Marcela Pardo Ariza
b. Bogotá, Colombia
Marcela Pardo Ariza explores the relationship of wry humor, queerness and representation through color sets and prop-like objects. Her photographs incorporate quotidian objects in seemingly absurd ways creating tableaux that mix recognizable elements with magical realism. Pardo is interested in the action of looking within the theatricality of “the set” and her visually provoking portraits seek to explore metaphors regarding race and gender.
Pardo’s work has been exhibited at Glasshouse (Brooklyn, NY); Bass & Reiner (San Francisco, CA); Alter Space (San Francisco, CA); The Battery (San Francisco, CA); Zoo Labs, guest curated by Et al. (San Francisco, CA); and Root Division (San Francisco, CA). She has worked as a Curatorial Assistant at the Clocktower Gallery (Manhattan, NY), a co-Director at the Swell Gallery (San Francisco, CA) and Co-Founder/Director of NoRoof Gallery (San Francisco, CA. Pardo has curated shows at Cranium Corporation (San Francisco, CA); Residence/SF (San Francisco, CA); and CTRL+SHFT collective (Oakland, CA).
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2017
Slow Clap, R/SF projects, San Francisco, CA
2016
El Hábito, Bass & Reiner, San Francisco, CA
2014
Danny & Him, Paul Sack Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017
Pro Arts, Oakland, CA (forthcoming - October)
Lil' Swim, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Bestiario/Menagerie, Adobe Backroom Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016
Shaky Towns Vol. 2, The Battery, San Francisco, CA
#simulacra, Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Om Home, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Reconstructed, Good Mother Gallery, Oakland, CA
Shaky Towns, Alter Space, San Francisco, CA
Yaocihuatl, Social Policy, San Jose, CA
Group Show, Burnt Oak Gallery, Oakland, CA
San Francisco Graduate Exhibition 2016, Fort Mason Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Parking Lot Art Fair, w/ Residence/SF, San Francisco, CA
StART up Fair, w/Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Absent-minded Window-gazing, Zoo Labs, guest curated by Et. al., Oakland, CA
Mistaken Impressions, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
2015
So lil o quy, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
PARANOIA, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA
This is not a Painting, Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Murphy & Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards, SOMArts, San Francisco, CA
Alejandro Almanza Pereda’s Pop-up Show, Atholl McBean Gallery, San Francisco, CA
LGBT Por La Vida, Adobe Books, San Francisco, CA
God Particle II, The Mattress Formula, McRoskey Factory, San Francisco, CA
Holy Hole, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Milhojas, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014
Danny & Him, Paul Sack Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Homegrown: Brooklyn Finest, Tutu’s, Brooklyn, NY
An Invitation: To Practice, Glasshouse Art&Life Lab, Brooklyn, NY
2013
Better Than Milk, Leads Gallery, Richmond, IN
2012
114th Exhibition of Richmond & Area Artists, Richmond Art Museum, Richmond, INcx
Awards & Honors
2017
Tosa Studio Award, Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Artist Award Finalist
2016
Graduate Student Recognition Award, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
2015
Murphy & Cadogan Contemporary Art Award, San Francisco Foundation for the Arts
Paul Sack Building Award, Still Lights Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014-16
Master of Fine Arts Fellowship in Photography, San Francisco Art Institute
2013
Departmental & College Honors, Earlham College, Richmond, IN
2012
Mary Jane Harvey Memorial Award. For outstanding work in the Arts
W. Ray Stevens Jr. Memorial Award for ‘Horizontal Gravitational Force’
Merit Award at the Richmond Art Museum for ‘Corpse # 1’
2009-2013
Full Scholarship Earlham College
2009-2013
Davis UWC scholar
2007-2009
Scholarship United World College Costa Rica
Education
2016, Master of Fine Arts, Photography, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
2013, Bachelor of Arts, Earlham College, Richmond, IN
2009, International Baccalaureate, United World College, Costa Rica