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'''Carla Arocha''' ({{IPA-es|ˈkaɾla aˈɾotʃa}}; born October 30, 1961) is a Venezuelan artist recognized for her work grounded in Minimalism, design, and geometric abstraction, specifically examples from her native Venezuela. She lives and works in Antwerp. Her work has been exhibited internationally since the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pirotte|first=Philippe|title=Carla Arocha: Dirt|date=2006|publisher=Kunsthalle Bern|location=Bern}}</ref>
'''Carla Arocha''' ({{IPA-es|ˈkaɾla aˈɾotʃa}}; born October 30, 1961) is a Venezuelan artist renowned for her contributions to Minimalism, design, and geometric abstraction, particularly drawing inspiration from her native Venezuela. Currently based in Antwerp, she has gained international recognition for her work, which has been exhibited worldwide since the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pirotte|first=Philippe|title=Carla Arocha: Dirt|date=2006|publisher=Kunsthalle Bern|location=Bern}}</ref>


[[File:Carla Arocha Then 1994.jpg|thumb|263px|right|alt= Then by Carla Arocha |<small>Carla Arocha, ''Then'', 1994, Latex on muslin and stretched flannel, (274 x 643 cm) 108 x 253 in.</small>]]
[[File:Carla Arocha Then 1994.jpg|thumb|263px|right|alt= Then by Carla Arocha |<small>Carla Arocha, ''Then'', 1994, Latex on muslin and stretched flannel, (274 x 643 cm) 108 x 253 in.</small>]]


== Education ==
== Education ==
Carla Arocha obtained a Bachelor of Science from [[Saint Xavier University]] (SXU) in 1986. After training as a biologist she changed course to pursue her passion for art. She obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the [[Art Institute of Chicago|School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] (SAIC) in 1991 and a Master of Fine Arts from the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]] (UIC) in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/carla-arocha~b6a84428/|last=Staff writer|date=November 30, 2005|website=De Morgen|publisher=DPG Media|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>
Carla Arocha earned a Bachelor of Science degree from [[Saint Xavier University]] (SXU) in 1986. Initially trained as a biologist, she later shifted her focus to pursue her passion for art. Arocha then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the [[Art Institute of Chicago|School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] (SAIC) in 1991, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]] (UIC) in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/carla-arocha~b6a84428/|last=Staff writer|date=November 30, 2005|website=De Morgen|publisher=DPG Media|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>


== Work ==
== Work ==
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[[File:Carla Arocha Tremor 2006.jpg|thumb|263px|right|alt= Tremor by Carla Arocha |<small>Carla Arocha, ''Tremor'', 2006, Cubic structures, plexiglass, and mirror, Coll. Fonds régional d'art contemporain Bourgogne, Dijon. Installation view of the exhibition ''Carla Arocha: Dirt'', [[Kunsthalle Bern]], Bern, 2006.</small>]]
[[File:Carla Arocha Tremor 2006.jpg|thumb|263px|right|alt= Tremor by Carla Arocha |<small>Carla Arocha, ''Tremor'', 2006, Cubic structures, plexiglass, and mirror, Coll. Fonds régional d'art contemporain Bourgogne, Dijon. Installation view of the exhibition ''Carla Arocha: Dirt'', [[Kunsthalle Bern]], Bern, 2006.</small>]]


Arocha first made her mark in the mid-1990s with a series of works borrowing from [[art]], [[fashion]], and [[biology]]. For example, her drawing ''Aqua Trace'' (1998) presents the visual melding of two distinct [[pattern]]s: [[Leopard|leopard spots]] and [[blood cell]]s. Rendered in a bright shade of aqua, the two converging patterns are reminiscent of the [[animal print]]s found on [[Textile|fabric]]. ''Aqua Trace'' relates to an installation by Arocha entitled ''Hide'' (1997) for the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago]], and which featured [[Leopard pattern|leopard-print patterns]] created with mirrored [[Plexiglas]]. The mirrored Perspex patterns comprising ''Hide'' adorned the walls of [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago|Chicago's Museum of Contemporary]] Art like a spectacular jewelled accessory, clusters of reflective plastic shimmering and swaying in the white gallery.<ref name="Frieze">{{Cite journal|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://frieze.com/article/carla-arocha|last=Grabner|first=Michelle|date=May 5, 2000|journal=Frieze|issue=52 |publisher=Frieze Publishing, Limited|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>
Arocha initially gained recognition in the mid-1990s through a series of works that drew inspiration from [[art]], [[fashion]], and [[biology]]. One notable piece, her drawing ''Aqua Trace'' (1998), illustrates a striking fusion of two distinct patterns: leopard spots and blood cells. Executed in a vibrant aqua hue, the convergence of these patterns evokes the aesthetic of [[animal print]]s commonly found in textiles. ''Aqua Trace'' is thematically linked to Arocha's installation titled ''Hide'', which was created as part of a site-specific installation program of the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago]], curated by Julie Rodrigue, Arocha’s installation took shape within the museum’s four-tiered atrium. The artwork comprises 914 laser-cut reflective plexiglass shapes, each featuring a unique form, providing adaptability for diverse configurations during each exhibition. Titled ''Hide'', the work draws connections with the German term haut, signifying skin, intertwining with the body, and the concept of self.<ref name="Frieze">{{Cite journal|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://frieze.com/article/carla-arocha|last=Grabner|first=Michelle|date=May 5, 2000|journal=Frieze|issue=52 |publisher=Frieze Publishing, Limited|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>


⚫
Conversely to her sharp opulent Plexiglas installations and [[Kinetic art|kinetic mobiles]], Carla Arocha's paintings are flat and pale although the artist’s constant preoccupation with ornament lies beneath the minimal framework. For example, Arocha filled the hard-edged contour of a simple pitched-roof dwelling with bold, meandering loops in ''House'' (1999). Two large vertical paintings on canvas made by artist in 1999, entitled ''Blind Folded'' and ''Flare'', perfectly echo the artist's passion for pattern, glamour and the superfluous. In these pieces, [[monochrome]] fields [[camouflage]] dots, [[diamond]]s and organic patterns are combined. Carla Arocha’s innate flair for extravagance is only hinted at through subtle shifts in the reflective character of the paint.<ref name="Frieze" />


⚫
In contrast to her bold and lavish Plexiglas installations and [[Kinetic art|kinetic mobiles]], Carla Arocha's paintings adopt a more subdued and flat aesthetic, yet beneath this minimalist facade lies the artist’s persistent fascination with ornamentation. For instance, in ''House'' (1999), Arocha infuses the rigid contours of a simple pitched-roof dwelling with dynamic, swirling loops. Additionally, two large vertical canvases created by the artist in 1999, titled ''Blind Folded'' and ''Flare'', aptly reflect Arocha's affinity for pattern, glamour, and excess. Within these works, monochromatic backgrounds serve as a canvas for the interplay of dots, diamonds, and organic motifs, seamlessly melded together. Arocha’s inherent penchant for extravagance subtly manifests through nuanced variations in the reflective quality of the paint.<ref name="Frieze" />
⚫
In 2006, Carla Arocha started working in [[Carla Arocha and Stéphane Schraenen|collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen]]. Today, the artist-duo Arocha & Schraenen continues to produce pieces, exchange ideas and works in progress, before completing the final artworks together.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gesprekken met Hedendaagse Kunstenaars|url=http://hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com/2014/10/interview-met-carla-arocha-en-stephane_30.html|publisher=Hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>

⚫
In 2006, Carla Arocha began [[Carla Arocha and Stéphane Schraenen|collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen]]. Together, they form the artist-duo Arocha & Schraenen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gesprekken met Hedendaagse Kunstenaars|url=http://hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com/2014/10/interview-met-carla-arocha-en-stephane_30.html|publisher=Hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>


