Mari Gamarra
The world of the artist-painter Mari Gamarra is pure “magical realism”. Her creative process overlaps reality and dreams. It is a powerful reflection of expressions of emotion, events, life, and hope which combine into unique poetic compositions and overflow onto her canvasses.
In 2006, Mari Gamarra arrived in Abu Dhabi, where she established Contempo Corporate Art (CCA) to represent contemporary artists from around the world and promote their art. After almost 15 years of being withdrawn from her artistic work as a painter, Gamarra is returning to paint again.
HONORS
2001 First Prize. Northwest Contemporary Art Competition, Seattle, WA, USA
1990 Special Invitee XXXIII National Grand Show of Artists, Colcultura, Bogota Colombia
1991 Nominee Sixth Annual Alzate Avendaño Award, Bogota, Colombia
1989 Semifinalist IX International Art Biennale, Valparaiso, Chile
1989 Placement of Painting in Colombian National Congress, Bogota, Colombia
EDUCATION
2018 Methods for Curators & Artists Node Center Curatorial Studies online, Berlin, Germany
1997-98 Photography Iberoamericana University, Mexico City
1997-98 Screen Printing Iberoamericana University, México City
1991-92 Painting & Art History San Carlos Academy, Mexico City, Mexico
1985-87 Drawing, Painting San Marcos Academy, Florence, Italy
1984 Design and Illustration for Books National Pedagogical, Bogota
1983-85 Drawing, Painting & Art History David Manzur Academy, Bogota
1982 Engraving School of Fine Arts. Altos de Chavón, La Romana, D.R.
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS AS A VISUAL ARTIST
1998 Exotica Fine Arts Singapore, Singapore
1996 Exotica Fine Arts Singapore, Singapore
1996 Millennium Hilton Hotel Bangkok, Thailand
1994 Caranni Gallery Mexico City, Mexico
1993 Iber Arte Gallery Bogota Colombia
1991 The Wallach Art Gallery Columbia University, N.Y.
1991 Wetherholt Gallery Washington. D.C.
1990 Viva el Arte Gallery Ibagué, Colombia
1989 Tamaris Gallery Montreal Canada
1986 Pluma Gallery Bogota, Colombia
1986 Colmena Bank Gallery Bogota, Colombia
1982 Art Nouveau Gallery Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS AS A VISUAL ARTIST
2019 For the love of Zayed. Dubai Women’s Association Dubai, UAE
2003 Fall Group. Isis on First Art Gallery Seattle, WA, USA
2002 Summer Group. Isis on First Art Gallery Seattle, WA, USA
2000 Summer Splendor. Isis on First Art Gallery Seattle, WA, USA
1999 Caranni Contemporary Art Mexico City, Mexico
1996 8 Latin American Artists in Bangkok Hilton Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
1993 Caranni Gallery Mexico City, Mexico
1991 Gallery 69 New York, New York
1990 Arte 19 Gallery Bogota Colombia
1990 Gallery of Modern Art Cali, Colombia
1990 The Erotic Spirit Show Museum of Modern Art Bogota Colombia
1989 Shape and Color of Colombia Gallery Bogota, Colombia
1989 Fonnegra Gallery Barranquilla, Colombia
1988 Multicultural Cote-des-Neigas Art Festival, Montreal Canada
1987 Colcultura Colferias Exhibition Bogota, Colombia
1986 Aymaru Gallery Bogota, Colombia
1985 Colombian National Library Art of the Colombian Caribbean, Bogota,
1985 Council of Public Works Visual Art Second Hall Cali, Colombia
1985 Art of the Colombian Caribbean Colombia Senate, Bogota, Colombia
1985 Indendence House Navi-darte La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia
1985 Taurus Gallery Sincelejo Colombia
1982 Art Nouveau Gallery Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
PUBLICATIONS
2020 Yalla Magazine. A Magical Journey, Yalla Art, Winter Edition 2020, Abu Dhabi
2010 Recursos de la Imaginación 2nd Edition – Arte del Caribe Colombiano, Bogotá, Colombia
2009 Recursos de la Imaginación – Arte del Caribe Colombiano, Bogotá, Colombia
1996 Simple Poetries to Rescue the Centuries From her experiences in Asia
1995 El Libro de la Poesía Urgente. The Urgent Poetry Book. Valle de Bravo, Mexico
1988-94 Shape and Color of Colombia - Annual book. Bogota, Colombia
1992 Five Episodes Around a Tauromaquia. Poems, Mexico City, Mexico
1990 The Erotic Spirit. Poetry and Paintings. Bogota, Colombia
1989 El Espectador Newspaper - Sunday Magazine -The New Poets, Bogota Colombia
1986 El Siglo Newspaper. One page with the Gamarra’s Poetry and Painting, Bogota, Colombia
1985 Diario del Caribe Newspaper. The Painting and Poetry of Gamarra. Barranquilla, Colombia
1985 Painting on cover of Brazilian writer Jorge Amado’s book: Mies Roja, Oveja Negra - Bogota,
1984 Poesias para Vencer la Soledad. For Defeat the Solitude Poetries. Bogota, Colombia
WORK EXPERIENCE
2007 - 2017 Contempo Corporate Art - Founder, Art Curator & Managing Director Abu Dhabi, UAE
2000-04 Private Teacher of Art Techniques Seattle, WA, USA
2002-03 Corporate Art Consultant Seattle, WA, USA
1999 Corporate Art Consultant Singapore, Singapore
1996-98 Corporate Art Consultant Bangkok, Thailand
1984-85 Cover Designer Oveja Negra Publishing, Bogota, Colombia
1983-89 Art Guide Museum of Modern Art, Bogota, Colombia
1983-84 Art Guide and Events Assistant Museum of Modern Art, Bogota, Colombia
1981-83 Teacher of Art Techniques - I.E.S - School of Fine Arts, Santo Domingo, D.R.
1981-83 Drawing and Painting Techniques - Gamarra Art Studio, Santo Domingo, D.R.
Previous art studios in Bogota, Colombia. Santo Domingo, D.R. Florence, Italy. Montreal, Canada. New York City, USA. Mexico City, Mexico. Bangkok, Thailand. Singapore, Singapore. Milan, Italy. Athens -Nea Makris, Greece. Seattle, WA. Port Washington, NY, USA. Abu Dhabi, UAE., and currently in NYC.