
Santiago Cárdenas
“My intentions are not to trick nor to play with the viewer. I use illusionism to create a ‘presence,’ just as nature does.”
Santiago Cárdenas (B. 1937) is known for his hyper-realist drawings and paintings of everyday objects. Trained at Yale, his works have been part of numerous exhibitions worldwide and can be found in major public collections including: The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Chicago Art Institute, Museum of Fine Arts, Caracas Venezuela; and Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City, Mexico (Read More)
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Throughout Cárdenas’s prolific career, the artist has drawn from a wide range of art historical practices—ranging from the Old Masters to Pop Art—in the creation of enigmatic still-lifes of everyday objects. His enigmatic still-life compositions, featuring everyday objects like electrical sockets, clothes hangers, suits, chalkboards, and flowers, redefine Pop art’s eye for parody. Rather than opening onto space, Cárdenas’s paintings challenge the conventional relationship between the viewer and the artwork, utilizing illusionism to create a ‘presence’ akin to nature itself.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Cárdenas moved to Pelham, New York, at the age of ten. His artistic journey began at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he initially studied architecture before transitioning to painting and drawing. Inspired by European masters during his U.S. Army service in Europe, he continued his studies at Yale University, surrounded by a community of influential artists. Cárdenas returned to Colombia in 1965, where he gained recognition through solo exhibitions and participated in groundbreaking shows like Espacios Ambientales in 1968, exploring the physical dimension of the picture plane.
Cárdenas’s innovative approach gained further acclaim, earning him the title of Best Colombian Artist at the Coltejer Biennial in 1970. His art, particularly the painting “Enchufe en la Pared,” demonstrated such realism that viewers felt compelled to touch it for verification. Departing from traditional Pop Art, Cárdenas incorporated real objects into his paintings, aiming to evoke engagement beyond aesthetic contemplation. His journey continued with international exhibitions and thematic explorations, including the recurring motif of blackboards, which became a significant aspect of his work. As his career progressed into the 1980s, Cárdenas embraced a freer, more expressive use of color, further enriching his artistic legacy. His work is now featured in prestigious collections and institutions worldwide, showcasing the enduring impact of his artistic vision.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Important Exhibitions
2022 Santiago Cardenas: Illusionisms, Art of the World Gallery, Houston, Texas, USA
2006 Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, Bogóta, Colombia
1996 Museo Rufino Tamayo, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Important Group Exhibitions
1993 Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
1992-1993 Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
1989-1990 Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
Biennales
1990 Venice Biennale International Exhibition, Italy
1989 Venice Biennale National Pavilion, Italy
Permanent Collection
Colección Banco de la República, Bogotá, Colombia
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois, USA
Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
The Chase Manhattan Bank Collection, New York, USA