== Exhibitions ==
== Exhibitions ==
After moving to Chicago, Arocha had her first American solo museum show at the [[El Museo del Barrio]] museum in New York in 1996. In 1997, Arocha first showed her work in a gallery at Chicago’s Rhona Hoffman Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://art-list.online/carla-preiss/|title=Carla Preiss|website=art-list.online|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> From September 1997 to March 1998, Bloomfield Hills [[Cranbrook Art Museum]]&nbsp; (Michigan) organized Arocha's ''Carla Preiss: Somewhere''. In 1997, when the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago|MCA Museum of Contemporary Art]] in Chicago commissioned a solo project for its main entrance hall, Carla Arocha produced a piece made up of clusters of leopard-print patterns created with mirrored Plexiglas that can be reconfigured upon each installation. In 2001-2002, Arocha created a new artwork entitled ''Rover'' for the café windows of the MCA within the context of the ''Hide'' installation, then already part of the MCA Collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mcachicago.org/|title=Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997|website=mcachicago.org/Collection/Items/1997/Carla-Arocha-Hide-1997|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>
Arocha held her inaugural American solo museum exhibition at the [[El Museo del Barrio]] museum in New York in 1996. Subsequently, in 1997, Arocha gallery's debute was at Chicago’s Rhona Hoffman Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://art-list.online/carla-preiss/|title=Carla Preiss|website=art-list.online|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> From September 1997 to March 1998, the [[Cranbrook Art Museum]] in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan organized Arocha's exhibition titled ''Carla Preiss: Somewhere''. In the same year, the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago|MCA Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MCA) in Chicago commissioned Arocha for a solo project for its main entrance hall. Arocha's creation comprised clusters of leopard-print patterns crafted with mirrored Plexiglas, offering the flexibility for reconfiguration with each installation. In 2001-2002, Arocha developed a new artwork titled ''Rover'' for the café windows of the MCA as part of the ''Hide'' installation, which was already integrated into the MCA Collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mcachicago.org/|title=Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997|website=mcachicago.org/Collection/Items/1997/Carla-Arocha-Hide-1997|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>


In Europe, Carla Arocha’s work has been shown in major solo exhibitions in various renowned institutions, including Antwerp’s [[Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen]] (MuHKA) in 2005–2006, and the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand in 2006.<ref name="frac-auvergne.fr">{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha, Chris|url=https://www.frac-auvergne.fr/produit/carla-arocha-chris/|website=FRAC Auvergne|language=fr-FR|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> In 2006, [[Kunsthalle Bern|Bern’s Kunsthalle]] (Switzerland) organized Arocha's first major retrospective in Europe: ''Carla Arocha: Dirt'', which was on show from April to May.<ref name="Carla Arocha">{{Cite web|url= https://kunsthalle-bern.ch/en/exhibitions/2006/carla-arocha//|title=Carla Arocha|website=kunsthalle-bern.ch|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> Curated by the then director of the [[Kunsthalle Bern]], Philippe Pirotte, and Jesús Fuenmayor in close collaboration with the artist, this major retrospective shed light on the various facets of her work. On the occasion of this show, Carla Arocha asked Stéphane Schraenen to produce a number of artworks. This exchange of ideas would mark the starting point of a long term collaboration that continues to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com|title=Gesprekken met hedendaagse kunstenaars|url=http://hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com/2014/10/interview-met-carla-arocha-en-stephane_30|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>
In Europe, Carla Arocha’s work has been showcased in significant solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions, including Antwerp’s [[Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen]] (MuHKA) in 2005–2006, and the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand in 2006.<ref name="frac-auvergne.fr">{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha, Chris|url=https://www.frac-auvergne.fr/produit/carla-arocha-chris/|website=FRAC Auvergne|language=fr-FR|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> In 2006, Bern’s Kunsthalle in Switzerland organized Arocha's first major retrospective in Europe: ''Carla Arocha: Dirt'', which was displayed from April to May.<ref name="Carla Arocha">{{Cite web|url= https://kunsthalle-bern.ch/en/exhibitions/2006/carla-arocha//|title=Carla Arocha|website=kunsthalle-bern.ch|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> Curated by the then-director of [[Kunsthalle Bern]], Philippe Pirotte, and Jesús Fuenmayor in close collaboration with the artist, this retrospective illuminated various facets of her artistic oeuvre. During this exhibition, Carla Arocha invited Stéphane Schraenen to produce a number of artworks. This exchange of ideas marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration that continues to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com|title=Gesprekken met hedendaagse kunstenaars|url=http://hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com/2014/10/interview-met-carla-arocha-en-stephane_30|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>


