Iván Madrigal (Mexico City, 1983)
Since a very young age, Iván Madrigal has been immersed in the artistic world, primarily using painting and sculpture as his mediums. He held his first exhibition at the age of 9. In 2001, he began studying architecture in Mexico City, but it was during university that he found the inspiration to return to the world of art. He developed his own technique and artistic approach, using the palette knife with oil paint as his primary tool, creating bold strokes rich in color and texture, which define the unique style of his work.
In 2014, Madrigal resumed his career with three solo exhibitions, reaffirming his vocation as a visual artist. His work explores themes such as the evolution of consciousness, expressed through both painting and sculpture. In 2015, he launched "18", a series of portraits dedicated to the unconditionality of his loved ones, followed by several group exhibitions in Mexico City.
Through a process of introspection, Madrigal embarked on a spiritual journey, discovering a fundamental truth: everything false leads to suffering, while everything true brings harmony to reality. His work serves as an example of this concept, emphasizing contrasts—both technically and graphically. His pieces reinterpret classical and contemporary scenes, where the “human facade” often conceals the truth. To convey this, Madrigal replaces the ego with toys, using them in a playful manner to illustrate the separation between the self and the ego. He believes that the true essence of being is absolute joy, much like a child playing purely for enjoyment, with no goal to achieve. In contrast, the adult ego is constantly competing, comparing, and striving for success. By substituting grand facades of identity with toys, he reveals the true essence of who we are, stripping away the ego.
The central theme of Iván Madrigal’s work is the representation of our true selves, free from prejudice or false beliefs. By embracing this perspective, we can experience joy and fulfillment in both our personal and collective realities.
"The bold strokes and chaotic colors in my work enrich my vision of aesthetics. Every day, I reach the same conclusion—without judgment, without labels, without good or bad—things simply are.
I do not shy away from my artistic stance, as it guides me beyond reason, beyond the mind. Ultimately, it makes me feel at peace and in harmony, for certainty is truth, and truth will always prevail in the universe."
EXHIBITIONS & ARTISTIC JOURNEY
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1994 – Group Exhibition, Centro de Cultura de Tlalpan, Mexico City
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2001 – Architecture Studies, Universidad Intercontinental, Mexico City
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2014 – Solo Exhibition "18", Central, Mexico City
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2014 – Solo Exhibition "Consciencia Evolutiva", Central, Mexico City
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2015 – 4th Kino Initiative Auction for the Border, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
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2015 – Group Exhibition, Terminal 1, Mexico City
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2015 – Arte México Vivo Auction, Museum of Modern Art, Mexico City
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2015 – Group Exhibition, Art Fair MX 2nd Edition, Mexico City
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2015 – Group Exhibition, Feria de Diseño Mercado Nacional, Mexico City
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2015 – Fundación Rebecca de Alba Auction, Mexico City
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2016 – Group Exhibition Talento Mexicano Contemporáneo, Cultura Colectiva, Mexico City
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2017 – Solo Exhibition "Manifestación del Ser", Mexico City
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2018 – Colegio Himalaya Art Auction, Monterrey, Mexico
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2018 – Guest Artist Collaboration with MTV Unplugged for Molotov’s Masterpiece, 20-year trajectory recognition
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2018 – Gran Subasta de Arte (Great Art Auction), Fundación MAPA
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2018 – TIIME Axioms Art Exhibition
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2019 – El Hedonismo y lo Lúdico Exhibition, in collaboration with Luigi Fantini, Nuun Arte, Querétaro, Mexico
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2019 – Solo Exhibition, Senate of the Republic, Mexico City
ROUGH INTERPRETATION // Oil on Palette Knife & Oil
Dimension, color, texture...
A work filled with color, heavy use of paint, and bold, unstructured strokes, creating a raw and expressive aesthetic.
