Maura Falfan

Born in 1973

Mexico

www.maurafalfan.com/

date of insertion W.A.D. 06/2022

Biography

I was born Mexico City to a family of artists and started my artistic endeavor as a photographer. The idea of the vestige as a sign referring to an absence was my initial focus of inquiry through which I developed my work. I gradually moved away from photography to dedicate my time entirely to painting.  For the past decade I have been making what I call interior landscapes, monochromatic works on paper that usually hang vertically from the wall. My pursuit for a contemporary abstraction stems from a post-utopic stance, where deterioration and fragility go hand in hand with beauty. Inspired by literature, art, film and photography, my work is invested in the tragic qualities of life and promotes a sense of melancholic introspection.

I studied an MFA at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY (2008-2010) and a BFA at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura, y Grabado (ENPEG) La Esmeralda, Mexico City (1996-2001). In 2017 I participated in the 2017 Whitney Biennial, through Occupy Museums and was selected for the XVII Rufino Tamayo Painting Biennale, Mexico City in 2016. I was recently selected to be part of the Tijuana Triennial, I. Pictorial International Art, Tijuna, Mexico (2021) and in 2022 was awarded The Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant.

In 2013 I formed part of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), ArtePreneur Professional Development Program, New York, NY and participated in the 2012 and 2013 Governors Island Art Fair, Governors Island, NY. In 2014 I showed my work in SCOPE New York, New York, NY. and was resident at the 2014 Artist In Residency (AIR), Governors Island, New York, NY.

Earlier in my career I was awarded the Grant Beca de Jóvenes Creadores-, National Fund for Culture and Arts (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes FONCA), Mexico City in 2005-2006 and in 2002-2003. I participated in the México Arte Contemporáneo Art Fair with Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico City (2005) and in 2001 obtained the Grant-Residency Taller-exposición de Pintura Iberoamericana, Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I. IFEMA, Pabellón I., Madrid, Spain.

Curriculum

Education 

2008-2010   MFA, Pratt Institute, New York, NY

1996-2001   BFA, National School for Painting, Sculpture and Etching La Esmeralda, Mexico City, Mexico

1994-1996      Diploma, Photography, Escuela Activa de Fotografia, Mexico City, Mexico

Individual Exhibits

2012 – Paradise Lost, 210 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2005 – La huella de lo ausente, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Santa Fe Campus, Mexico City, Mexico

2000 – Abstracciones, Museo de la Cultura Potosina, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

1998 – Configuraciones, Casa del Mago, Mexico City, Mexico

1996 – Centro Cultural Antiguo Colegio Jesuita, Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

1995 – Figuraciones y espacios, Café de Nadie, Mexico City, Mexico

1994 – Puertas, Ventanas y Muros, Casa del Poeta, Mexico City, Mexico

1993 – Abstracciones, Casa de la Cultura de Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico

Group Exhibits

2021-2022 – Tijuana Triennial, I Pictoric International Art, Centro Cultural Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico

2020 – Spark, organized by Harlem Art Walk, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, New York, NY Expo-Subasta (auction), Galería Aguafuerte, Mexico City, Mexico – Black and White 2020, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY – Healing and Community-Physical to Virtual, online exhibition organized by NoMAA, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance. Curated by Patricia Miranda, New York, NY

2019 – Show Your Paper, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL

2018 – Allow me to Reintroduce Myself, organized by Ground Floor Gallery, Cigar Factory, Long Island City, NY – Parallel Horizons, curated by Anthony Dodds, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, New York, NY – Nation VI: The Greatest Show On Earth, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY –  México Vivo (auction), Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico – MUAW, Museum Union Art Workers, project conceived and organized with Maureen Catbagan, Maraya Lopez, Arthur Polendo y Pavol Roskovensky, El Barrio´s Artspace PS109, New York, NY

2017 – Art and Luxury Showcase, a prequel to Art Basel

2017 – (Art Bodega Magazine), The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, Miami, FL

2017 – Epiphany, curated by Anthony Dodds, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, New York, NY

2017 – Self Storage POC POC Pop Up, Hosted by Flux Factory, Long Island City, NY

2017 – Employee Art Show, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall Galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

2017 – Uninhabited Rooms, collaborative project with Antonia Guerrero and Barbara Schaefer, El Barrio´s Artspace PS109, New York, NY

2017 – With Something, curated by Jo Eun Huh (June), K and P Gallery, New York, NY

2017 – XVII Rufino Tamayo Painting Biennale, Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City, Mexico

2017 – XVII Rufino Tamayo Painting Biennale, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

2017 – Debtfair (Maura Falfán), a project of Occupy Museums, Whitney Biennial 2017, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.

