Tony Vazquez-Figueroa
Bio
Tony Vazquez-Figueroa has explored the substance of crude oil and its many manifestations to analyze its effects on one of the richest global powers of the late 20th century – Venezuela. Using bitumen as a key inspiration in the creation of works, Vazquez-Figueroa has developed a personal archive of paintings, sculptures, objects, and installations, that form the collective memory and heritage for himself and others experiencing this shared history. His deeply personal research into how oil-rich countries create unique physical, socio-economic, and cultural environments informs his artistic practice to create a body of work that distills the dystopic reality of over-industrialization.
Vazquez-Figueroa resides and works between Mexico City, MX and Miami, FL. His work forms part of public and private collections worldwide, like The Perez Art Museum Miami, The Museum of Latin American Art California (MOLAA) the UNIS Museum Guatemala, and the Black Gold Museum in Saudi Arabia among others.
Statement
My work encompasses ideas of a personal, yet universal archive of transformative images & objects all effected by the power and presence of oil. Having grown up in Venezuela, I have experienced these symptoms firsthand – economically, geographically, politically etc. The reliance and weight of the industry creates a gravitational pull that alters everything in its perimeter. It has opened a sensitivity to the multifaceted nature of such an enigma, one that has pushed me to research even further into how it alters/mutates human nature and behavior. The dialogues, sentiments, memories, and icons that come from this are ones that I translate through my art and its many forms.
2.5 x 4m / 98.4 x 157 in
