson City, TN. USA
2018     Here and Now: Printmaking and the Political Present.The Martha And Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art. Memphis, TN. USA
2018     The Death of Fear. Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery. Memphis, TN. USA 
2014     Alchemical Vessel 2014, Joan Hisaoka Gallery. Washington, D.C. USA
2012     Parallax Art Fair, New York, NY. USA
2012     Drawing 2012, Swiss Art Space. Lausanne, Switzerland
2012     WPA selection. (e)merge Art Fair. Washington, D.C. USA
2010     Cosmosis, Urban Arts Complex Gallery, Washington, D.C. USA
2008     Artomatic, NoMa,Washington, D.C. USA   
2008     Insurgents, Flood Gallery. Asheville, NC. USA (link)
2006     Witness  , Kunsthaus. Miami, FL. USA
2006     The Pain of Others. Edge Zones Contemporary Art. Miami, FL. USA
2005     Stupid but beautiful portraits. Colombian Consulate, Miami, FL. USA
2005     Beyond all of that… Edge Zones Contemporary Art, Miami, FL. USA
2004     Miami Now. Edge Zones at the World Arts Building, Miami, FL. USA
2004     Hispano! Saint Lucie County Historical Museum, Fort Pierce, FL. USA
2000     Relations and Concepts.  Museo de Arte U. Ciencias Aplicadas. Bogota, Colombia
1999     20th Century Colombian Art. Christie’s, South Kensington. London, England
1999     MA Degree Show. Chelsea College of Art. London, England
1994     Exposición de Expositores. Gimnasio Moderno. Bogota, Colombia
1990     New Names. Cámara de Comercio de Bogota. Bogota, Colombia
1989     Salon de Arte Joven. Museo de Antioquia. Medellin, Colombia

Awards

2023 Current Art Fund Grant Recipient – Tri-Star Arts / Andy Warhol Foundation- Memphis TN.
2022 Artist Residency, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN. USA
2020 Memphis Medical District Public Art Planning Grant. Memphis, TN. USA
2017 The Memphis Upstanders mural was recognized by the Public Art Network Year in Review, as one of the best public art projects in USA. (link)
2014 Acquisition Grant. Art Bank Collection. DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Washington. DC. USA
2012 Work selected by Tricia Van Eck, Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago for the Saatchi Online project 100 curators 100 days. (link)
2003    Fellowship Artist Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT. USA
1998    Scholarship – Program for Masters Degree, Fundación para el Futuro de Colombia,  Bogota, Colombia

Public Art Projects

2016 Memphis Upstanders Mural. Facing History and Ourselves. Collaboration with Cedar Nordbye. Memphis, TN. USA. https://engage.facinghistory.org/mural/
2015 – 2016 Three Stairwell Murals. Collaboration with various artists. Fogelman College of Business & Economics. University of Memphis. Memphis, TN. USA.
2014 Mural. Tackett’s Mill. Collaboration with Nick Zimbro. Woodbridge, VA. USA

Publications and links to text

The Death of Fear by Nelson Gutierrez, 2014.

Projects by Nelson Gutierrez, 2011.                 

2021 Projects. Burnaway. by Emily Llamazales. 2021
On Place and Non-Place: Nelson Gutierrez Brings Art and Heart to 2021 Projects Downtown. The Memphis Flyer, by Jon W. Sparks. 6/2/2021
Virtual Studio Visit: Nelson Gutierrez. 2020. Locate Arts.
10 Emerging Contemporary Artist from Memphis to Know. 2017. Culture Trip, by Leene Kollar. (link)
7 Inspiring Artists From Bogota the World Needs to Know. 2017. Culture Trip, by Anny Wooldridge. (link)
Memphis Upstanders Mural Unveiled In South Main Historic Arts District. 2016. Memphis Daily News, by Patrick Landtrip. (link)
The Washington Post, by Mark Jenkins. 3/8/2014. (link)
The Washington Post, by Michael O’Sullivan. 2/14/2014. (link)
Nelson Gutierrez Interview, by Alberto Roblest, Hola Cultura. 3/12/2014. (link)
Drawing 2012, Swiss Art Space. Lausanne, Switzerland. (link)
The Washington Post, Going out guide. 5/9/2013.
Art in the ‘burbs by Michael O’Sullivan, The Washington Post, 2013. 
Identifying Issues. In conversation with Michael Corbin. Artbookguy, 2013.
Internal strife by Connie Bostic, Mountain Xpress, 2008. (link)
MAKE8ELIEVE. 2014 ISSUE #7: GRRR