Artist Statement
My paintings aim to move people, freeing their minds to see the world afresh. They are not entertainment, nor they seek tested beauty. I paint to find truth beyond technology and the precision of numbers.
Background
Fernando Velazquez is a Spanish painter leaving and working in Dorset, UK. Born in Seville, his work has developed throughout his career into a highly personal language concerned with the power of nature and the imagination, evident in his series “Paintings of the Floating World”, “Through the Veil”, “Cave Paintings of our Time” and recently “Animas” and “In the Beginning” series presented in London.
He has exhibited individually in London, New York and Madrid and has participated in many collective exhibitions throughout Europe and America, in addition to his presence at numerous international art fairs. He has also collaborated in a number of prestigious events such as “The Ormeley Dinner, The Ecology Trust, The Aspinall Foundation and ‘Tusk Modern Art Auction’ in London. In the last five years his work has been exhibited in Venice, London, Bogota, Milan, Vancouver, Florence and Krakow.
Fernando has received a number of commissions from private and public collections, including the Rosenberg & Kaufman Gallery in New York, for which he produced a monumental piece in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the birth of the iconic American composer, George Crumb, a collaboration with ICE (The International Contemporary Ensemble) at Symphony Space in Manhattan. His work is part of many art collections including Universal Records, London, Hotel Arts in Barcelona and the Steven Rosenberg Gallery in New York.
He has been finalist in numerous national and international competitions, including the Foundation Focus in Seville, the Tribe Prize at Edgar Modern in Bath, the Marshwood Vale Art Awards in Bridport, Dorset amongst others, also winning the Dorchester Open Exhibition Prize and the international Art Prize Artzine in 2018. In 2022 Fernando was included in the publication “Interviews with Artists”, promoting the best of Contemporary Art around the world. He will be exhibiting at the Florence Biennale 2023.
Fernando Velazquez is a self-taught artist who has a distinctive voice in contemporary art, a unique vision that echoes the great art of the past whilst creating a new universe of visual responses to our time.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
“Florence Biennale”
Italy
2019
“Summer Art Exhibition”
The Dragon Gallery
Petworth, UK
“Start Art Fair”
The Saatchi Gallery, London
The Dragon Gallery
Petworth, UK
“Affordable Art Fair”
Battersea, London
David Lolly Gallery
Cambridge, UK
“Sussex Art Fair”
Goodwood Racecourse
The Dragon Gallery,
Petworth. UK
“Cambridge Open Art Exhibition”
University of Cambridge, UK
“Aeon”
Mad Gallery, Milan, Italy
2018
“Flux”
Chelsea College of Arts, London
“Flux Exhibition” Greenwich Peninsular Art Placement, London
2017
“Secret Auction” Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
“Summer Show” Atkinson Gallery, Street, UK
“Consciousness” Anima Mundi International Arts Festival, Venice, Italy
“Gallery Artists” Bowridge Gallery, Dorset UK
“United” Gologorski Gallery, Krakow, Poland
“Alchemy Body – Fire, Air, Earth. Water Jorge Jurado Gallery, Bogota, Colombia
“National Youth Arts Trust Auction” Rise Art, London
2016
“Interrogating Materials” Durlston, Dorset Visual Arts.
“Art in Hospitals” Dorset Visual Arts, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester
“Bowridge Gallery” Dorset
“164 Annual Art Exhibition” Royal West Academy, Bristol
2015
“Layers and Light” Rise Art, London.
2014
“Royal West Art Academy 162nd Exhibition 2014” Royal West Academy of Arts. Bristol.
“Pop Up Dorset” Jacksons Gallery, Portland.
“Evolver Prize 2014”, Atkinson Gallery, Street, UK
“The Tribe Prize 2014”, Edgar Modern, Bath, UK
2013
“Dorchester Open 2013” Dorchester Arts Centre.
“Marshwood Arts Awards 2013” Bridport Arts centre. Dorset.
“Royal West Art Academy 161th Exhibition 2013” Royal West Academy of Arts. Bristol.
2012
New paintings, Hilfield Manor Gallery
Pop Up Dorset Open Exhibition, Portland
2011
Contemporary Art, McMaster Tims, Jersey
Un Verano para recordar
Hotel Isabel de Farnesio, La Granja de San Ildefonso, Segovia, Biondetta Art Gallery, Madrid
2010
Selected Works, The Gallery at Hilfield Manor, Dorset
Salon Millesime, Madrid. Biondetta Art Gallery
Contemporary Paintings and Sculpture, The Air gallery, London
Feria DeArte, Biondetta Art Gallery, Madrid
Luz y Alma a 360, Padula & Partners, Biondetta Art Gallery, Madrid
Summer Exhibition, Harris Interiors Gallery, Poole
2009
Causalidad-Casualidad. Galería Punto-Arte, Barcelona.
