STATEMENT
“Through the use of constructed and deconstructed media, my work incorporates layers of visual elements that document my place in the world. My practice employs a combination of mixed media techniques including painting, drawing, collage, and printmaking. The resulting tapestry of work reveals the woven nature of my existence.”
BIO
Benito Rangel de Maria was born into an environment of contrasting cultural and geographical boundaries. He was born in Michoacán, Mexico, in 1970, and migrated to the US with his family soon after. He grew up in Chicago, a city of diverse ethnic cultures. His early exposure to cultural diversity ultimately influenced his outlook on the world.
Like most migrants, Benito assimilated to the his American home, while returning to Mexico during the summer months. Despite the stark differences between the two countries, he always felt equally part of both.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from Lake Forest College with a concentration in printmaking. Although he experimented with various media while earning his degree, Benito always returned to working with paper.
After graduation, he spent several years working in Venice, Italy and Lugano, Switzerland. Through these experiences, Benito became newly aware of cross contemporary identities and the rewards that came with embracing other cultures. This interest led him to explore these issues artistically.
His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Benito has completed artist residencies in Costa Rica and at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, California. His work has regularly exhibited at ArtMarket San Francisco and has completed large scale commissions for private collectors and corporate clients throughout California.
RESUME
ART FAIRS, RESIDENCIES, AWARDS & COMMISSIONS
2021 Comunidad!, National Juried Exhibition, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA. Juror Dr. Luis Garcia
2021 Artist Residency, 18th Street Arts Center, Los Angeles, CA
2021 conVERGEnce, Summer National Juried Exhibition, Juror Susan Snyder,Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Marin MOCA, Novato, CA
2019 Corporate Art Commission, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
2019 ART MARKET San Francisco, Julie Zener Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2019 Corporate Art Commission, Trammel Crow Development, Oakland, CA
2018 ART MARKET San Francisco, Kala Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018 Commission, Hard Rock Hotel, Hollywood, FL
2017-2018 Artist-in-Residency, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA
2017 Artist Residency, Monte Azul Contemporary Art, Costa Rica
2016 ART ASPEN Zener Schon Contemporary Art, Aspen, CO
2015 ART MARKET San Francisco, Zener Schon Contemporary Art, San Francisco, CA
2014 Fall National Juried Exhibition, Juror Curator of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Betti-Sue Hertz, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Marin MOCA, Novato, CA
2014 Small Works Exhibit, Juried Exhibition, Juror Critic Alan Bamberger, Art Works Downtown Gallery, San Rafael, CA
2014 ArtSlant Showcase Winner Round #5 of the 2014 Showcase competition cycle, Mixed Media
2008 My Space, Juried Group Exhibition, Juror Suvan Geer, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, CA
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Gallery Artists’ Group Exhibition, Julie Zener Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
2018 Artists’ Annual Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA
2016 Reconstructed Abstractions, 2 person Exhibition, ZenerSchon Contemporary Art, Mill Valley, CA
2015 Benito Rangel de Maria : Navigating Boundaries, Solo Exhibition, ZenerSchon Contemporary Art, Mill Valley, CA
2015 Terra Infirma, Juried Group Exhibition, Juror Chandra Cerrito, GearBox Gallery, Oakland, CA
2015 Latino Art Now! Invitational Group Exhibition, MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana), San Jose, CA
2015 Cheer and Charity Group Exhibition, ZenerSchon Contemporary Art, Mill Valley, CA
2014 Snap to Grid, Group Exhibition, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Inside Out, Juried Exhibition, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 ACE 2013, Juried Group Exhibition, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA
2013 (re)form, Solo Show, Monarch Contemporary, Palm Springs, CA
2012 Refraction, Solo Show, Monarch Contemporary, Palm Springs, CA
2010 Constant Motion, Monarch Contemporary, Seattle, WA
2008 Microcosm, Solo Show, Monarch Studio, Seattle, WA
2008 “And the Winner Is…”, Group Show, Sonnenshein Gallery, Lake Forest, IL
2008 Immigration USA, Group Show, NSCC Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
2008 Emerging Artists, Group Show, D’Adamo Woltz Gallery, Seattle, WA
2007 MECHANICA, Solo Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, FL
2007 Group Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2007 Cheer, Group Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
2007 Interstate 5, Group Show, Portland Art Center, Portland, OR
2007 Pulp.2, Group Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
2007 Ibero American Art, Ibero American International Gallery, Miami, FL
2006 Brighter!, Juried Group Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
2006 Pulp, Group Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
PUBLICATIONS
– Berkeley Times, March 2018, Berkeley, CA
– Fusion Exhibition Catalog, 2015, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
– PUNTO i COMA, Chicago, IL
Feb 2014 Issue, Interview by Soydeth Avila “TRIBE”.
– ACE 2013 Exhibition Catalog, Palm Springs Art Museum
November 2013, Palm Springs, CA
– PREVIEW Gallery Guide Magazine, Seattle, WA
Jan/Feb 2010 Issue, Review by Allyn Cantor of “Constant Motion” installation, page 86.
www.preview-art.com/previews/02-2010/rangel.html
– Ibero American International Magazine, Miami, FL
Fall 2007 Issue, Review of “Microcosm” series, page 18.
– Ibero American International Magazine, Miami, FL
Spring 2007 Issue, Review of current work in Contemporary Art section, page 31.
– OneShot 2006, Visual Codec, Seattle, WA
Publication included “AutoMotion” Series among Top 100 artworks chosen for this juried book.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Concentration in Fine Art Printmaking, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL
1994 Studentship, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy
1995-1998 Conservation/Restoration Program Coordinator at ARCH Foundation, Lugano, Switzerland
2009-2013 Director and Curator, Monarch Contemporary, Seattle, WA
Born in Michoacán, Mexico 1970
Currently lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area