Juan Obando is a Colombian artist whose work focuses on the critical intervention of social systems and the subsequent production of video-performances, post-digital objects and screen-based installations —presenting the screen as a site where ideology confronts aesthetics and new worlds are speculated.
Obando’s work has been exhibited in México, France, Colombia, Germany, and the US. Recent solo shows include “Pro Revolution” at Espacio Odeón (Bogotá, Colombia, 2019), “Full Collabs” at Distillery Gallery (Boston, 2018), “Jeep VIP” at Volta Art Fair (New York, 2017), and “Collabs” at MIAMI Prácticas Contemporáneas (Bogotá, Colombia, 2017). Selected group exhibitions include Game Changers (MAAM, Boston, 2020), Video Sur (Palais de Tokyo, France, 2018), Rencontres de la Photographie (Arles, France, 2017), MDE15 (Medellin, Colombia, 2015). He has been a resident artist at Casa Tres Patios (Medellín, Colombia) in 2012 and at SOMA (México City, México) in 2017 and 2018. Obando was also awarded a Rhizome commission from The New Museum in 2012, a MassArt foundation grant in 2017, and an ArtMatters Foundations fellowship in 2019.
Represented by (BIS) Oficina de Proyectos
bis-bis.biz Cali, Colombia
Education
2010
MFA, Studio Arts—Electronic and Time-Based Arts
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
2005
BA Industrial Design, Minor in Architecture and Urbanism
Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
Solo Exhibitions
2019
Pro Revolution, Espacio Odeón, Bogotá, Colombia
2018
Full Collabs, Distillery Gallery, Boston, MA, USA
2017
Collabs, MIAMI Prácticas Contemporáneas, Bogotá, Colombia
Jeep VIP, VOLTA Art Fair, New York, NY, USA
2016
Museum Mixtape, Reverse, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Museum Mixtape, Krasl Art Center, Sa. Joseph, MI, USA
2015
Default Browser, Bis Oficina de Proyectos, Cali, Colombia
Default Browser, NADA, Bogotá, Colombia
The Champions, El Parqueadero, Bogotá, Colombia
2014
A Bird Without A Song, ArtVersus Art Space, Bogotá, Colombia
2013
White Only, MIAMI Contemporay Art Practices, Bogotá, Colombia
2012
ANTI-OQUIA, Casa Tres Patios. Medellín, Colombia
2011
Narcotrópico, Chiquitica Gallery. Melbourne, Australia
2010
Our Business Is None of Your Art, 514 Main Street, Lafayette, IN. USA
2009
Bazuco, Boots Contemporary Art Space, St. Louis, MO. USA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020
Game Changers, MAAM, Boston, MA, USA
2019
My Apocryphal County, CP Project Space, SVA, New York, NY, USA
2018
Video Sur, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France
La Vuelta, MAMM, Medellín, Colombia
Holes In Maps, 601 Artspace, New York, NY, USA
2017
Video Selection, Feria Odeón, Bogotá, Colombia
Mix and Burn, Lalulula.TV, ArtBo, International Art Fair of Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
La Vuelta, Rencontres de la Photographie, Arles, France (Curated by Carolina Ponce de León)
2016
Selections, Bakalar and Paine Galleries, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA (Curated by Lisa Tung)
Boston Does Boston N.9, Proof Gallery, Boston, MA (Curated by Kara Braciale)
Globo, SKETCH Gallery, Bogotá, Colombia (Curated by Marco Noreña and Ernesto Restrepo)
Salón Nacional de Artistas, Pereira, Colombia (Curated by Rosa Angel, Inti Guerrero, Victor Albarracín and Guillermo Vanegas)
RE, Artprize 8, Grand Rapids, MI, USA (Curated by Michele Bosak)
2015
MDE15, Museo de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia (Curated by Fernando Escobar, Tony Evanko, Nydia Gutierrez)
SIGHT.SOUND, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MA (Curated by Jason Sloan)
SIM Artists, Godine Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA (Curated by Emma Lanctot and Reneé Silva)
ArteCámara Salón, ArtBo, International Art Fair, Bogotá, Colombia (Curated by Marianela Mendez)
Para Verte Mejor, University of Cauca, Popayán, Colombia (Curated by Jim Fankuggen)
2014
Colombia Hoy, The First International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Cartagena de Indias, Caragena, Colombia (Curated by Miguel Gonzalez and Stephanie Rosenthal)
2013
ArteCámara Salón, ArtBo, International Art Fair, Bogotá, Colombia (Curated by Juan Sebastián Ramirez)
Para Verte Mejor, University of Cauca, Popayán, Colombia (Curated by Jim Fankuggen)
2012
Mall Gusto, LaTienda Gallery. Medellín, Colombia (Curated by Thomas Bettridge)
2011
Cashing Out, Kala Art Institute. Berkeley, CA. (Curated by Julio César Morales)
Re-Locations, Greenhill Center for North Carolina Art. Greensboro, NC (Curated by Eddie Carpenter)
Paper Planes, Center for Visual Artists, Greensboro, NC. (Curated by Kristy Thomas)
Narco Nations, Duke University, Durham, NC. (Curated by Miguel Rojas) Trampolim performance series, Galeria Homero Massena, Vitória, Brazil. (Curated by Jorge Rojas)
Art Everywhere, Norfolk, VA
2010
Sign Language. Whole Gallery, Baltimore, MD. (Curated by Hanna Brancato) New Media Fest Cologne—Special Selection. Cologne, Germany
Westwood: Student Exhibition. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2009
You Are Dead To Me. Eyelevel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY. (Curated by Gabriela Alva Cal y Mayor)
Preambulo Centenario. 13 Salón Nacional de Artistas, Zona centro, Colombia. (Curated by Guillermo Vanegas)
Low Lives. FiveMyles, Brooklyn, NY; Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL; and Labotanica, Houston, TX. (Curated by Jorge Rojas)
Perfect Timing, collaborative performance. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Dead Druglords, at A/V Happy Hour. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2008
Marx Café, temporary social space. Pao Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Voices of America, Internet radio project. Sea and Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Sarah Kanouse)
Dead Druglords. Ten years of Temporary Services, Mess Hall, Chicago, IL
2007
Loutec: Centro de Documentación y actividades paralelas. VK proyectos, Bogotá Colombia. (Curated by Catalina Lozano and Esteban Garcia)
Overamused: Site-specific installations. The Jacques Building, West Lafayette, IN (Curated by Fabian Winkler and Charles Gick)
Transmisiones, 12 Salón Nacional de Artistas, zona centro, Colombia (Curated by Maria Claudia Bernal)
2006
La Ciudad Gris, Centro Colombo Americano, sede centro, Bogotá, Colombia. (Curated by Fernando Escobar)
Awards/Grants/Fellowships
2015
National Artist Dissemination Grant. Ministerio de Cultura, Bogotá, Colombia.
