Portfolio Harold Rubio English (Horizontal) by Grafico 1 Piano

HAROLD PORTFOLIO RUBIO

HAROLD RUBIO

Bogotá, Colombia – Harold Rubio (1985), a visionary visual artist, has revolutionized the art world with his unique and unconventional technique: the use of plasticine. Far from being a child's toy, this material transforms in his hands into a powerful tool that imparts exceptional texture and vitality to his creations. Rubio masterfully fuses elements of modern and classical art, nature, and Eurocentric aesthetics with his personal experiences, creating works that are an ode to his life and artistic vision. Rubio, a graduate of Visual Arts from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, is not only a creator but also a lecturer and expert in cultural projects. His ability to innovate and surprise earned him a special mention at the 2024 International Humanity Art Competition at the Bitcoin Cultural Space in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Additionally, he was selected as one of the 30 outstanding artists for the prestigious "Animals in Contemporary Art" (2023-2024) exhibition at Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Germany.

Rubio's professional journey began under the mentorship of teacher Viviana González in 2013, who challenged him to reimagine plasticine as a serious artistic medium. During his university research titled "Contributions to Tracing Colombian Identity," Rubio brought to life an iconic series of cars, exploring Colombian cultural identity through foreign objects and highlighting the iconic Renault 4. This series, which marked his thesis, was presented and sold at the Aura Arte gallery in Medellín in 2014, solidifying his position in the art world. Rubio also explored the influence of school textbooks on Colombian education through works based on books such as “Nacho lee”, “La Alegría de Leer”, and “La Urbanidad de Carreño”, offering a visual critique of the discourses that shaped generations.

Series

OBJECTED IDENTITY

In this series, Rubio explores everyday objects that shape and enrich people’s identity. The series delves into how inanimate objects stand out as integral parts of the collective cultural identity

OBJECTED IDENTITY Series

CARS

This series began with the exploration of cars, seen as objects that, although not native to Colombia, have been artistically reinterpreted to achieve a unique appropriation. The series expands by incorporating iconic vehicles such as Volkswagen Combis, which have deeply integrated into the country's cultural identity, acquiring new meanings. The first piece, the Renault 4, marked the start of a series that spans from popular cars to buses, capturing the essence of a collective lifestyle

OBJECTED IDENTITY

MOTORCYCLES

Motorcycles, alongside cars, capture an essential vision of Colombian culture, reflecting an era and a lifestyle deeply linked to the sense of freedom. Among them, iconic models like the Lambretta, the first to be assembled in Colombia in the 1950s, stand out as historical and cultural symbols, representing much more than mere vehicles

OBJECTED IDENTITY

APPAREL

In the world of objects that reflect personal and cultural identity, items like shoes and watches stand out for carrying insignias, flags, and a significant symbolic charge that gives them meaning beyond the object itself. These accessories become an extension of the body and personality of those who wear them, and it is precisely this that Rubio seeks to highlight in these works

Series

REIMAGINED PARADISES

The inspiration for this series is rooted in a deep love for Latin American landscapes, with a special focus on Colombian scenery. Here, Rubio presents a unique fusion in his works, merging distant worlds both geographically and temporally. This project stands out for its powerful narrative and avant-garde vision in the choice and manipulation of materials, offering the audience an artistic experience that transcends conventional boundaries

RAIMAGINED RARADISES

INTERVENTION OF

CLASSICAL ARTWORKS

Through an art residency in “Arte en Marte”, the initial concept of the "Paradise" series was expanded, leading to the creation of "Reimagined Paradises." In this new phase, the artist experiments by intervening in classical artworks, immersing them in Latin paradises and lush native botanicals. This creative approach merges the timelessness of the masterpieces with the vitality and visual richness of Latin American landscapes, offering a fresh and provocative perspective

Series

CROSSING ICONS

Crossing Icons explores the intersection between classical visual culture and the iconic elements that define contemporary identity. In this series, Harold Rubio weaves a visual dialogue between emblematic characters from classical works, singers, or figures from current popular culture, and the everyday symbols that shape modern identity. These icons become protagonists of a new reality, where art, landscapes, and popular culture meet in an unexpected yet meaningful crossroad. Each work in Crossing Icons reveals the richness of a world where tradition is reinterpreted, and identity is reconstructed. The series reflects on how icons of the past and present can coexist in a shared space, enriched by the materiality and colors characteristic of the artist's work

JOURNEY ARTISTIC

Galleries

• Galería Baobab (Bogotá)

