Efren Candelaria

Efrén Candelaria was born in Puerto Rico. He was the only son in a large family, and grew up in an environment that was rich in artistic inspiration. He studied at the University of Puerto Rico for two years before transferring to the University of Miami, where he earned a degree in Painting and Sculpture.

Candelaria developed his studio practice in Florida for five years before moving to New York City, where he was able to grow exponentially as an artist. He traveled throughout Latin America, the United States, and Puerto Rico exhibiting his work in group and solo shows.

After a long trip to Argentina in 2008, he decided to settle in Chicago. In 2012, decided to shift his studio based practice to a collaborative community based approach. He co-founded the interdisciplinary atelier Sobremesa Supper Club, based in the Pilsen neighborhood, and began working at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For the past three years, Candelaria has been developing and strengthening the Pilsen Community using food as the vehicle to bring people from all walks of life over communal food centered events that promote cross-cultural dialogues among peers.

For Candelaria, art is a way of bringing fresh new perspectives to everything from daily life to creative output. “Honesty and self-awareness will lead you to find originality on anything you set out to accomplish.”

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BIO/CV
Articles
Exhibitions

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BIO/CV

Candelaria developed his studio practice in Florida for five years before moving to New York City, where he was able to grow exponentially as an artist. He travelled throughout Latin America, the United States, and Puerto Rico exhibiting his work in group and solo shows.

Education

2003

B.F.A. (Painting and Art History, Minors in Literature, Art History and Sculpture), University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
1999

Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
1998

High School, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Select Solo Exhibitions

2007

Y-los, The Storehouse Group /La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005

En-Transito, Galeria Tamara, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003

Easel Riders Exhibit, The Annex, Coral Gables, FL
2002

Solo Exhibition, Sculpture and Ceramics Bldg., Coral Gables, FL
2001

One Night Stand, Sculpture and Ceramics Building, Coral Gables, FL

Select Group Exhibitions

2007

SCOPE New York, NY
ART LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, CA
2005

Omni Art, Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami, FL

Hollywood All-Media Juried Biennial, Art & Culture Center, Hollywood, FL
2004

Wired 2, Art Plus Gallery, Coral Gables, FL

Omni Art, Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami, FL

Stay Tuned: Hypnotic Videos by Contemporary Artists, The Studio, Armonk, NY
2003

B.F.A Exhibit, Wesley Foundation, Coral Gables, FL
2002

Group Show, curated by Alfredo Triff (critic for the New Times), Miami, FL
Annual Juried Exhibition, Miami Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL
Import Miami, Exhibicion en la Biblioteca Carneggie, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001

Annual Juried Exhibition, Miami Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL
1999

Annual Juried Exhibition, Miami Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL

ARTIST STATEMENT

PRESS RELEASE – Efren Candelaria: Hardly Smooth
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO– Eight Modern is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Hardly Smooth: Efren Candelaria. This solo exhibition features an array of minimalist graphite drawings on wood veneer and paper installed by the artist, as well as a multi-media installation. At the core of each piece is Candelaria’s freehand drawing of the vertical […]

PRESS RELEASE – Efren Candelaria: Hardly Smooth

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO– Eight Modern is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Hardly Smooth: Efren Candelaria. This solo exhibition features an array of minimalist graphite drawings on wood veneer and paper installed by the artist, as well as a multi-media installation.

At the core of each piece is Candelaria’s freehand drawing of the vertical line. The literally linear expresses a non-linear grammar that reflects an organic, unconstrained approach. Through his work abstract ideas find concrete form.

As is typical of the artist’s exhibitions, Hardly Smooth will not be a display of disparate works of art, but rather a comprehensive exhibition created specifically for the space, with each piece tied to a central theme.

Candelaria’s art is rooted in his childhood growing up watching his relatives draw. He played soccer at the University of Puerto Rico, later transferring to the University of Miami where he quickly found himself absorbed in artistic creation.

In order to be honest to his inspiration, Candelaria eschews geometric perfection for the inevitable curves and bumps of freehand drawing. His work is highly informed by repetition, numbers, time and space.

The work in Hardly Smooth reflects his conception of each line in a piece of art as a specific point in time and space. Candelaria is a bold young artist who is not afraid of negative space, imperfection or unconventional methods. His approach towards art-making is aggressive and ambitious. Candelaria is careful to avoid the didactic, therefore leaving his artwork open for interpretation. His desire is to show viewers his own decision-making and let them tie the loose ends to their own stories.

Hardly Smooth: Efren Candelaria will run from Friday, October 12, through Sunday, November 11, 2007. Eight Modern is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays, at 231 Delgado Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. For further information and image requests, contact Jaquelin Loyd or Margo Thoma.

EXHIBITIONS

Efren Candelaria: Hardly Smooth
November 12, 2007–December 11, 2007