La Mascota

“My paintings follow the tradition of allegory and didacticism of painters like Hieronymus Bosch. I also engage elements from the Surrealist tradition although my images are not automatic. They have more in common with surrealism as access to the subconscious or dream world. However, my conscious intentions are to comment on the looming environmental catastrophe that becomes increasingly unavoidable due to the structure of human society, with all its greed and temptation for the soul.

As a Bolivian artist, I experienced a colorful, cross-pollinated version of Christianity, filled with miracles like the Virgin of Candelaria. It is poignant for me now to use the Biblical theme of the Apocalypse as a foil to express concern about the environment. Phantasmagorical creatures line these limits between Earth, Heaven and Hell, exhorting redemption or providing temptation”.

M. Suaznabar

Marcelo was born in Bolivia, in 1970, in the mining city of Oruro, located in the mid-western part of the country. He is the youngest of six siblings and is the son of Nestor Suaznabar and Ana Maria Solari. From an early age, he had a passion for drawing, motivated by his uncle Enrique Suaznabar, a professional photographer who lived in the same city. Focusing solely in drawings as the main motor of his creations, he showed a great interest in colour form an early age and began exploring watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils. For a long time, he focused on painting insects, animals, houses and portraits on paper and cardboards. Marcelo developed a substantial amount of his work in his birthplace, the city of Oruro. Oruro possesses a mystical energy in its surroundings and has a strong folkloric tradition; its carnival was declared by UNESCO as Oral and Intangible Patrimony of Humanity. The cultural richness of the city’s manifestations contributes to creators, granting the artist enough incentive to cultivate his work. In 1988, Marcelo traveled with his father and Marco, his brother, to the colonial city of Potosi, located south in the country, where they spent days visiting churches and museums, admiring the immense cultural richness expressed in the architecture and the ample collections of colonial paintings. The House of Coins and Convent of Saint Teresa were the incentives that led the artist to recreate sacred scenes, and with the artwork Coronation of the Virgin (1988), Marcelo began his series Sacred Art. During this period, Marcelo was invited to participate in a collective exhibit at the French Alliance and the Cultural House (Centro Cultural). Using the same series, he made an individual exhibit in Spain’s House (Casa de España), in the city of La Paz, where he received in 1991 an honorable mention for his work Judgment’s Cart in contest Spain 91. In 1992, Marcelo traveled to Chile. It was in Santiago where he attended and completed a four-month course at the Art School of the Extension Center at the Catholic University under the tutelage of master Roberto Farriol.

In December 2001 He move to Canada and in this new stage he continues to progress forward using a surreal and symbolic language, an aesthetic language that covers all of the work. In the three series, Apocalyptic, Angels, Archangels and Magical Altiplano, Marcelo finds his own unique language. Marcelo’s sets his imagination free in his work, exploring and examining the elements of unconsciousness. This including, universal and common themes that preoccupy human beings: passing of time, death, nature, sexuality, beauty, temptations, fear, and world religions. These themes are evident in each of Marcelo’s paintings.

Suaznabar has exhibited extensively in Latin America, Europe, Canada and the US with 40 solo exhibits and over 200 group shows.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021

Creatures & Demons, Earls Court Gallery. Hamilton – Canada.

2020

Drawings, Virtual solo show Earls Court Gallery. Hamilton – Canada.

2019

Escenarios Irracionales. Rozas – Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

Lucid dreams IDB Staff Association Art Gallery. Washington DC. USA.

Erratic Dreams. Mad Ones Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2018

Entre Sueños.  Merida Romero – Art Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

2017

Solo Show. Rancho Santana Art Gallery Tola – Nicaragua.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa de la Libertad Museum. Sucre – Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa de la Cultura. Simón I. Patiño Museum. Oruro – Bolivia

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa Nacional de Moneda Museum. Potosi – Bolivia.

2016

Negociando con el Tiempo, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Centro Pedagógico y Cultural Simón I. Patiño. Cochabamba –       Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Center Simon I Patiño. Santa Cruz – Bolivia.

2015

Solo Show Edel Gallery. Osaka – Japan.

2014

Beyond appearance. Articsok Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2012

Between Dreams. Strata Gallery. Elora – Canada.