Works on Paper. Harris Interiors Gallery, Poole, Dorset
The Ormeley Dinner, The Ecology Trust and The Aspinall Foundation, London
Jamaica Street Artists, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol
2008
Harris Interiors, Gallery Artists, Poole, Dorset
2007
Margins, Sherborne House Open, Sherborne, Dorset
2006
Modern Art Fair, Study Gallery/ Harris Interiors Gallery, Poole, Dorset
2005
Panel/Canvas/Paper Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art New York
Harris Interiors Gallery, Gallery Artists, Poole, Dorset
2004
Floating Worlds. George Crumb/Fernando Velázquez, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre. Symphony Space. Sound/Image Event, New York
(Un)Convention, Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art, New York
Summer Exhibition, Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art, New York
2003
Art for Youth The Mall Galleries, London
Summer Exhibition, Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art New York
2001
Abstraction, Rosenberg & Kaufman Gallery, New York
Bergdoff Goodman, New York
“Starting a Collection” Art First, London
2000
Art 2000, E1 Gallery, Contemporary Art Fair, London
New Elemental, E1 Gallery, London, ART Paris
1999
Vital Art’99, Cowcross Street Gallery, E1 Gallery, London
Art London 1999
Round Chapel Festival, Round Chapel, London
1998
New Art, Chelsea College of Art, London
1997
Let’s Go Down the King’s Road, Artists in Residence Kensington & Chelsea College, London
1996
Focus National Painting Competition, Finalist, Focus Foundation, Seville, Spain
1995
New Creators, Oriel Theatre, Mold-Clyd, Wales
History Institute, Lancaster. UK
Lillian Palley Visual Arts, Oakland, California, USA
1994
Hotel Arts’94, Egam Gallery, Madrid; Hotel Arts, Barcelona
Dark City Lights, Granados 2 Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Dada, Down Town Lives ’94, Los Angeles, USA
1992
National Contest for Painters’92, Chicarreros Gallery, Seville, Spain
Young Creators, Borron Gallery, Oviedo, Spain 1992
“With another View” Universal Exhibition Expo 92 Seville.
1991
“Young Creators” Regional Assembly, Cartagena, Spain
“Young Art” Babel Gallery, Murcia, Spain
1989
National Painting Competition, Almudi Centre of Art
Mediterranean Savings Bank, Spain
International Meeting for Young Artists, European Council, Berlin, Germany
Cultural Exchange, Madrid, Spain
Young Art Exhibition, School of Architecture, Murcia, Spain
National Painting Competition, Mediterranean Savings Bank, Spain
1988
Regional Competition for Visual Art, Murcia, Spain
National Competition for Visual Art, Valencia, Spain
New Creators, San Esteban Church, Murcia, Spain
Solo Exhibitions
2023
“Transvoid”
The Wirth Gallery, The Merritt Centre Bradford Rd
Sherborne, UK
2022
“Transvoid”
The Garage Door Gallery,
Cirencester, UK
2019
“In the Beginning”
David Lolly Gallery
Cambridge, UK
The Fountain Gallery
London
2018
“Animas”
The Bowridge Gallery
Dorset, UK
2017
Bowridge Gallery
Dorset, UK
2014
“Cave Paintings of our Time”
Dorchester Arts Centre
2011
“Through the Veil”
Harris Interiors Gallery, Poole, Dorset
“Waterfields”
Hilfield Manor Gallery, Sherborne
2010
“Timeless”
Biondetta Art Gallery, Madrid
2008
“Fernando Velázquez” Oliver Holt Gallery, Sherborne, Dorset
“Paintings of the Floating World” Harris Interiors Gallery, Poole, Dorset
“Cuevas” McMaster Tims Contemporary Art, London
2003
“Paintings of the Floating World” Rosenberg & Kaufman Gallery, New York
2000
“Night Paintings”, E1 Gallery, London
1999
“Taking Shape”, Woodlands Gallery, London
1997
“Recent Works”, Madelaine Pearson Gallery, Islington Arts Factory, London
1995
“Pintura del Otro” Youth Gallery, Seville, Spain
1994
“Pintura de Finales” Mestizo Art Festival, Caballerias Gallery, Murcia, Spain Pintura de Finales, Muralla Bizantina Gallery, Cartagena, Spain
1993
“Prints & Drawings”, Miroslav Perkovic Workshop, Mojacar, Spain
Prizes and Awards
Artzine 2018 Winner
Dorchester Open 2013 Exhibition Prize
Evolver Prize 2014, Atkinson Gallery, Street Finalist
The Tribe Prize 2014, Edgar Modern, Bath Finalist
Marshwood Vale Art Awards 2014
Focus National Painting Competition, Seville 1996. Finalist.
