Key takeaways
- Oscar Murillo is a renowned contemporary artist who explores themes of cultural identity, displacement, and migration in his diverse artistic practice.
- Murillo's work resonates with the voices of the disenfranchised and dispossessed, addressing issues of inequality and cultural adaptation.
- His art reflects the complexities of globalization and aims to challenge dominant narratives, giving visibility to the perspectives of marginalized communities.
- Murillo blends personal experiences with broader social and cultural themes, encouraging viewers to confront their own biases and preconceptions.
- Murillo's work has been featured in prominent art locations around the world and is part of prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art and Moderna Museet.
Oscar Murillo, 2022. Author: Verveine321, via Wikipedia
Oscar Murillo
Oscar Murillo, born in 1986 in La Paila, Colombia, is a renowned contemporary artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, video, sound, sculpture, and installation. Raised in a region known for its sugarcane production, Murillo's early environment significantly shaped his artistic exploration of labor, globalization, and material conditions. At age 10, he moved to London with his family, later attending Cardinal Pole Catholic School in Hackney—a location he revisited in 2021 for his "Frequencies" project.
Oscar Murillo completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at the University of Westminster in 2007 and an MA in Fine Art from the Royal College of Art in 2012. Before focusing on his art career, he worked as a secondary school teacher and as an art installer in small galleries in East London—experiences that shaped his innovative approach to art, which explores themes of cultural exchange, displacement, and the blending of ideas, languages, and everyday objects.
Murillo’s work critiques societal inequality and challenges perceptions of globalization, urging viewers to reassess their biases. In 2019, he co-won the Turner Prize, sharing the honor with fellow nominees who collectively requested the joint award. His ongoing commitment to collaborative, socially engaged projects continues to define his artistic path. Throughout his body of work, Murillo consistently emphasizes cultural exchange and the way ideas, languages, and objects are circulated, displaced, and intertwined in a globalized world, reflecting a deep understanding of globalization's impact while remaining rooted in universal human experiences.
In February 2013, Murillo’s works were featured at major London auctions hosted by Sotheby’s, Christie's, and Phillips. According to Artnet, 24 of Murillo's pieces collectively generated a total of $4.8 million at auction that year. His "Untitled (Drawings off the wall)" fetched a record price of $401,000 at Phillips New York.
Murillo is represented by several prominent galleries, including Carlos Ishikawa in London, Isabella Bortolozzi Galerie in Berlin, Taka Ishi Gallery in Tokyo, Kurimanzutto in New York and Mexico City, and David Zwirner in London, New York, Paris, and Hong Kong.
Work
Oscar Murillo’s artistic practice spans painting, installation, and performance, incorporating elements like draped black canvases, large-scale stitched paintings, metal structures evoking autopsy tables, and sculptures made from corn and clay. His evolving exploration of community is deeply influenced by his cultural ties to Colombia and the UK, shaping his diverse body of work.
Critics often draw parallels between Murillo’s art and that of artists like Alberto Burri, Philip Guston, and the Abstract Expressionists due to his bold color usage, dynamic line work, and focus on physicality. Prominent series such as "News," "Manifestation," and "Surge" combine expressive mark-making with grand scale and vivid color palettes, showcasing his distinctive style.
Murillo frequently incorporates unconventional materials like industrial waste, dirt, and fabric to symbolize global cultural interconnectivity. His textured "stitched paintings" tell stories of migration and cultural blending, transforming discarded items into meaningful symbols. Through his art, Murillo bridges personal and collective histories, prompting reflection on cultural identity and the complexities of globalization.
His work, such as "A 1% offering: collective messages to our ancestors" at the Abu Dhabi Biennial 2024-2025, invites dialogue on migration, resilience, and heritage, aligning with themes of environment and community. Murillo continues to challenge traditional artistic forms, creating a distinctive visual language that resonates globally.
Murillo also critiques postcolonial and socioeconomic inequities in his broader practice. In "The Coming of the Europeans" (2017), created for the Kathmandu Triennale, he addressed the ongoing effects of colonialism in contemporary art fairs. Other works, like hosting a party for cleaners at the Serpentine Galleries (2012) or inviting Colombian factory workers to perform labor in a New York gallery (2014), spotlight labor dynamics. His Rio de Janeiro residency involved collaborating with domestic workers, incorporating dirtied overalls into his exhibit to emphasize the physical nature of shared labor.
