
Carlos Medina
Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 1953
Enter the viewing room →Venezuelan artist, born in 1953. Graduated in the School of Visual Art of Caracas, celebrating the end of his academic studies in 1975 with an individual exhibition of iron and stone sculptures called: Abstracciones geométricas espaciales, presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas. The same year he earns the Sculpture Prize in the 4th National Salon of Young Artists organized by the National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts.
In 1977 he travels to Italy and settles down in Carrara with scholarships successively granted by the Italian government and Foundation for Culture and Arts (Fundarte), Caracas. This stage features the practice of superior carving and turning techniques, and also the study of new conceptualizations over tridimensional work. He assists at the Professional School of Marble and pursues several courses at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara. Works the stone at the industry Gonari Marmi; bronze sculpturing at the Fonderia Mariani in Pietrasanta, and graphics and engravings at the Rikjscentrum Frans Masereel, Kasterlee, Belgium. During this period participates in exhibitions, symposia and events in several European countries.
Medina returns to Venezuela in 1984, and he resumes the iron and steel sculpturing for urban scale production. Assiduous researcher of techniques and materials becomes a reference of volumetric sculpture. In the following decades develops more than twenty monumental works including the iconic Fragment of rain to Caracas, a project dating from 1989 and finally realized in 2014, as a gift to the city.
Always focused on geometric abstraction, going from volumetric to spatial concerns, in the last two decades he has focused his interest in exploring spatial proposals that abandon the supports and integrate light, shadow, reflection and space time. His work is consolidated in the essential and imperceptible interpretation of universe.
Medina currently lives and works in Paris and is an artist at the Atelier Cruz Diez and important French galleries, including the emblematic Galerie Denise René in Paris. He has more than twenty awards and prizes granted to him from recognized organizations of art and culture.
“The natural evolution of sculpture and painting is toward the immaterial.” — Carlos Medina
Essential — Bélgica Rodríguez
In one occasion, regarding the development of his work, the abstract-conceptualist sculptor Carlos Medina (Venezuela, 1953) stated that “the natural evolution of sculpture and painting is toward the essential.” Faithful to this principle, he has slowly but steadily simplified the initial volumetric processes of his earlier works exhibited in the Sofia Imber Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas (1975), to achieve the supreme lightness and transparency patent in his pieces exposed in the Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia in Maracaibo (2013-2014). The measured transformation of geometrical form to the point of becoming a conceptual statement has defined his trajectory. The series of works he has been working for a couple of decades—open sculptures invading empty and full spaces—are inscribed in a new aesthetic vision in which tri-dimensionality appears both as a volumetric and spatial concept, starting with an essentialist and monochromatic geometry where “emptiness” plays also a leading role.
Medina certainly goes from the material to the essential. By eliminating mass and volume, he approaches the material dissolution of the geometric form. For him “matter and pure forms or elements concentrate the spatial importance of the work,” which in the ensemble of all the series that compose it are an extraordinary example of an organic-conceptual minimalism. Each series encompasses a determined material as well as a conceptual reflection on geometric and constructivist postulates. For the artist, “form motivates the choice [of material and this is] the consequence of an idea.” Accordingly, he analyzes the concept to qualify the final work as a “pre-conceived” result which is eventually “materialized.” Each series comports a different geometry based on its location in space and the meaning that corresponds to it. However, such geometry is not submitted to inflexible aesthetic codes, for within his creative system the artist carries out a random intuitive and instinctive operation which allows him to organize his installations in conformity with the energetic vibration of the urban or domestic nature permeating the space.
Though it remains deeply abstract, constructivist and conceptual, in Carlos Medina’s whole work there is a perceivable mystical, spiritual and emotive character, which can be sensed in the Drops or Neutrinos, in the Fugues or the Tubulars, charged with sensitive mysteries belonging to a nature whose plants and flowers he approaches with the delicacy of a priest officiating a sacred ceremony.