Dreams and Temptations, Durham Art Gallery. Durham – Canada.

2011

Messages of the Time, Aurora Cultural Centre. Aurora – Canada.

Solo show of large pieces, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2010 

Visions of the Apocalypse, Museum of Art Ex Convento del Carmen. Guadalajara – Mexico.

Visions of the Apocalypse, Museum of Art of Leon. Leon – Mexico.

2009

Recent Work, Nota Art Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

Magical and Surreal Art, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2008

An Andean renaissance in the midst of the XXI Century. Metropolitan Museum of Monterrey.   Monterrey – Mexico.

Magical Altiplano, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2007

An Andean renaissance man in the midst of the XXI Century, St Ambroise Art Gallery.

Montreal – Canada.

Virgenes y Archangels, ArtDealers Gallery. Monterrey – México.

2006

Escenario de Recuerdos, ArtDealeres  Gallery. Monterrey – Mexico.

2005 

Recent Works, Esther Arias Art Gallery. Barcelona – Spain.

2004

Human Wilderness Kabat Wrobel Gallery, Toronto – Canada.

2003

Of The Serie Magic Altiplano, ArtDealers Gallery.  Monterrey – Mexico.

2002

Exploration of Time and Sensuality, Prince Arthur Fine Art Gallery.  Toronto – Canada.

2001

The Colors of the Soul. Nota Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

2000

Live Nature, Dead Nature, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1998 

Allegory to Life and Dead, Gildaro Antezana Gallery of Art. Cochabamba – Bolivia.

1997

Angels, Archangels and Temptations, Centre Cultural Las Condes Corporation. Santiago – Chile.

1996 

Angels and Demons, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1994

Between the Sky and the Earth, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Center for Contemporary Art, Simón I Patiño. Cochabamba – Bolivia.

EMUSA Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Art Gallery of the School of Art.  Oruro – Bolivia.

1991

Spain House, Institute of Ibero American Corporation. La Paz – Bolivia.

1990

Religious Art, Imagine Gallery. Oruro – Bolivia.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022 

Autorrevelaciones MURB Museo Unis Rozas- Botran, Guatemala City – Guatemala

2019

Latin American Art Triennial. 2019 edition. New York – USA.

Juannio 2019. National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. Guatemala City –      Guatemala.

Surreality. Bill Schwarz & Marcelo Suaznabar.  Earls Court Gallery.  Hamilton – Canada.

2018

“Ciclo” with José Ortega. Sheldon Rose Gallery. Toronto – Canadá.

Arte en Mayo. Espacio Cultural Paseo Cayalá. Rozas-Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City –        Guatemala.

Art Busan.  International Art Fair. Busan – Korea.

Arte en las Calles. Rozas-Botran Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2017

Juannio, Exhibition and Art Auction. National Museum of Art Carlos Merida. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2016

Art Wynwood, International Art Fair. Miami – USA.

Art Palm Beach, International Contemporary Art Fair. Palm Beach – USA.

Juannio, Exhibition & Art Action. National Museum of Modern Art Carlos Merida. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2015

Aqua Art Fair. International Art Fair. Miami – USA.

Scope Basel International Art Fair. Basel – Switzerland.

Inspirazione Divino. Articsok Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2014 

Scope Art Fair. International Contemporary Art Show. Miami- USA

Juannio Exhibition and Art Auction. National Museum of Modern Art. Guatemala City – Guatemala

International Art. Club Alpino Chipinque. ArtDealers Galeria. Monterrey – Mexico

Art Palm Beach. International Art Fair. Palm Beach County Convention Center. Palm Beach – USA.

Art Cartagena. International Art Fair. Cartagena – Colombia.

Miami International Art Fair. Downtown aboard Sea Fair. Miami – USA.

2013

Surrealism for the 21st Century Group Show. Articsok Gallery. Toronto, Canada.

Daegu Art Fair. International Art Fair Exco-Daegu – Korea.

2012

National Society of Fine Arts, Carrousel Du Louvre, Canadian Delegation. Paris –   France.

“Virgenes y Arcangeles” Club Alpino Chipinque. Monterrey – Mexico.

Emerging Directors Art Fair Ultra, Spiral Garden. Osaka – Japan

2010

Transeuntes del Tiempo, with Jaime Jose, Club Alpino Chipinque, Galeria Artdealers.       Monterrey – Mexico.

Colores de Latinoamerica 2010, “Sunfest” The Artist Project. London – Canada.

2009

Genesis 28.11.09 Chalk Farm Gallery. Santa Fe – USA

2008

Arwi, International Art Fair. San Juan – Puerto Rico.

Cruz Roja Mexicana. Banamex Centre. Nuevo Leon, Monterrey – Mexico.

Space -Vision, Lurie Art Galleries. Miami – USA.

2007

XXX Anniversary show Cruz Roja Mexicana,

Banamex Centre. Nuevo León, Monterrey – México.

2006

Imagine other Ways Spence Gallery.  Toronto – Canada.

2005

TIAFAIR Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Toronto – Canada.

2004

Little Treasures, Mittica Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2003

Sueños, Fantasias y Realidades, Art Dealers Gallery. Monterrey – Mexico.

Small Works, Roberto Martin Contemporary Art Gallery. Buenos Aires – Argentina.

2002

Le Monde Surrealist of Marcelo Suaznabar and Tom Gray, Galerie d’ Art Contemporains. Montreal. Quebec – Canada.

10 World Artists Show, Gallery Virtual. Noosa Gallery. Sidney – Australia

2001

Contemporary Bolivian Art, Dresden Bank. Hamburg – Germany.

Bolivia One Selection, National Museum of Art. Santiago – Chile.

2000 

The Portrait, DP Fong Galleries. San Jose California – USA.

Young Artists Agreement, Andres Bello. Bogota – Colombia and National Museum of Art La Paz – Bolivia.

1999

II Mercosur Art Biennial, Porto Alegre – Brazil.

First International Contest of Art SIART 99, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1998

Identities. Emergent Young Artist from South America and Caribbean. International Development Bank. Passage de Retz. Paris – France.

1997 

XI Culture House Art Biennial, Raul Otero Raiche. Santa Cruz – Bolivia.

1996

Three Artist, Moscosso Gallery. Washington DC – EEUU.

Bolivian Cultural weekend in Peru, National of Art Museum. Lima – Peru.

1995

The Nude, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

XIII International Young Artist Symposium, Center of Art. Baie Saint Paul. Quebec – Canada.

Contemporary Arcángel from Bolivia, Arte Unico Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

1994

Bolivia New Art., Mapocho Cultural Center. Santiago – Chile.

1993 

Four Young Artist, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1992

Las Condes Cultural Corporation. Santiago – Chile.

Center for Extramural Studies, University Catholic of Chile. Santiago – Chile.

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

2018 

Honorific mention. Rozas-Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2017

Distinction of Concejo Departamental de Culturas de Oruro. Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction  Bolivian Artists Association  ABAP Bolivia. Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction  Institute Superior de Bellas Artes.Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction Mesa Redonda Panamericana Oruro. Oruro – Bolivia.

2016

Condecoration: Procer Pedro Domingo Murillo on the grade of Civic Honors given by Council of City Hall. La Paz – Bolivia.

2011 

3rd Price Lemon Competition, The Artist Project Toronto. Toronto – Canada.

Arts Council. Exhibition assistance. Ontario – Canada.

2010

2nd Price Queen Competition, The Artist Project Toronto. Toronto – Canada.

2009

Ontario Arts. Council. Exhibition assistance. Ontario – Canada.

2008

Ontario Arts. Council. Visual Artist Mid-Career Grand. Ontario – Canada.

2002

Best in Drawing Art FOCUS, Toronto Metro Hall, Toronto – Canada.

1999 

Especial mention given by the National Museum of Art in the International contest SIART 99. La Paz – Bolivia.

1996

Distinction given by Mesa Redonda Pan-American. Oruro – Bolivia.

First Medal Artist. given by DIDEJU. Oruro – Bolivia

Honorary Diploma, given by Center for Extramural Studies, Catholic University.

Santiago – Chile.

Honorary Diploma, given by Government. La Paz – Bolivia.