Since 2006, pieces resulting from Arocha's collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen are exhibited under the name of [[Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen]] in such museums as London’s [[Wallace Collection]] (2011),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha · Stéphane Schraenen|publisher=www.wallacecollection.org|url=http://www.arocha-schraenen.com/works/wallace-collection-intervention|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Caja de Burgos (CAB) in Spain (2012);<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha y Stéphane Schraenen|url=http://www.cabdeburgos.com/es/exposiciones/?iddoc=304|last=Staff writer|date=2012|website=CAB de Burgos}}</ref> Berlin’s Künstlerhaus Bethaniën (2012);<ref>{{Cite web|title=KB {{!}} Caraota von Moules|url=https://www.bethanien.de/en/exhibitions/caraota-von-moules/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> and Mechelen’s Cultuurcentrum in Belgium, (2014).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welkom - Cultuurcentrum Mechelen|url=http://www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be//|website=www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>
Since 2006, artworks resulting from Arocha's collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen have been exhibited under the name of [[Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen]] in prestigious museums worldwide. These exhibitions include London’s [[Wallace Collection]] in 2011,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha · Stéphane Schraenen|publisher=www.wallacecollection.org|url=http://www.arocha-schraenen.com/works/wallace-collection-intervention|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Caja de Burgos (CAB) in Spain in 2012;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carla Arocha y Stéphane Schraenen|url=http://www.cabdeburgos.com/es/exposiciones/?iddoc=304|last=Staff writer|date=2012|website=CAB de Burgos}}</ref> Berlin’s Künstlerhaus Bethaniën in 2012;<ref>{{Cite web|title=KB {{!}} Caraota von Moules|url=https://www.bethanien.de/en/exhibitions/caraota-von-moules/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> and Mechelen’s Cultuurcentrum in Belgium in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welkom - Cultuurcentrum Mechelen|url=http://www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be//|website=www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>


===Solo exhibitions (selection)===
===Solo exhibitions (selection)===
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== Collections ==
== Collections ==

