marela zacarias
marela zacarias
warp and weft
These specific works are based on Marela’s research tracing the human migrations found in her DNA (through the Genome Project) back to Arabia and Asia Minor. Each painting in this series is a direct reaction to a textile from a specific region around the Mediterranean Sea. Warp and weft is the set of longitudinal and transverse threads used on a loom in the creation of textiles. It is also a reference to the many genetic and cultural threads that overlap one another creating our identity. Marela Zacarias is a contemporary visual artist. Her work combines painting and sculpture and is characterized by an interest in site specificity, the history contained in objects, and current events. Zacarias’ wall and free standing sculptures are constructed from window screens and joint compound and painted with original patterns and geometric abstract shapes. Most recently, Marela completed Manna-hatta, a 20 x 25’ permanent sculptural installation for The William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (2015-2016), and Red Meander, a 58’ x 11’ permanent sculptural installation for the new American Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico (2013-2014) She had her first solo show at the Brooklyn Museum as part of the Raw/ Cooked Series in 2013. She had a solo show at the Brattleboro Museum in Vermont, 2014 and a solo show at the National Arts Club in NY in 2015. She was part of the Museo del Barrio’s S-Files Biennial in 2012, the Hunter MFA show at the Times Square Gallery 2012, and participated in a No Longer Empty exhibition in East Harlem in 2010. In addition, Marela has been part of many group shows in galleries in NY and Brooklyn. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, Zacarias was born in Mexico City. In 2012 she was the first artist-in-residence at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Connecticut. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and received an MFA in painting from Hunter College.
Ben M’Tir (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 47 1/2 x 53 x 12 in
Kilim (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 27 x 27 x 17 in
Epos (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 25 x 24 x 18 1/2 in
Philae (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 39 x 37 x 14 in
Oulad Bou Sbaa (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 68 x 52 x 16 in
Marmoucha (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 29 x 24 x 10 in
Kalambakka (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 36 x 30 x 9 in
Tell al-Ansari (2015), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 17 x 15 1/2 x 6 in
Aleppo (2016), wood, windowscreen, joint compound, polymer & acrylic paint, 53 x 51 1/2 x 13 in
selected projects
Mannahatta, site specific installation at the William Vale Hotel, Brooklyn, NY, 2016
Material Cultures at Bric - Mitochondrial Eve, Bric Arts Media, Brooklyn, NY 2016
Warp and Weft, solo exhibition at Praxis Gallery, NY, NY 2016
Red Meander, permanent installation at the American Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, 2014
Supple Beat, solo show from the Raw / Cooked Series, Brooklyn Museum, 2013
S-Files Biennial at El Museo del Barrio, NY, NY, 2013
Plaza de las Armas - Hunter MFA Thesis Show, Times Square Gallery, NY, NY 2012
Marela Zacarias Mexican, American. Born and raised in Mexico City. Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Education: 2009- 2012 MFA, Painting, Hunter College, NY, NY. 1996- 2000 B.A, Synoptic major of Fine Arts and Political Science. Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, 2000 Selected Exhibitions 2016 Warp and Weft, solo show, Praxis Gallery, NY;Manna-hatta, 20’ x 25’ permanent installation at the William Vale Hotel, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. NY. 2015 Doppelstandar: On View. 103 Allen St. NY,NY; Sculptural Paintings, Solo show at The National Arts Club, Gramercy Park, NY 2014 Barriococo British Society of American Art, Brooklyn, NY; Do You See the Picture? Praxis Gallery, Chelsea, NY; Red Meander (58’ x 11’) Official Inauguration of the new permanent art collection of the American Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico; Cloaked and Revealed: Sculptural Paintings by Marela Zacarias. Solo Show; Brattleboro Museum. Brattleboro, VT; Redux Trois, CCSU Art Gallery, New Britain, CT. 2013 After the Object, Y Gallery, NY, NY; Supple Beat, Solo show as part of the Raw/Cooked series, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. 2012 Azimuth, Willowell Foundation, Bristol, VT; lean Up, Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY; Hunter MFA Thesis Show, Times Square Gallery, NY, NY. 2011 S-Files Biennial, El Museo del Barrio, NY, NY; Colorforms, Praxis International Gallery, Miami, Fl; Colorforms, Praxis International Gallery, NY, NY. 2010 Curate NY, Rush Arts Gallery, NY, NY; Weaving In and Out (Curated by Museo del Barrio and No Longer Empty) Tapestry, East Harlem, NY; Resonance, Rabittholestudio, Brooklyn, NY. 2009 Mural as a Mirror, Charter Oak Gallery, Hartford, CT. 2008 Imprints, Student Union Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 2007 48 hours, Installation show for 1st Night Hartford. Hartford, CT; Be our Guest, Broad Street Gallery, Trinity College. Hartford, CT Selected Murals 2010 Cinta, 50’ x 10’. Chejbal, Guatemala; Color Nourishment 35’ x 48’. Commissioned by Green Street Arts Center of Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT; Conquest, 20’ x 10’. Commissioned by University of Connecticut, Storrs, Ct.; La Marcha, 61’ x 15’. Oaxaca, Mexico. 2009 Asalto, 75’ x 10’. Commissioned for the movie Asalto al Cine, Mexico City.; For the Free Movement of People, 20’ x 8’. Commissioned by Charter Oak Cultural Center. Hartford, CT. 2008 Connections, 240’ x 10’. Commissioned by the town of Farmington, CT and Farmington High School. 2007 The Future is Ours, 50’ x 20’. Commissioned by the North Oak Community Center. New Britain, CT. 2006 No walls Between Workers, 30’ x 20’. Alexandria VA. 2005 La Paloma Sabanera, 20’ x 15’. Commissioned by the Hartford Commission for the Arts. Hartford CT. 2002 ur Heritage, 32.7’ x 7.9’. Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC. 2001 Columbia Heights Community Mural. 140’ x 15’. Commissioned by the Latin American Youth Center. Washington DC; Horn Gallery for the Arts, 10’ x 10’. Kenyon College. Gambier, OH. Permanent Collections: Art In Embassies, State Department- Red Meander 132” x 696” x 36” Permanent sculptural installation at the American Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico Fundación Canarias para el Desarrollo de la Pintura. Canary Islands, Spain. Artist Residencies: Sept- Oct 2013 Willowell Foundation, Bristol, VT July 2011 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT 2009-2010 University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 2003-2005 Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 2001-2002 Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC
NEW YORK Chelsea 541 West 25th Street New York, NY 10001 tel 212 772 9478 newyork@praxis-art.com BUENOS AIRES Arenales 1311 Buenos Aires C1061AAM Argentina tel 4812 6254 www.praxis-art.com tienda.praxis-art.com