The Frequencies Project
Since 2013, Oscar Murillo's "Frequencies" project has collaborated with schools worldwide, placing raw canvases on students' desks for them to mark, draw, and write on. Engaging students aged 10 to 16, the initiative has produced over 50,000 canvases from 36 countries, forming a growing archive that has been showcased at notable venues like the 56th Venice Biennale, the 2nd Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art, and the 3rd Aichi Triennial. Murillo describes the project as an opportunity for students to express their "own desires" through personal marks, and it has inspired subsequent works, such as his "Disrupted Frequencies" series.
The project continues to evolve with contributions from Murillo’s family, studio team, and global collaborators. "Frequencies" canvases are placed temporarily on classroom desks in selected schools, encouraging students to create any form of mark-making. The project has been presented at institutions including the Haus der Kunst in Munich, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, among others. In 2015, "David Zwirner Books" published "Oscar Murillo: Frequencies," documenting the project's first year, and in 2024, a new volume from Hatje Cantz will provide an archive of the many iterations of "Frequencies" across the past decade.
Notable exhibitions and collections
Oscar Murillo’s recent solo exhibitions include "A Storm Is Blowing From Paradise" at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia in Venice, Italy, and "Currents 121: Oscar Murillo" at the Saint Louis Art Museum, US (both in 2022). Other significant exhibitions from 2021–2022 are "Social Cataracts" at KM21 in The Hague, Netherlands; "Spirits and Gestures" at Fondazione Memmo in Rome, Italy; "Condiciones aún por titular" at the Museum of Art of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá; "Frequencies", organized by Artangel at Cardinal Pole Catholic School in London; and "MAM Project 029" at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan.
The artist has also participated in numerous international group exhibitions and biennials, including the Sharjah Biennial 13 (2017) and the 56th Venice Biennale (2015). His works are featured in prestigious collections worldwide, such as the Aïshti Foundation in Lebanon; Arts Council Collection in England; The Broad in Los Angeles; Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris; Moderna Museet in Stockholm; The Museum of Modern Art in New York; Tate in the United Kingdom; and the Rubell Museum in Miami, among many others. These achievements reflect his broad influence and recognition in the contemporary art world.
FAQ
Who is Oscar Murillo?
Oscar Murillo is a famous artist who explores cultural identity, displacement, and migration. His work includes painting, collaborative projects, video, sound, and installations.
Where was Oscar Murillo born?
Oscar Murillo was born in 1986 in La Paila, Colombia. This town is known for its Colombina factory, which inspired his art.
How did Murillo's personal experience shape his artistic perspective?
Murillo moved to London with his family when he was young. This experience deeply influenced his art, focusing on cultural identity and displacement.
What is Murillo's artistic approach?
Murillo's art has grown to include drawings, sculptures, installations, videos, and performances. His work is authentic, reflecting his experiences of displacement and cultural adaptation.
What are Murillo's signature techniques?
Murillo is known for his "stitched paintings," made from studio leftovers and painted with bold colors. He also uses industrial materials like clay and textiles in his work.
What is the Frequencies Project?
The Frequencies Project started in 2013. Murillo gives unfinished canvas to schools worldwide. Students use it to express themselves through writing, painting, and sketching.
What are some of Murillo's notable exhibitions and installations?
Murillo's work has been shown globally, including the 2019 Berlin Biennale. He also created "A Mercantile Novel" with the Colombina food company.
How was Murillo recognized for his artistic achievements?
In 2019, Oscar Murillo was nominated for the Turner Prize. He shared the prize with three others, showing solidarity in art.
What is the Flooded Garden project?
The Flooded Garden is at London's Tate Modern Turbine Hall in 2024. It's inspired by Claude Monet's Giverny paintings. Visitors help paint a giant canvas with wave-like strokes.
What are Murillo's current projects and future directions?
Murillo's latest show, "A Balancing Act Between Collapse and Spirit," is at David Zwirner gallery in London (October-November 2024). It continues his exploration of societal tensions. He plans to keep making participatory art and social commentary, staying a key voice in art and social issues.
Selena Mattei