Arocha's work is part of several the public collections of various museums in the United States, Europe, and South America, including New-York’s MoMA;<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.moma.org/|title=Collection|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/works/95416?artist_id=28548&locale=en&page=1&sov_referrer=artist|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> Chicago’s [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago|Museum of Contemporary Art]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=cachicago.org|title=Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997|url=https://mcachicago.org/Collection/Items/1997/Carla-Arocha-Hide-1997|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> the [[Art Institute of Chicago]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.artic.edu|title=Aqua Trace|year=1998 |url=https://www.artic.edu/artworks/180739/aqua-trace?q=carla%20arocha|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> Antwerp’s [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp|Museum of Contemporary Art]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.muhka.be|title=Screens|url=http://ensembles.mhka.be/items/444|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> [[Kunsthalle Bern|Bern's Kunsthalle Bern]] in Switzerland; the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand;<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.frac-auvergne.fr|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://www.frac-auvergne.fr/artiste/arocha/|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> the Fundación Banco Mercantil, Caracas; and [[Boca Raton Museum of Art]], Boca Raton in Florida, US.
Arocha's artworks are featured in the public collections of numerous museums across the United States, Europe, and South America. These include New York’s MoMA;<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.moma.org/|title=Collection|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/works/95416?artist_id=28548&locale=en&page=1&sov_referrer=artist|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> Chicago’s [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago|Museum of Contemporary Art]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=cachicago.org|title=Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997|url=https://mcachicago.org/Collection/Items/1997/Carla-Arocha-Hide-1997|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> the [[Art Institute of Chicago]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.artic.edu|title=Aqua Trace|year=1998 |url=https://www.artic.edu/artworks/180739/aqua-trace?q=carla%20arocha|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> Antwerp’s [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp|Museum of Contemporary Art]];<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.muhka.be|title=Screens|url=http://ensembles.mhka.be/items/444|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> [[Kunsthalle Bern|Bern's Kunsthalle Bern]] in Switzerland; the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand;<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.frac-auvergne.fr|title=Carla Arocha|url=https://www.frac-auvergne.fr/artiste/arocha/|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> the Fundación Banco Mercantil in Caracas; and the [[Boca Raton Museum of Art]] in Boca Raton, Florida, US.


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Born in Venezuela (Caracas), Arocha grew up in a family of lawyers whose passion for the humanities and culture strongly influenced her education. Moreover, the rich legacy of modern and contemporary art of her home country and plethora artists such as [[Jesús Rafael Soto]], [[Carlos Cruz-Diez]] and [[Alejandro Otero]], to name just a few, left a profound mark on the artist, who was enthralled by the architecture and public artworks scattered through Caracas. In December 1979, Arocha moves Chicago, where she studies biology and art and married to David Preiss. In 1995, a year after graduating from the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]], she meets Belgium painter [[Luc Tuymans]] as he was preparing his first American show at Chicago’s [[The Renaissance Society|Renaissance Society]]. In 1999, four years later, Arocha moved to Belgium and married Tuymans. The couple lives and works in Antwerp.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.demorgen.be|title=Kunstenares Carla Arocha kijkt met bang hart naar situatie in haar geboorteland|date=22 February 2019 |url=https://www.demorgen.be/leven-liefde/kunstenares-carla-arocha-kijkt-met-bang-hart-naar-situatie-in-haar-geboorteland-ik-blijf-weg-uit-venezuela-om-er-niet-te-sterven~bc4e6f14/|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Arocha was raised in a family of lawyers who instilled in her a deep appreciation for the humanities and culture. Her education was greatly influenced by this passion within her family. Additionally, the vibrant legacy of modern and contemporary art in her home country, along with the presence of renowned artists such as [[Jesús Rafael Soto]], [[Carlos Cruz-Diez]] and [[Alejandro Otero]], left an indelible mark on the young artist. Arocha was captivated by the architecture and public artwork that adorned the streets of Caracas.
In December 1979, Arocha relocated to Chicago, where she pursued studies in biology and art while also marrying David Preiss. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994, she crossed paths with Belgian painter [[Luc Tuymans]] in 1995, during his preparations for his first American show at Chicago’s [[The Renaissance Society|Renaissance Society]]. This encounter proved significant, and in 1999, Arocha made the decision to move to Belgium and marry Tuymans. The couple currently resides and works in Antwerp.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=www.demorgen.be|title=Kunstenares Carla Arocha kijkt met bang hart naar situatie in haar geboorteland|date=22 February 2019 |url=https://www.demorgen.be/leven-liefde/kunstenares-carla-arocha-kijkt-met-bang-hart-naar-situatie-in-haar-geboorteland-ik-blijf-weg-uit-venezuela-om-er-niet-te-sterven~bc4e6f14/|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>


