Jesus Curiá

Jesus Curiá, b. 1969

Madrid, Spain

Jesus Curiá's practice is concerned with capturing the essence of the human being.  His sculptures blend figurative elements – often heads and hands – with abstracted bodies in an attempt to express tradition, modernity and ethnic culture, which have remained the foundation of his approach throughout the years. Curiá's characters, which have an almost ancient quality, are a reflection of the artist's ideas and emotions toward the contemporary world – raising questions of identity, community and globalisation.

Ambiguity in the expression of Curiá's figures is fundamental to the artist's visual language.  The facial features in his works are neither western nor non-western, male nor female. Curia's sculptures are archetypes, eliminating boundaries and the qualities that distinguish and divide us. As a result, they are a tribute to the human being itself, and the principles that unite us.  Their powerful forms and gestures evoke a broad range of emotions including joy, serenity and, at times, loneliness.

Curiá's choice of materials is of equal importance in understanding his work.  Though primarily working in bronze, the artist's thoughtful integration of wood, stone, concrete and resin is directly related to the idea he wishes to express through each sculpture.  Echoing the complexity of man, Curia's blending of soft and hard, warm and cold materials signifies the opposing characteristics found in all of us. 

Jesus Curiá lives and works in Madrid, Spain.  He holds a degree and PhD in Fine Art from the Complutense University of Madrid, and serves as a Volume Professor at the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid).  Since 1992, Curiá has exhibited in numerous galleries internationally and his works are held in prestigious collections such as Sungsan Art Hall (South Korea), ONCE's Typhlological Museum, C.A.M. artistic heritage fund, U.C.M. artistic heritage fund.