• Duque Arango (Medellín)

• Adrián Ibáñez (Bogotá)

• ContemporArt Gallery (Bogotá)

• Elsa Piñeres Galería(Barranquilla)

• Galería La Cometa (Bogotá)

• Darte Social (Bogotá)

• Arte Alto (Medellín)

• Museum Shop – National Museum of Colombia (Bogotá)

Colombian National Fairs

• (2021) International Art Fair of Bogotá

ARTBO

• (2020) International Art Fair of Bogotá

ARTBO

• (2017) BARCÚ

Exhibitions International

• (2023-2024) Exhibition Animals In Contemporary Art, Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Germany.

• (2023) III Panamerican Benefit Gala, presented by América Viva Alliance (AVA) Miami, USA

• (2021) ArtMarket Budapest

• (2021) Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam

• (2021) AAF Brussels

• (2020) ArtLima

• (2020) AAF Brussels

Special

Collaborations

• (2024) Maestro Cares Auction / New York

• (2024) Rueda Rueda Auction.

• (2024) Anthology Auction - Ocre Gallery / Bogotá

• (2024) Maestro Cares Auction / Miami

• (2023) 1a. Auction / Art Collection of America

Alianza Viva / Miami.

• (2023) Rueda Rueda Auction.

• (2022) Charm - Darte Social Gallery / Disney Colombia.

• (2022) Renault 4 - Darte Social Gallery / Renault Colombia.

• (2021) Meninas to the Wind.

• (2020) “Share What We Are” Project at the Ministry of Culture.

• (2019) Art and Fashion Circuit

• (2018) 90 years of Mickey - Darte Social Gallery / Disney Colombia.

• (2014) Collaboration Embassy of Mexico / Adría

Ibañez Gallery - Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center of Bogotá.

• (2014) Vitrina Scholarship from the Gilberto Álzate Avendaño Foundation.

Representative

Exhibitions

• (2024) Solo Exhibition - Metamorphosis of the Everyday: Between Icons and LandscapesBaobab Gallery, Bogotá

• (2023) Solo Exhibition - Bridge Between the Simple and the Extraordinary - Arte Alto Medellín

• (2023) Water / Adrián Ibáñez

• (2022) Zoombasta Amigos del Museo Nacional

• (2022) Exhibition Origin - Arte Alto Medellín

• (2021-2022) Fair 7/5 at Elsa Piñeres Gallery

• (2021) Exhibition Intimate Spaces at Aura Arte Gallery

• (2021) Exhibition Paradox Time Landscape

• (2023) Colombianitos Foundation at the III Panamerican Benefit Gala AMÉRICA VIVA

Works Representative

Reebok - Objected (2024)

79 x 79 cm

Plasticine on wood

Objected Identity Series

Black

Green VW Combi - Objected (2021)

45 x 45 cm

Plasticine on wood

Objected Identity Series

Apple

29 x 29 cm

Plasticine on wood

Reimagined Paradises Series

Self-Portrait of Van Gogh in Paradise (2019)

70 x 50 cm

Plasticine on wood

Reimagined Paradises Series

Blue Van Gogh Portrait in Paradise (2024)

40 x 50 x 60 cm

Diorama in mixed technique on museum glass

Paradises Reimagined Series

Van Gogh’s Walkers in Paradise (2022)

Renault 4 - Objected (2022)

40x17x16 cm

Mixed technique

Artist selected for '60 Years - Faithful Friend Renault' Galeria Corazón Verde

80 x 40 x 40 cm

Pinocchio in Waters (2024)

Sculpture - Plasticine on fiberglass

Crossing Icons Series

56 x 41 x 36 cm

Multiple Piece - Mixed technique

Artist selected for '60 years - Mafalda' Galeria Corazón Verde

Mafalda (2024)

51 x 40 x 40 cm

Mixed technique

Crossing Icons Series

Jiminy Cricket in Paradise (2024)

Mickey and the Dream of Continuing to Play (2018)

46x36x20 cm

Mixed technique

Artist selected for the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse Crossing Icons Series

35 x 30 x 35 cm

Sculpture - Mixed media

Artist selected for 'Un Encanto' Galeria Corazón Verde

Mirabel in Paradise (2022)

Forbes 400 Cover (2022)

Plasticine on wood Crossing Icons Series

115 x 75 cm

Marc (2024)

Plasticine on wood Crossing Icons Series

22 x 30 cm