== Publications ==
== Publications ==
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* Arocha, Carla, Schraenen Stéphane, and Kate Christina Mayne. (2014). ''Persiana: Carla Arocha - Stéphane Schraenen: Cultuurcentrum Mechelen ''. Antwerpen, Belgium: Ludion.
* Arocha, Carla, Schraenen Stéphane, and Kate Christina Mayne. (2014). ''Persiana: Carla Arocha - Stéphane Schraenen: Cultuurcentrum Mechelen ''. Antwerpen, Belgium: Ludion.
* Fuemayor, Jesús. (2016).''Flujo Disperso / Blurry Flux: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen Colectión Mercantil ''. Caracas: Mercantil Arte y Cultura A.C.
* Fuemayor, Jesús. (2016).''Flujo Disperso / Blurry Flux: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen Colectión Mercantil ''. Caracas: Mercantil Arte y Cultura A.C.
* Pratt, Ken, Helen Anne Molesworth, Irmgard Hölscher, Katharina Pencz, Magda Walicka, Carla Arocha, and Stéphane Schraenen. ( 2013). ''What Now? Carla Arocha - Stephane Schraenen ''. .''After: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen ''. Burgos: Obra Social De La Caja De Burgos.
* Pratt, Ken, Helen Anne Molesworth, Irmgard Hölscher, Katharina Pencz, Magda Walicka, Carla Arocha, and Stéphane Schraenen. ( 2013). ''What Now? Carla Arocha - Stephane Schraenen ''. '' After: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen ''. Burgos: Obra Social De La Caja De Burgos.


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 08:11, 19 February 2024

Carla Arocha
Born
Carla Giomar Arocha Bello

(1961-10-30) 30 October 1961 (age 63)
Caracas, Venezuela
NationalityVenezuelan
Alma materSaint Xavier University, Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
Known forPainting, drawing, installation art
MovementContemporary art
Spouses
David Preiss
​
(before 1999)​
Luc Tuymans
​
(m. 1999)​
Websitearocha-schraenen.com

Carla Arocha (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾla aˈɾotʃa]; born October 30, 1961) is a Venezuelan artist renowned for her contributions to Minimalism, design, and geometric abstraction, particularly drawing inspiration from her native Venezuela. Currently based in Antwerp, she has gained international recognition for her work, which has been exhibited worldwide since the mid-1990s.[1]

Then by Carla Arocha
Carla Arocha, Then, 1994, Latex on muslin and stretched flannel, (274 x 643 cm) 108 x 253 in.

Education

Carla Arocha earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Xavier University (SXU) in 1986. Initially trained as a biologist, she later shifted her focus to pursue her passion for art. Arocha then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 1991, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1994.[2]

Work

See also: Carla Arocha and Stéphane Schraenen
Tremor by Carla Arocha
Carla Arocha, Tremor, 2006, Cubic structures, plexiglass, and mirror, Coll. Fonds régional d'art contemporain Bourgogne, Dijon. Installation view of the exhibition Carla Arocha: Dirt, Kunsthalle Bern, Bern, 2006.

Arocha initially gained recognition in the mid-1990s through a series of works that drew inspiration from art, fashion, and biology. One notable piece, her drawing Aqua Trace (1998), illustrates a striking fusion of two distinct patterns: leopard spots and blood cells. Executed in a vibrant aqua hue, the convergence of these patterns evokes the aesthetic of animal prints commonly found in textiles. Aqua Trace is thematically linked to Arocha's installation titled Hide, which was created as part of a site-specific installation program of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, curated by Julie Rodrigue, Arocha’s installation took shape within the museum’s four-tiered atrium. The artwork comprises 914 laser-cut reflective plexiglass shapes, each featuring a unique form, providing adaptability for diverse configurations during each exhibition. Titled Hide, the work draws connections with the German term haut, signifying skin, intertwining with the body, and the concept of self.[3]


In contrast to her bold and lavish Plexiglas installations and kinetic mobiles, Carla Arocha's paintings adopt a more subdued and flat aesthetic, yet beneath this minimalist facade lies the artist’s persistent fascination with ornamentation. For instance, in House (1999), Arocha infuses the rigid contours of a simple pitched-roof dwelling with dynamic, swirling loops. Additionally, two large vertical canvases created by the artist in 1999, titled Blind Folded and Flare, aptly reflect Arocha's affinity for pattern, glamour, and excess. Within these works, monochromatic backgrounds serve as a canvas for the interplay of dots, diamonds, and organic motifs, seamlessly melded together. Arocha’s inherent penchant for extravagance subtly manifests through nuanced variations in the reflective quality of the paint.[3]

In 2006, Carla Arocha began collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen. Together, they form the artist-duo Arocha & Schraenen.[4]

Exhibitions

Arocha held her inaugural American solo museum exhibition at the El Museo del Barrio museum in New York in 1996. Subsequently, in 1997, Arocha gallery's debute was at Chicago’s Rhona Hoffman Gallery.[5] From September 1997 to March 1998, the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan organized Arocha's exhibition titled Carla Preiss: Somewhere. In the same year, the MCA Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago commissioned Arocha for a solo project for its main entrance hall. Arocha's creation comprised clusters of leopard-print patterns crafted with mirrored Plexiglas, offering the flexibility for reconfiguration with each installation. In 2001-2002, Arocha developed a new artwork titled Rover for the café windows of the MCA as part of the Hide installation, which was already integrated into the MCA Collection.[6]

In Europe, Carla Arocha’s work has been showcased in significant solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions, including Antwerp’s Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen (MuHKA) in 2005–2006, and the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand in 2006.[7] In 2006, Bern’s Kunsthalle in Switzerland organized Arocha's first major retrospective in Europe: Carla Arocha: Dirt, which was displayed from April to May.[8] Curated by the then-director of Kunsthalle Bern, Philippe Pirotte, and Jesús Fuenmayor in close collaboration with the artist, this retrospective illuminated various facets of her artistic oeuvre. During this exhibition, Carla Arocha invited Stéphane Schraenen to produce a number of artworks. This exchange of ideas marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration that continues to this day.[9]

Since 2006, artworks resulting from Arocha's collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen have been exhibited under the name of Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen in prestigious museums worldwide. These exhibitions include London’s Wallace Collection in 2011,[10] Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Caja de Burgos (CAB) in Spain in 2012;[11] Berlin’s Künstlerhaus Bethaniën in 2012;[12] and Mechelen’s Cultuurcentrum in Belgium in 2014.[13]

Solo exhibitions (selection)

  • Carla Arocha: Chris (in collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen) at Fonds régional d'art contemporain Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, 2006[7]
  • Carla Arocha (in collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen) at Koraalberg, Antwerp, 2006
  • Dirt at Kunsthalle Bern, Bern, 2006[8]
  • Smoke at Galería OMR, Mexico City, 2004
  • By chance at Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, 2003
  • Rover at Objectif Exhibitions, Antwerp, 2002
  • Underground at Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, 2001
  • Zipper at Dorothée De Pauw Gallery, Brussels, 2000
  • Hover: New Work at Kavi Gupta Gallery (formerly Vedanta Gallery), Chicago, 1999
  • Somewhere, at Cranbrook Art Museum, Blomfield Hills, 1998
  • Hide & Rover at MCA Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, 1997, and 2001-2002
  • Gate at Hermetic Gallery, Milwaukee, 1997
  • Carla Preiss: New Work at Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago, 1996-1997
  • Portrait: A Site-Specific Installation by Carla Preiss at the El Museo del Barrio, New York, 1996

Collections

Arocha's artworks are featured in the public collections of numerous museums across the United States, Europe, and South America. These include New York’s MoMA;[14] Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art;[15] the Art Institute of Chicago;[16] Antwerp’s Museum of Contemporary Art;[17] Bern's Kunsthalle Bern in Switzerland; the Fonds régional d'art contemporain d'Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand;[18] the Fundación Banco Mercantil in Caracas; and the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Boca Raton, Florida, US.

