ALICIA PAZ

Brujas y cotorras 210x170 cm Oil, acrylic and collage on canvas 2006

Who is she? The question is based on artists' self-scepticism in searching for the significance of ego and exploring a mysterious introspection via the reflected internal/ psychological mirror. Paz's alter egos are thus made up of a multitude of fragments, reconfiguring into crystalline, kaleidoscopic structures. These amorphous beings are projected onto her canvases, conducting a constant transformation within a self-identifying process. The protagonists of Paz's paintings often become creators in their own worlds where the self, the reflected self and reproduced multiple-selves appear. The paintings present a complex fusion of time and space cutting across various pop-culture influences, as well contemporary horror films and haute couture. The glamorous faces of the figures are painted cut outs from glossy magazines which draw the viewers' attention instantly and function as mystifying masks of profound beauty in contrast to the figures' monstrous bodies.

EDUCATION 1985-1989         University of California, Berkeley, USA, B.A. Mass Communications, B.A. Art Practice 1992-1996         Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France, DNSAP “Distinction” Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine, USA 1999-2000         Goldsmiths College, University of London, United Kingdom,“Postgraduate Diploma” SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1991         Château de Gaillon, Normandy, France 1992         Foyer International d’Accueil Jean Monnet, Paris, France 1993         Visart, Itinéraires d’Art Contemporain, Paris, France 1994         Galerie Municipale, Vitry-sur Seine, France (catalogue) 1996         Manufacture des Œillets, Ivry, France 1997         Vidal-St.Phalle Gallery, Paris, France (catalogue) Casa Lamm Cultural Center, Mexico city, Mexico (catalogue) 1998         Yvonamor Palix Gallery, Mexico City 2000         Yvonamor Palix Gallery, Paris, France (catalogue) 2005         Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina (catalogue) 2006         Houldsworth Gallery, London 2007         Unit 2 Gallery, London Metropolitan University, London, England (publication)(forthcoming) SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1998         Tamayo Museum Biennale, Oaxaca,  Mexico (cataloque) Out of Portrait, Yvonamor Palix Gallery, Paris, France 1999         ZAC 99 , Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France. Collaboration directed by  «Bureau d’Etudes » and Jota Castro (catalogue) Nous nous sommes tant aimés…, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris(cat.) Vivre Paris, D. des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville de Paris, Espace Electra, Paris (catalogue) Peindre la Peinture, Hanlim Museum & Centre Culturel  Français de Séoul, Korea (catalogue) Sous la grisaille de Mexico, La Capella, Barcelona, Spain & Passage de Retz, Paris 2000         Comme par enchantement ! Centre d’Art Contemporain de Saint Priest, France Continental Shift-Laboratorium, Ludwig Forum , Aachen, Germany (catalogue)         London Biennale, curated by David Medalla: collaborative project/website “Missing”- with artists Jota Castro, Carmela Uranga Tamayo Museum Biennial, Oaxaca, Mexico (catalogue) Visiting Artists Open Studio, Gasworks, London, England Art Mart, 291 Gallery, London, England Flor y Canto, Mexican Cultural Center, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, CA (travelling exhibit) 2002         L’Ame des objets, l’Esprit des choses, Château Borély, Marseilles, France Des beaux lendemains, Yvonamor Palix Gallery, Paris, France Mogador, Instituto Cervantes, Manchester, England; curated by Itzel Vargas Recent Graduates, AAF and Inside Space, Selfridges, London; curated by Maria von Kohler 2003         Phillipe Fretz, Alicia Paz, Anne-Marie Pécheur,  Galerie Athanor, Marseille     Speedy Gonzales is German, Playing with Stereotypes, U. of Hertfordshire, England  (cat.)    Curated by Alejandro Pintado Objet/Reflexion, Lycee Galilee; Cergy-St. Christophe;  curated by FRAC Ile de France Visiones, work by four Mexican artists,  College Albert Chatelet, Douai, France L’Enjeu du Jeu, Yvonamor Palix Gallery, Paris, France, curated by Rémy Marlot Nth art, Exhibit.001, OLS & CO, London, England 2004         3D, Samuel Choisy, Andreas Hirsch, Alicia Paz,  Maus Habitos, Porto, Portugal Du Corps à l’Image, Fondation d’Art Contemporain Daniel &Florence Guerlain,  France EAST International, Norwich, England. Selectors :Neo Rauch, Gerd Harry Lybke   Mind the Gap, Sponsored by British Council, Triangle Trust, Marseille Draw_drawing, Gallery 32, London Caution, Uneven Surfaces, Temporary Contemporary, London , curated by Anthony Gross The Deconstructed Landscape, Art House, McAllen, Texas, USA Réécritures, curated by Lycée Galilée / FRAC Ile de France ,  Cergy St. Christophe, France 2005         Flea Market , Temporary- Contemporary, London Painting Unperfect, Gordon Cheung, Peter Lamb, Justin Mortimer, Alicia Paz     Houldsworth Gallery, London Pilot, 100 curators nominate 100 artists, Farmiloe building, London   2006 Sardanapale Syndrom, Enrique Marty, Rine Banerjee, Alicia Paz, Galerie Dukan & Hourdequin, Marseilles, France                            AWARDS, GRANTS AND RESIDENCIES 1991         Premier Prix de Peinture, Maison des Arts, Evreux, France 1993         Prix de Peinture Talens, Paris, France Harriet Hale Woolley Foundation Scholarship, USA Prix spécial du Concours d’Art International Schlumberger, France (catalogue) Prix de la Ville de Vitry-sur-Seine, France 1995         Erasmus scholarship, Hochschule der Kunste, Berlin, Germany Prix Perrier Jouët: artist’s residency in Epernay, France    Prix de Peinture Louis-Vuitton-Moët Hennessy: artist’s residency in New-York City Cité Internationale des Arts-artist’s residency, Paris, France 1997         Prix de la Fondation Roger Bataille, France Prix de la Ville de Valognes, Normandy, France (catalogue) “Aide à la Première Exposition”, “Délégation aux Arts Plastiques”, France “Aide au Projet”, “Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Ville de Paris”, France 1998         Publication grant awarded by ENSB-A Paris, France   Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Fellowship, Maine, USA 1999         Study Grant awarded by  “Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes” (FONCA), Mexico “Delfina Studio Trust Residency Award”, London, England «Full Fellowship Award » Vermont Studio Center, USA 2001         Gasworks Artist’s Residency, London, England Grant Awarded by « Fondo Nacional para la cultura y las Artes »(FONCA), Mexico 2002         Triangle France, Artist’s Residency, La Friche de la Belle de Mai, Marseilles, France Cité Internationale des Arts,  Artist’s Residency, Paris, France Shortlisted by Sadie Coles Gallery for the Guardian/Observer Award, UK COLLECTIONS Cerès Museum, France Hanlim Museum, Taejon, Korea City of Vitry-sur-Seine, France City of Valognes, France “Fond Municipal d’Art Contemporain”, City of Paris, France “Fond Régional d’Art Contemporain d’Ile de France” (FRAC) Corporations: Lafuma, Schlumberger         Private collections : Great-Britain, Mexico, France, USA, Spain, Argentina www.aliciapaz.com