Armando Mesías
Armando Mesías (b. 1986, Cali, Colombia) is an artist currently based in Madrid, Spain. His creative journey reflects a rich interplay between the urban landscapes that surround us and the intimate, personal experiences that shape our identities. Armando’s work focuses on large-scale abstract textile pieces, often integrating found fabrics, oxidation processes, and unconventional materials to explore themes of time, decay, and transformation.
Although Armando has created art throughout his life, he initially pursued a career in industrial design, graduating from Icesi University in 2009. His academic background in design provided him with a unique approach to composition, blending the logic of design thinking with his self-taught artistic skills. His education continued at the prestigious University of the Arts London (UAL) in Camberwell, where he obtained a Master’s in Illustration. He then honed his craft at the Barcelona Academy of Art, immersing himself in traditional painting and drawing techniques.
Armando’s artistic practice has been deeply shaped by his experiences as an immigrant, as well as by the juxtaposition of growing up in a developing country while being influenced by European and American cultures. These contrasts are present in his work, where intention meets accident, and where personal history intersects with broader social and cultural dynamics.
His art has been exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions at Galerie Ground in Los Angeles and New York, including notable shows such as “A Power Reverse Ritual” (2023, New York), “No Garden Looks The Same Twice” (2023, Los Angeles), and “The Curse of Knowledge” (2022, Los Angeles). He has also held exhibitions in Madrid and Tokyo, further establishing his global presence.
Armando's work has garnered the attention of private collectors such as Mike Amiri, Adria Arjona, and Andy McCune. He has participated in numerous artist residencies, including Villa Lena in Italy, Poco a Poco in Mexico, and Almost Perfect in Tokyo, with pieces from each residency becoming part of their permanent collections.
Beyond his artistic practice, Armando remains engaged with a broad community of creatives—filmmakers, architects, writers, and designers—whose perspectives enrich his exploration of materials and concepts. His works invite viewers to reflect on the subtle, often overlooked aspects of urban decay and the fluid nature of human identity.
Exhibitions
2024
2024, Renaissance, Grège Gallery, Group Show, brussels, Belgium.
2023
2023, Un Hogar En El Tiempo, La Caja, Solo Exhibition, Madrid, Spain.
2023, A Power Reverse Ritual, Galerie Ground, Solo Exhibition, New York, United States.
2023, A Box Shaped Heart, Almost Perfect, Solo Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan.
2023, No Garden Looks The Same Twice, Galerie Ground, Solo Exhibition, Los Angeles, United States.
2023, ALT Form, Stahl+Band, Group Exhibition, Venice, California, USA.
2022
2022, The Curse Of Knowledge, Galerie Ground, Solo Exhibition, Los Angeles, United States.
2022, Le Paradis En Rose, Vogel, Group Exhibition, Nice, France.
2022, Vogel Pop-up Gallery, Vogel, Group Exhibition, Stuttgart, Germany.
2021
2021, Summer Show, Vogel, Group Exhibition, Munich, Germany.
2021, All I Think About Is You, Galerie Georg Nothelfer, Group Exhibition, Berlin, Germany.
2021, Aesthetic Objects, Galerie Ground, Group Exhibition, Los Angeles, USA.
2020, ¿Qué es Liminal?, Ercilla 24, Group Exhibition, Madrid, Spain.
2019, Room 45, Around Lounges by Programa Taide, Solo Exhibition, Madrid, Spain.
2019, The Suspended Man, Spirito by Spiwak Hotel, Solo Exhibition, Cali, Colombia.
2019, The Fragmented Man, Kayas, Solo Exhibition, Lisboa, Portugal.
2019, Shapes of Color, Bach’s Studio & Gallery, Group Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain.
2019, Homeful, Diamantina & la Perla, Group Exhibition, Medellín, Colombia.
2019, Inside Thoughts, Bach’s Studio & Gallery, Group Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain.
2018, Nude, Diamantina & la Perla, Group Exhibition, Bogotá, Colombia.
2018, 20th Designs, Matiz, Group Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain.
2018, Bach’s Gallery Opening, Bach’s Studio & Gallery, Group Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain.
2016, KYOTO/CALI, L-Experiment, Solo Exhibition, Paris, France.
2015, LAC, Galeria LAR, Laboraório de Actividades Criativas, Solo Exhibition, Lagos, Portugal.
2015, Amsterdam Light Festival, Group Exhibition, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
2014, Slow 2, Choko, Group Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain.
2014, Kissing in Traffic, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2014, Assembly, Chelsea College of Arts Alumni Show, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2014, Hong Kong Contemporary 14, with Sieger Gallery London, Group Exhibition, Hong Kong.
2014, Selected Degree Work, Camberwell Space, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2014, MA Illustration Degree Show, UAL, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2014, Merging Inks, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2014, Canción Canción, Cine Tonalá, Group Exhibition, Bogotá, Colombia.
2014, Esta Noche No Me Esperen en la Casa, Group Exhibition, Bogotá, Colombia.
2014, Pomegranate, Camberwell College of Arts, Group Exhibition, London, UK.
2013, Back Alley, Group Exhibition, Los Angeles, USA.
2013, El Garaje, Galería el Garaje, Group Exhibition, Bogotá, Colombia.
2013, Color Latino, Group Exhibition, Lecheria, Venezuela.
2013, Rojo Bermelo, Group Exhibition, Mexico City, Mexico.
2012, Puma Urban Art, Group Exhibition, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2012, Festival de Cine de la Habana, Group Exhibition, La Habana, Cuba.
2012, Los Visitantes, Rojo Bermelo, Group Exhibition, Mexico City, Mexico.
2012, According to Them, Zaa Spaces, Group Exhibition, Miami, USA 2012, Festival Marte, Group Exhibition, Medellín, Colombia.
Available art works
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