2013
Summer Research Fellowship. Elon University, Elon, NC
Summer Fellowship Residency, Taller 7, Medellín, Colombia
2012
Rhizome Commission. Rhizome at The New Museum, New York, NY
Summer Residency, CasaTresPatios, Medellín, Colombia
Publications by the Artist
2012
ANTI-OQUIA Magazine. Casa Tres Patios. Medellín, Colombia
2011
The Half and Half Convention, Elon University Bubble Bitching, Elon University.
2010
Our Business Is None of Your Art, BZC Prints
2008
Profesor Bazuco. Profesor Bazuco’s Ultimate Guide to Culture, BZC Prints
AUDO 2008, logo & catalog. Purdue University
Interview with the band Fugazi. Self published
American Flags. Catalog/Zine. Self published
2007 Plush: Art Gone Soft, catalog. West Lafayette, IN
Overamused: site-specific installations, exhibition catalog. West Lafayette, IN
Publications of the Artist’s Work
2014
Arte Colombiano del Siglo XXI, N0. 16 Juan Obando, artist monograph, Jardín Publicaciones, Bogotá, Colombia
2013
Juan Sebastían Ramirez, Artecámara Salon Catalog, Cámara de Comercio, Bogotá, Colombia
Shawn Tucker, “Interview With Juan Obando,” Interdisciplinary Humanities Portland State University, Biography in Open Engagement Catalog, Portland, OR
2011
Miguel Rojas-Sotelo, Narco-Nations, Duke University Press, Durham, NC
Julio Cesar Morales, Cashing Out, Kala Art Institute, Berkele, CA
Itch Magazine, Vlaeberg, Johannesburgh, South Africa
Ministerio de Cultura, Salón Nacional de Artistas catalog, Bogotá, Colombia
2010
Guillermo Vanegas. Preámbulo Centenario, exhibition catalog. Ministerio de Cultura. Bogotá, Colombia
Tim Brouk. “Take 5 with Tim.” Journal & Courier, April, 2010
2009
Jorge Rojas. Low Lives, exhibition catalog, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Ministerio de Cultura, Transmisiones, Bogotá, Colombia
Jessica Baran, St. Louis Art Capsules. Riverfront Times, July 21
2008
Fernando Escobar. “Glocalizados y desrealizados/Glocalized and Unrealized.” ARTECONTEXTO—arte cultura nuevos medios 18 (2008): 46-49
2007
Fabian Vega. “More toxic than Bazuco.” NOTICIA UNIANDINA 23 Maria del Pilar Bolivar. “Publican por su cuenta.” EL TIEMPO, June 9 Maria del Pilar Bolivar. “Sellos Independientes.” EL TIEMPO, July 27
Lectures/Presentations
2013
“Dirty South, North Star, Pirate Tropic,” SECAC’s New Generation of Artist-Educators, Greensboro, NC, October 31
“Pirate Tropic,” Contexts, Open Engagement, Portland State University, Portland, OR, May 19
“Museum Mixtape,” Goddess Clap Back, CUE Art Foundation, New York, NY, July 27
“Museum Mixtape,” The Impossible Project, Reverse Art Space, Brooklyn, NY February 20
2012
“Dirty South, North Star, Pirate Tropic,” Artist presentation, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, October 17
“ANTI-OQUIA,” artist presentation, Casa Tres Patios, Medellín, Colombia, June 30
“Low Lives,” project presentation, The Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, New York University, New York, NY, March 3
“Public Image,” Teen Symposium: Power of the Image, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC, February 11
2011
“Bazuco,” Cashing Out, Kala Art Foundation, Berkeley, CA November 11
Artist talk, Narco-Nations, Duke University, Durham, NC, November 2
2010
“Rock Is Dead,” artist talk, Greenhill Center for NC Art, Greensboro, NC, October 25
Artist talk, Elsewhere Collaborative, Greensboro, NC, June 25
“NO LOGO,” artist presentation, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, May 3
Academic Affiliations
2015 – Present
Associate Professor - Studio for Interrelated Media
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
2014
Visiting Artist
Department of Art, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
2010 – 2014
Assistant Professor of Art (Full Time)
Internet Art, Intro to Digital Art, Art & Politics
Department of Art and Art History, Elon University, Elon, NC
2007 – 2010
Instructor of Record
2D Foundations & 3D Foundations
School of Visual and Performing Arts, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2004 – 2005
Teaching Assistant
Landscape Architecture
Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia