BIO, STATEMENT & RESUME
Oliverio Balcells is a scholar of the ancient Mesoamerican cultures, photographer, painter and self-taught musician. He is a native of Guadalajara Mexico, and moved to Arizona in 1999. He draws much inspiration from his extensive travels throughout his home country.
He creates Mexican contemporary social art. “I’m interested
in social themes like history, immigration and express myself to inspire
the people with solutions on a global point of view; my influences stem
from ancient Mexican manifestations, Wixarika Art (Huichol art), and the
Mexican masters muralists.”
Oliverio has been painting in diverse mediums since 1988. In the past
few years he has been creating mixed media works utilizing photographs
and acrylics on canvas, transferring his vocabulary from the commitment
of being a social artist into a series of themes that he calls collections.
Oliverio constantly has something showing. He has exhibited in the
Ajolote Gallery of Contemporary Art in Guadalajara, the Casa de la
Cultura in
Cancun, the Chandler Center for the Arts, the 1st International Congress
of the Toltec Culture in Tula and Mesa Art Center, among others.
In 2008 was awarded First Place at the Arte Latino en la Ciudad
XII at
the Phoenix
Center for the Arts and In 1999 he was awarded Best Artist in the
7th Annual Plastic Arts Exhibit of Cancun.
His work has been featured as a cover for a book from the author
Ruth Gomber-Munoz, Ph.D. titled Labor and Legality: An Ethnography
of a
Mexican Immigrant
Worker, published by the Oxford University Press, Inc. in New York
City. His work is included in the private collections of Raul Yzaguirre
known
as American civil rights activist and now the Dominican Republic's
Ambassador for the United States Senate. Corporate clients include
Rio Mirage Café in
Surprise AZ, La Tinta in Guadalajara Mexico, and many private collectors
around the world.
He has done several workshops for Xico Inc’s cultural arts program
to raise adolescents self-esteem through the teachings of the Ancient Mexican
Wisdom of Warriors and Art. Every summer Oliverio opens his studio to teach
private art classes for young students.
Oliverio Balcells received his Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design
from the Univa University in Guadalajara, Mexico.
He currently lives and works in Tempe, Arizona, USA with his
wife, Hope, his son Quetzal and his daughter
Citlalli.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS • The New Wave of Mexican Contemporary Art,, Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center 2011. • The Sacred & The Living, Herberger Art Gallery. Phoenix Arizona 2010. • Dignity Art Exhibit, Galeria 147, Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center. Phoenix Arizona 2010. • Visiones of 40 Arizona Latino Artists, Galeria 147, Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center. Phoenix Arizona 2009. • Conexiones, Contemporary Works by Mexican Artists, Mesa Arts Center. Mesa, Arizona, 2009. • Migration: Immigration, Giving Honor to Cultures and Communities, ASU Downtown Phoenix Arizona, 2009.
• Political Persona at ASU Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale Arizona, 2009. • Dia de Muertos, Arizona Museum for Youth, Mesa Arizona, 2008.
• La Cultura Cura at ASU West, Glendale Arizona, 2008.
• Arte Latino XII en la Ciudad, Phoenix, Arizona, 2008.
• First International Congress of the Toltec Culture, Tula Hidalgo Mexico, 2007.
• Arte Caliente at Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler Arizona, 2004.
• The Mending Wall Exhibit at ASU West, Glendale Arizona, 2004.
• Arizona Room, Mesa Arts Center, Arizona, 2003.
• Arte Latino VII en la Ciudad, Phoenix, Arizona, 2002.
• Casa de la Cultura de Cancun. Quintana Roo, Mexico, 1999.
• Ferrocarril Gallery. Guadalajara, Mexico, 1998.
• Picasso Gallery. Guadalajara, Mexico, 1996.
• La Escalera Gallery. Guadalajara, Mexico, 1995.
• On Line Gallery. Tucson, Arizona, 1994.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
• Stinkweeds. Tempe, Arizona, 2001.
AWARDS AND GRANTS
• First Place at the Arte Latino en la Ciudad, Phoenix Arizona 2008.
• Best Artist in the 7th Plastic Arts Exhibit of Cancun, traveling exhibit throughout Mexico
for the year 2000, sponsored by the state of Quintana Roo and Casa de la Cultura.
Cancun, Mexico, 1999.
• Honourable Mention in the Salon Octubre of the state of Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico 1998.
PUBLICATIONS
• 1st International Conference of Toltec Culture by Ruben Hernandez,
Latino Perspective Magazine, May 2007.
• 1st International Congress of Toltec Culture by Agustin Suarez,
El Sol de Hidalgo Newspaper, March 2007.
ASSOCIATIONS
• Calaca Cultural Center
• Xico Inc
• Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center