2017 – 5th Avenue Bay Ridge SAW, 8th annual storefront art walk, a collaborative proyect with Berd´s Carnival + Redhorse, Brooklyn, NY

2017 – México Vivo (auction), Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico

2017 – Tres Mujeres-Tres Miradas, Fundación Sebastián, Mexico City, Mexico

2017 – Nation V: Thru the Rabbit Hole 2, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2016 – México Vivo (auction), Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico

2016 – Pratt Institute Fine Arts Alumni Exhibitions, Abstract Everything, curated by Kelly Worman, Pratt Institute, Steuben Hall, Gallery D, Brooklyn, NY

2016 – Nation IV: Thru the Rabbit Hole, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2016 – Artspace National Artist Run Exhibit, Artspace Patchogue Lofts, Patchogue, NY

2016 – Employee Art Show, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall Galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

2015 – Momenta Spring Benefit, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY

2015 – Nation III: Circle the Wagons!!!, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2014 – Horror en el Trópico, Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico City, Mexico

2014 –  Employee Art Show, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall Galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

2014 –  Pratt Institute MFA Alumni Exhibition, Pratt Institute, Steuben Galleries, Brooklyn, NY

2014 –  Nation II: At the Alamo, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2013 – Governors Island Art Fair, Governors Island, New York, NY

2013 – 6 X 6: A Group Exhibition, Heath Gallery, New York, NY

2013 – Nation, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2012 – Governors Island Art Fair, Governors Island, NY

2012 – Mic:Check, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2011 – On The Edge; Statements in Black and White, S Cube Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

2011 – Glimpse: Enigmatic Visions, William Bennett Gallery, New York, NY

2011 – Rastros, ECOH Gallery, Mexico City

2011 – In The Flat Field, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2011 – It’s all Good-Apocalipse Now!, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2011 – Postcards from the Edge-a benefit for Visual AIDS, CRG Gallery, Nueva York, NY

2010 – It’s a Wonderful Tenth, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2009 – Speaking to a Kitchen Mouse, Steuben South Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

2011 – Politics and Media, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, NY

2011 – Inflating-Refinement, Aswoon Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2011 – Tiempo recuperado, Emilia Cohen Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico

2007 – Creacion en Movimiento, Jovenes Creadores generacion 2005-2006, National Center for the Arts (Centro Nacional de las Artes), Mexico City, Mexico

2006 – Looking Like Something to Look At, Mumbo Jumbo Gallery, New York, NY

2006 – Dust in the Wind, Ramis Barquet Gallery, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

2006 – Barajar y dar de Nuevo, A la pared, Carrillo Gil Museum of Art, Mexico City, Mexico

2005 – Wunderkammer II:paisajes, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico

2005 – Mexico Arte Contemporaneo (MACO) Fair (Nina Menocal Gallery), Mexico City, Mexico

2003 – Creación en Movimiento, Jovenes Creadores generacion 2002-2003, National Center for the Arts, Mexico City, Mexico

2003 – Semeion, Galeria La Esmeralda, National School for Painting, Sculpture and Etching La Esmeralda, Mexico City, Mexico

2002 – XXII Anual Art Sale-Gives Us a Hand (XXII Venta Anual de Arte-Denos Una Mano), Grupo de los Dieciseis, Mexico City, Mexico

2002 – Inter zonas, Galeria La Esmeralda, National School for Painting, Sculpture and Etching La Esmeralda, Mexico City, Mexico

2000 – 2001 Where it is Hidden (Donde Se Oculta), Programa de exposiciones itinerantes 2000, INBA, Museo Regional, Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico

2000 – 2001 Five hundred artists, five hundred bakeries (Quinientos artistas, quinientas panaderías), Instituto de Cultura de la Ciudad de México, through the the Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, Chacha bakery, Mexico City, Mexico

2001 – Taller-exposicion de Pintura Iberoamericana, Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I. IFEMA, Pabellon I., Madrid, Spain

2001 – Rotacion X, MUCA Roma, Mexico City, Mexico

2000 – Where it is Hidden (Donde Se Oculta), Programa de exposiciones itinerantes 2000, INBA, Museo Guillermo Ceniceros, Durango, Dgo., Mexico

2000 – 2º Encuentro Transvolacanico, Universidad de las Americas, José Luis Cuevas y Berta Cuevas Gallery, Puebla, Mexico

1996 – Infame a Quien Estoy Atado, Alianza Francesa de San Angel, Mexico City, Mexico

1996 – Sin Tesis De Forma, Casa del Lago, Mexico City, Mexico

Merits and Awards

2022 – Grant, The Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, NY

2016 – XVII Rufino Tamayo Painting Biennale, Mexico City / Oaxaca, Mexico

2014 – Artist In Residency (AIR), Governors Island, NY – SCOPE New York, New York, NY

2013 – New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), ArtePreneur Professional Development Program, New York, NY

2013 – Governors Island Art Fair, Governors Island, NY

2012 – Governors Island Art Fair, Governors Island, NY

2005 – 2006   Grant Jovenes Creadores, National Fund for Culture and Arts (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA), Mexico City, Mexico

2004 – Paintings selected for the 2nd National Biennial of Visual Arts Yucatan 2004, Yucatan, Mexico

2004 – Site-specific installation in the National Center for the Arts (Centro Nacional de las Artes) Intervenciones Plasticas en el CENART, Mexico City, Mexico

2002 – 2003 Grant Jovenes Creadores, National Fund for Culture and Arts (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA), Mexico City, Mexico

2001 – Degree Certification Grant, Programa de Apoyo a la Docencia, Investigación y Difusion de las Artes (PADID) and Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado “La Esmeralda”, Mexico City, Mexico

2001 – Residency-Grant, Taller-exposicion de Pintura Iberoamericana, Parque Ferial Juan Carlos I. IFEMA, Pabellon I., Madrid, Spain