Born in Bogota, Colombia, lives and works in Memphis, TN, USA.
Nelson Gutierrez’s work comprises two- and three-dimensional pieces, conceptual objects, and installations that reflect current sociopolitical issues and personal memories related to history or current events.
His practice involves several years of work and research, personal observations and experiences, and exploration of different artistic mediums around a central interest: the constant struggle of individuals and communities for a better life, resilience, hope, and the search for common ground.
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
2024 A Journey into the Shadows. Crosstown Arts. Memphis, TN. USA
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
2024 Southern Prize and State Fellows for Visual Arts. Art and Culture Center. Hollywood, FL. USA
2024 Memphis 2024. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Memphis, TN. USA
2024 The Flower Show: Rhythm and Hues. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Memphis, TN. USA
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
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
2024 Tennessee Fellow for Visual Arts – South Arts. Atlanta, GA. USA
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