Abigail Varela

Abigail Varela (born February 9, 1948) is a Venezuelan visual artist. He is best known for bronze sculptures representing pre-Columbian of abstract feminine figures interpreted in modern style in poses that suggest motion.[1][2][3][4][5]

Abigail Varela
Born (1948-02-09) 9 February 1948
Caracas, Venezuela
NationalityVenezuelan
Known forSculpture, drawing

Career

Varela began his art education under Japanese ceramist Hiroshi Kawagiri followed by courses at art schools in Caracas. Varela produces flat silhouetted large sculptures, evolving into classic cast bronzes with a polished dark finish. Other works are made in solid aluminum. Varela's favorite theme is feminity in bulky shapes that somehow manage to suggest lightness and movement. His shapes have been likened to those of the Venus of Willendorf. A touch of humor inhabits many of Varela's sculptures.[1]

Achievements

Varela's art is noted in Venezuela and beyond.[1][6][7] His work has been exhibited in New York (Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery), London (Cynthia Bourne Gallery), San Salvador (Galería Espacio), Coral Gables (Galería Freites-Revilla) and Boca Raton (Elaine Baker Gallery) among other places. A retrospective of Varela's art was presented at the BOD Center in Caracas in 2014.[3] In 2018 his work was chosen (among 22 pieces) for exhibition at the CAF gallery (Caracas) representing Times and Trends in Latin American Sculpture.[8] His art has been reviewed in essays and books.[9][10][11] His pieces occupy the art collections of Venezuelan institutions such as the National Art Gallery (Caracas), Contemporary Art Museum, Empresas Polar Foundation and Fundación Cultural Chacao. It is found in open-air art museums in Venezuelan locations (Mérida, Valencia, Aroa and Margarita Island[12]) as well as in Huelva (Spain) and at the Suncheon Bay National Garden, Korea.[13]

Recognition

In 2014 Varela was awarded the Omar Carreño Prize for Plastic Arts offered jointly by the Venezuelan Architects Association and the National Association of Plastic Artists.[14]

Varela's name is listed in established artist directories including ULAN, Artnet, Christie's, Benezit, in Marta Traba's Art of Latin America[15] and in Leonard's Price Index of Latin American Art.[16]

References
  1. Diccionario biográfico de las artes visuales en Venezuela (PDF). Fundación Galería de Arte Nacional. 2005. pp. 1341–1342. ISBN 980-6420-18-7. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  2. "Abigail Varela (Venezuelan, born 1948) Artworks". www.artnet.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  3. "Centro Cultural BOD presenta exposición de Abigaíl Valera". www.eastwebside.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  4. Palomero, Federica (April 2014). "Las mujeres infinitas de Abigaíl Varela". analitica.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  5. "ABIGAIL VARELA". www.construarte.com.ve. 19 February 2017. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  6. "ABIGAIL VARELA". galeriafreites.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  7. "Abigaíl Varela, expone 35 años de creación 1979-2014". robertorincon1.wordpress.com. 11 April 2014. Retrieved Jul 25, 2019.
  8. "La Galería CAF destaca tiempos y tendencias de la escultura latinoamericana en su nueva exposición". www.caf.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  9. Palomero, Federica. "Abigaíl Varela". raquelbalice.com. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  10. Abigaíl Varela : 35 años de creación, 1979-2014. B.O.D. Centro Cultural, Caracas. 2014. p. 63. ISBN 978-980-6334-64-9.
  11. Abigaíl Varela : 11 de abril al 2 de mayo : Freites Galeria, Caracas, Venezuela. Galería Freites. 1999. ISBN 980-334-099-9. Retrieved Jul 5, 2019.
  12. "Instaladas en el Museo Vial Esculturas de Jorge Mena, Abigail Varela y Gaudi Esté". sieim2007.blogspot.com. 26 August 2007. Retrieved Jul 25, 2019.
  13. "Abigail Varela at Suncheon Garden". scribd.com. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  14. "Invitación: Entrega del Premio en Artes Plásticas 'Omar Carreño'". prodavinci.com. Retrieved Jul 25, 2019.
  15. Traba, Marta (January 1994). Art of Latin America, 1900-1980. Inter-American Development Bank. p. 163. ISBN 0-940602-73-3.
  16. Theran (1999). Leonard's Price Index of Latin American Art at Auction. ISBN 0918819989.
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