Personal life

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Arocha was raised in a family of lawyers who instilled in her a deep appreciation for the humanities and culture. Her education was greatly influenced by this passion within her family. Additionally, the vibrant legacy of modern and contemporary art in her home country, along with the presence of renowned artists such as Jesús Rafael Soto, Carlos Cruz-Diez and Alejandro Otero, left an indelible mark on the young artist. Arocha was captivated by the architecture and public artwork that adorned the streets of Caracas.

In December 1979, Arocha relocated to Chicago, where she pursued studies in biology and art while also marrying David Preiss. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994, she crossed paths with Belgian painter Luc Tuymans in 1995, during his preparations for his first American show at Chicago’s Renaissance Society. This encounter proved significant, and in 1999, Arocha made the decision to move to Belgium and marry Tuymans. The couple currently resides and works in Antwerp.[19]

Publications

For information about Carla Arocha's work in collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen see:

  • Arocha, Carla, Schraenen Stéphane, and Kate Christina Mayne. (2014). Persiana: Carla Arocha - Stéphane Schraenen: Cultuurcentrum Mechelen . Antwerpen, Belgium: Ludion.
  • Fuemayor, Jesús. (2016).Flujo Disperso / Blurry Flux: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen Colectión Mercantil . Caracas: Mercantil Arte y Cultura A.C.
  • Pratt, Ken, Helen Anne Molesworth, Irmgard Hölscher, Katharina Pencz, Magda Walicka, Carla Arocha, and Stéphane Schraenen. ( 2013). What Now? Carla Arocha - Stephane Schraenen . After: Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen . Burgos: Obra Social De La Caja De Burgos.

See also

References

  1. ^ Pirotte, Philippe (2006). Carla Arocha: Dirt. Bern: Kunsthalle Bern.
  2. ^ Staff writer (30 November 2005). "Carla Arocha". De Morgen. DPG Media. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Grabner, Michelle (5 May 2000). "Carla Arocha". Frieze (52). Frieze Publishing, Limited. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Gesprekken met Hedendaagse Kunstenaars". Hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Carla Preiss". art-list.online. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997". mcachicago.org/Collection/Items/1997/Carla-Arocha-Hide-1997. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Carla Arocha, Chris". FRAC Auvergne (in French). Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Carla Arocha". kunsthalle-bern.ch. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Gesprekken met hedendaagse kunstenaars". hildevancanneyt.blogspot.com. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Carla Arocha · Stéphane Schraenen". www.wallacecollection.org. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  11. ^ Staff writer (2012). "Carla Arocha y Stéphane Schraenen". CAB de Burgos.
  12. ^ "KB | Caraota von Moules". Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Welkom - Cultuurcentrum Mechelen". www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Collection". www.moma.org/. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Collection: Carla Arocha, Hide, 1997". cachicago.org. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Aqua Trace". www.artic.edu. 1998. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Screens". www.muhka.be. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Carla Arocha". www.frac-auvergne.fr. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Kunstenares Carla Arocha kijkt met bang hart naar situatie in haar geboorteland". www.demorgen.be. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.

Further reading

For information about the work of Carla Arocha see:

  • Molon, Dominic; Chavoya, C. Ondine; Herández, Eloy J. (1995). Carla Arocha: Orchid. New York: University of Rochester.
  • Hofmann, Irene (1998). Carla Preiss: Somewhere. Bloomfield Hills: Cranbrook Art Museum.
  • Peeters, Wim (2000). Carla Arocha: Zipper. Brussels: Dorothée De Pauw Gallery.
  • Vergne, Jean-Charles; Vermeiren, Gerrit (2006). Carla Arocha: Chris. Auvergne: Fonds Régional d'Art Contemporain Auvergne.
  • Pirotte, Philippe; Vermeiren, Gerrit (2006). Carla Arocha: Dirt. Bern: Kunsthalle Bern.
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