Bibliography
Interview with Fernando Velazquez. Singulart Magazine 2018
Visions. The Flux Exhibition. Flux Magazine, London 2018
Luca Curcci talks to Fernando Velazquez. Interview. Its Liquid, Venice 2017
“50 Internantional Artists to watch in 2017” Talullah Magazine, December 2016
Home & Design. The Telegraph Saturday magazine, October 2016
“Talullah Magazine” Interview by Daniel Dunt. May 2016
“Studio Talks with Fernando Velazquez” FineArtSeen, 2016
“Fernando Velazquez on the Spotlight” Rise Art Feature, 2015
“Fernando Velazquez” Interview with Fiona Robinson, Evolver Magazine. May 2014
“Katherine Locke talks to Fernando Velazquez” Marshwood Vale Magazine. May 2014
Tusk Modern Art Auction, Bafta. The Telegraph, Anoosh Chakelian 2011
Evolver Magazine. Exhibit A 2011
Light and Soul at 360 degrees. Carmen Mendez, Expansion, Madrid 2010
Mind Fields, Dorset Magazine, Stephen Swanns, 2010
The Sherborne Review, 2008
Fernando Velázquez, Oliver Holt Gallery, Sherborne. Andrew Stooke, 2008
Art on Demand, Art and Antiques in America, Margaret Littman, 2004
Floating Worlds, George Crumb/Fernando Velázquez, New York Times, Jeremy Eichler, 2004
Putting you in the picture, Dorset Echo, 2003
Sound/Image, Rosenberg and Kaufman Gallery, New York. Essay by Nikki Cesare, 2003
Fernando Velázquez, Rosenberg and Kaufman Gallery, New York , Samuel Lloyd Thomas, 2003
The Dictionary of Art in Britain since 1945, David Buckman, 2001-2011
Altered Images, The Sunday Times Magazine, Ria Higgins, 2000
Night paintings, Essay by Simon Groom, London, 2000
New Elemental Aesthetic, E1 Gallery, Ivan Tennant, London 2000
Madeleine Pearson Gallery, Islington Arts Factory Exhibitions, Denzil Forrester, London 1997
Collections
Hotel Arts Contemporary Art Collection, Barcelona
Universal Records, London
Stephen Rosenberg, New York
Solterra, Burgos, Spain
Biondetta Art Gallery, Madrid
Editorial La Muralla, Madrid
Punto Art Gallery, Barcelona
The Dragon Gallery, Sussex, UK
Projects and Commissions
2015
Commission of two large paintings for the Solterra Art collection, Madrid.
2011
“Bueliau” Commission of a large painting on glass as part of an architectural project in the New Forest, Dorset, UK
2004
Floating Worlds, Commission of a large format painting by Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art. Stage design at the Thalia Nimoy Theatre, New York Celebrating the 80th birthday of American composer George Crumb. Collaboration with the International Contemporary Ensemble ICE (Chicago) for a live performance at Symphony Space, New York.
1999
“Eating Art” Project organised by E1 Gallery, London
Involving chefs and artists
1997
“Diapason” Collaboration with Oboist Ellen Marsden, London
1996
“Mirada Infinita”
A workshop for the International Arts Festival “Sibila”, Seville, Spain
Assistant of artist Nacho Criado for the production of an installation for the Sibila Gallery
“Maps without Frontiers” Andalucian Centre for Contemporary Art, Seville, Spain
A workshop with the art critic Fernando Castro and artist Carlos Capelan for the study of Art Theory and professional practice
1995
Regional Workshop for Painters & Writers, Ministry of Education, Spain
Director of a workshop with actors, writers and photographers for the creation of a multimedia project.
“Tiro al Blanco”
Director of a happening performance, sponsored by the Spanish Government
Involving well-known artists and politicians in a project for the promotion of art within the community.
“Copy Art”
Workshop working with photocopier machines with the theme of repetition and innovation
“Dark City Lights”
Project with American artists for the production of a fluorescent art exhibition in Los Angeles, California
1993
“About Art”
Workshop and seminar with artist Anton Lamazares for the “Mestizo Festival” Spain
“Creation in the 90’s” Lecturer in a series of conferences regarding Contemporary Art, Oviedo, Spain
1989-1990-1991
Director of the Arts section “Mouth to Mouth” Magazine, Ministry of Education, Murcia, Spain
Promoting young artists, writing articles and interviews
1990-1991
Director and producer of two Art radio programmes Radio 5, Murcia, Spain
1990
International Creative Workshop, Caceres, Spain
Meeting of international artists working together on new projects culminating in a theatre performance
1989
European Council International Art Workshop, Carmiano, Italy
Working on paintings, stage design, sculpture and collaborative creations with young artists from Italy, Germany, France and Spain.
International Meeting of Young Artists, Berlin
Projects uniting music and painting
International Conference for Young Artists, Strasbourg
Meeting of young artists and writers for the creation of a new Arts Magazine