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Studio & exhibitions



Public works
- 1978 — Carrara, colección privada, Caracas, Venezuela
- 1980 — Column for Ostende., National Art Gallery Caracas, Venezuela
- 1982 — Bolívar. Kostanjevica Castle, Slovenia · Círculo espacial. Museo de Escultura Kostanjevika, Slovenia · Columna Verde, Museo de Arte Alejandro Otero, Caracas, Venezuela · Family Civil Hospital Kostanjevica, Slovenia
- 1987 — Estructura Móvil , Caracas Subway, Caricuao Station, Venezuela
- 1992 — Columna para Chile, De los Reyes Park, Santiago de Chile, Chile. (Destroyed)
- 1993 — Hito, Procter & Gamble, Valencia, Venezuela
- 1994 — Sidor. Sidor Steel Industry, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela
- 1995 — Hoja (Leaf) Culiacán, Culiacán, México · Monument to the Decentralization, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
- 1996 — Columna para Valdivia, Alcaldía de Valdivia, Chile
- 1997 — Círculos Espaciales. Centro Capital Plaza Barquisimeto, Venezuela · Hoja, BADAN, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- 1998 — Columna para Zacatecas, México · Monument to Sisal, El Cují, Venezuela · Columna Constructiva. Justice Palace, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- 2001 — La Ciudad. Caracas, Venezuela
- 2002 — Doble Círculo Espacial IV. Centro Javier, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- 2003 — Círculo Chetumal. Quintana Roo,México
- 2004 — Fragmento de lluvia (Rain fragment) Yacambú. Alcaldía Iribarren. Venezuela
- 2005 — Gota (Drop) Guadalajara, Guadalajara University, México · Cilindro, Colima University, México · Hoja II, Trujillo, Venezuela
- 2006 — Fragmento de Lluvia (Rain fragment). Museo Yeong - Wol, Corea del Sur
- 2007 — Hoja Espartana, Museo Vial, Porlamar, Venezuela
- 2011 — Columna Barroca, Sabana Grande, Caracas, Venezuela
- 2012 — Jardín de las Esculturas, Museo de Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- 2013 — Gota y Flor (Drop & Flower). Colección privada. Bogotá, Colombia
- 2014 — Fragmento de Lluvia para Caracas 1989-Caracas, Venezuela
- 2018 — Sphères avec neutrinos (éphémères), Palais Royal, Paris, France
- 2022 — Neutrino spheres Pinta Fair,Miami USA
- 2023 — Círculo & Cuadrado Madrid, Spain
- In project — Intervention Bussy St. Georges Station EuroDisney, France
Exhibition selection
- 2023 — Neutrinos. Carlos Medina. Galerie Denise René, Paris, France · Circle & Square. Madrid Luxury District.Madrid, Spain
- 2022 — Movement Tribute to Denise René, Bonisson Art Center, Rognes, France · Why white?. Art Paris & Wagner Gallery,Paris, France
- 2021 — Beyond the visible, Ascaso Gallery, Miami, USA · Mesures / Démesures. Graf Galerie, Paris France
- 2020 — Immersive fragment -penetrable- Galerie Denise René, París, France
- 2019 — Géométries de lumière. Galerie Wagner Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. France
- 2018 — Carlos Medina El arte de la levedad. Galería Cesta República, Madrid, España · Medina: Del concepto a la forma. Guanajuato. Art Center. Mexico
- 2017 — Fragments Essentiels, Espace Meyer Zafra, Paris, France · La nature en la sculpture. VillaDatris. Foundation. Isle-sur-la-Sorge, France · 40 años Geometría Galería GraphicArt, Centro Cultural Olivar, Lima Perú
- 2016 — Essential, Medina. Ascaso Gallery, Miami, USA
- 2015 — Veintiuno. La plástica del siglo XXI, MUSA Collection, Guadalajara Mexico
- 2013 — Aflorarte, 93 Park, Bogotá, Colombia · Esencial,. Museum of Contemporary Art (MACZUL), Maracaibo, Venezuela
- 2013 — Esencial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Yucatán (MACAY), Merida, Mexico
- 2012 — Muestra Internacional Escultura Acero, Villacero Foundation, Monterrey,Mexico
- 2011 — White Surfaces, Art Nouveau Gallery, Miami, USA
- 2009 — La Estrategia de la Forma, Museo MARCO, Monterrey, México
- 2008 — XI Bienal del Cairo, Egipto
- 2007 — Escultura Latinoamericana en Acero, Museum Modern Art, Cartagena, Colombia
- 2006 — MOLAA Award, Museo Latinoamericano de Los Ángeles, California, USA · Small format sculptures, Museum of Contemporary Art, Yeong Wol, South Korea
- 2005 — Arte Venezolano del Siglo XXI, Fine Arts Museum, Caracas
- 2003 — Carlos Medina y su obra, Museum of Maya Culture, Chetumal, Mexico
- 2002 — Abstracción y Geometría. Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas Collection
- 1996 — Esculturas Pequeño Formato, Art room of the town Hall, Valdivia, Chile
- 1990 — Obra en Madera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas
- 1987 — Mármoles, Museum of Modern Art Jesús Soto, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
- 1984 — Carlos Medina Esculturas, Fine Arts Museum, Caracas, Venezuela
- 1980 — Sculptures in the Royal Villa, Ostende, Belgium · International sculpture in marble, Apple Gallery, Zwarte Panter Gallery, · Maeyaert Gallery, Belgium
- 1981 — Ministry of Culture traveling exhibition through national museums, Belgium
- 1979 — Mármoles y Granitos, Van Vlaenderens Gallery & Luka Gallery, Belgium
- 1975 — Abstracciones geométricas espaciales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas
Awards selection
- 2021 — Win the Contest Intervention of the Bussy St.Georges station, France
- 2020 — Best international trajectory artist, International Association of Art Critics (AICA)
- 2017 — Best book: De lo material a lo esencial. International Association of Art Critics (AICA)
- 2014 — Sculpture Award Association of Artists Caracas Venezuela
- 2012 — Title of Guest of Honor and the Keys of the City in Resistencia, Argentina
- 2008 — Mention of Honor, I Biennial of Sculpture, Guadalajara, Mexico
- 2003 — Special Mention, Salon Exxon, National Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela
- 2002 — Ministry of Culture Prize, I Andean Biennial of Sculpture Modern Art Museum Ecuador
- 1993 — Great Prize Salon Arturo Michelena, Athenaeum of Valencia, Venezuela · Sculptors prize, I American Sculpture Contest. Resistencia, Argentina
- 1992 — Sculpture Prize, XVII National Salon of Art Aragua, Maracay, Venezuela
- 1991 — National Biennial of Sculpture Museum Contemporary Art, Porlamar, Venezuela 1986 · I Biennial of Guiana Art Prize, Museum of Modern Art Jesus Soto, C.Bolivar, Venezuela
- 1981 — Award of Acquisition, National Council for Culture, Caracas, Venezuela
- 1978 — City of Carrara Sculpture Prize, Italy · Painting Prize of the I International Biennial Young Artists, Viareggio, Italy
- 1976 — The Sculpture Prize at the II Salon of Art Fondene, Porlamar, Venezuela
- 1975 — National Salon of Young Artists. National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts, Caracas, · Venezuela
Publications & media
- 2023 — Interview on Radio France International by the journalist Jordi Batallé · Interview IVC Network / @es.goi · Published the catalog Neutrinos.Carlos Medina. Text by Domitille d´Orgeval · Reference in Spanish media: digital, print and television on the Madrid Luxury Art (MLA), · organized by the Madrid City Council and AGM Art Group
- 2022 — Article by David D'Arcy The Art Newspaper about Neutrino Spheres Pinta Fair, Miami, US · The journalist César Miguel Rondón interviews Medina at his program "En Conexión", · which he conducts daily from Miami, USA · The magazine Review, circulating in Venezuela, offers its cover and develops the main · article about the exhibition Círculos y Planos at Espace Villandry, Barquisimeto, · Venezuela
- 2021 — Published the catalog Beyond the Invisible. Text by Adriana Herrera · The art critic Dennys Matos, publish a Medina review at the Miami Herald,
- 2020 — The art magazine L´œil, reviews his exhibition at Galeria Graf Paris · The art critic Domitille D´Orgeval writes -Immersive Fragments penetrable installation at · Galerie Denise René · El Universal, venezuelan newspaper publishes an article about Medina
- 2019 — Appears in France TV his work Sphères de Neutrinos (Television program Laisser-vous · guider, Au coeur de la révolution française by Stéphane Bern, important presenter in · France · The art magazine, Artefacto circulating in Miami, offers its cover and the main article about · the work at the Palais Royal, Paris, Sphéres de Neutrinos
- 2018 — The Venezuelan producer Jorge Díaz, makes the first part of the documentary that will · reflect the activity of Medina in Venezuela - USA - France
- 2017 — Hermann Éditeurs, published in Paris, France, his book Medina. From the material to the · essential, by Bélgica Rodríguez, · The audiovisual platform ArtePorvenir, based in Miami, premieres the documentary Carlos · Medina: From the material to the essential · Published the catalog Fragments Essentiels, Paris, France,
- 2016 — Published his Essential catalog writes by the art critic Carol Damian, USA · Published the catalog Imperceptible, by the Colombian art critic Alvaro Medina · The TV program Entre dos in Miami, by Laura Fursic, reviewed his exhibition · Antonio Capra, produced an artistic video about the Essential Miami, USA · The art critic Dennys Matos, published in the magazine Art Nexus, No. 101, 2016, an · article about Medina
