Abraham Cruzvillegas: The Ballad of Etc.
September 12: 6-8 pm
Performances by Restroy from 6:15 – 7:45

Assembling works from materials sourced in both Chicago and Michoacán, his ancestral home in the West of Mexico, artist Abraham Cruzvillegas foregrounds the exigencies of movement, survival, dwelling, and home in The Ballad of Etc. Fabricated on site, his sculptures draw upon a traditional Mexican lacquer technique known as “maque” to produce new imagery that is juxtaposed with found materials and products made by Chicago’s skilled workers.

Chicago experimental jazz ensemble Restroy joins Cruzvillegas performing interpretations of the artist’s texts throughout the reception.

Abraham Cruzvillegas (b. 1968) studied Pedagogy from 1986 to 1990 at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) in Mexico City while simultaneously attending Gabriel Orozco’s workshop Taller de los viernes. In 2012, he was the 5th laureate of the Yanghyun Prize and in 2006 he received the Prix Altadis d’ arts plastiques.

His most important projects and exhibitions include: Autorreconstrucción: Social Tissue, Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland (2018); Sensory Spaces 12: Abraham Cruzvillegas, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2017); The Water Trilogy 2: Autodefensión Microtonal Obrera Campesina Estudiantil Metabolista Descalza, Ginza Maison Hermès: Le Forum, Tokyo (2017); Autoconstriction approximante vibrante rétroflexe, Carré d’Art – musée d’art contemporain de Nîmes, France (2016); Empty Lot, Tate Modern, London (2015); Autodestrucción 7: Deshaciendo el nudo, Museo de Arte de Lima – MALI, Peru (2015); Abraham Cruzvillegas: Autoconstrucción, Museo Jumex, Mexico City and Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico (2014); Abraham Cruzvillegas: The Autoconstrucción Suites, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany (2014) and The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, United States (2013); Self Builder’s Groove, Final Project for the Berliner Künstlerprogramm residency, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), Berlin (2011); Autoconstrucción: The Film, REDCAT CalArts’ downtown center for contemporary arts (2009); The Magnificent Seven: Abraham Cruzvillegas, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco (2009); Autoconstrucción: The Soundtrack, CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, United Kingdom (2008), among others.

His work has also a part of the following biennials: 21st Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2018); X Bienal de Nicaragua – Fundación Ortíz Gurdián, Managua (2016); Sharjah Biennial 12, United Arab Emirates (2015); 12 Bienal de la Habana, Cuba (2015); 9th Shanghai Biennale, China (2012); dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012); 12. İstanbul Bienali, Turkey (2011); 6th SeMA Biennale Mediacity Seoul, South Korea (2010); 10 Bienal de la Habana, Cuba (2009); 54th Venice Biennial (2003).

Abraham Cruzvillegas lives and works in Mexico City and Paris. He is represented by galería kurimanzutto in Mexico City, Thomas Dane Gallery in London, Regan Projects in Los Angeles, and Galerie Chantal Crousel in Paris

Official Website

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Tags: Abraham Cruzvillegas, Chicago, Near North Side, The Arts Club of Chicago, The Ballad of Etc.