Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (b. 1923) lives in Paris since 1960, working as an Op artist. During his formation Cruz-Diez studied the works of Georges Seurat and Josef Albers, two artists that, like him, reflected on questions of aesthetics, perception and color relation. From 1959 on, Cruz-Diez abandoned painting and began working on color installations. An important aspect in Cruz-Diez’ works is the active participation of the beholder: depending on where in the room the beholder stands, different visual impressions of the work can be generated, an effect that Cruz-Diez calls “vibration.” His works are often ascribed as being kinetic, yet the emphasis of Cruz-Diez’ art is not the movement of the object but that of the beholder. His work is included in numerous public collections like the MoMA in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.
Carlos Cruz-Diez (b. 1923)
1923 Carlos Cruz-Diez is born in Caracas, Venezuela.
1940-1945 Studies art at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Aplicadas where he meets Jésus-Raphael Soto and Alejandro Otero.
1945 Graduates from the Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Aplicadas as a professor of Applied Arts.
1946-51 Works for an international advertising agency.
1947 His first solo exhibition is held at the Venezuelan-American Institute in Caracas.
1954 Creates his first abstract and interactive works, inspired by his study of the Bauhaus and the European avant-garde.
1955 Visits the Denis René gallery. Begins the Objectos rítmicos móviles series.
1957 Begins experimenting with colored light.
1959 Makes his first Physichromie (Physical Color).
1960 Moves to Paris with his family where he meets Luis Tomasello. Soon becomes an important member of Parisian artists’ groups including the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel.
1965 His work is included in “The Responsive Eye,” The Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition of Op art.
1969 Installs 22 Chromosaturations into the entrance of the Paris Métro at the Place de l’Odéon.
1971 Establishes a studio on the rue Pierre Sémard.
1973-80 Serves as a member of the jury for the diplome of the École Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France.
1986-93 Serves as Professor and Director of the Art Unit of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Caracas, Venezuela.
1997 The Museo de la Estampa y el Diseño in Caracas is named in his honor.
2008 His first major exhibition in a US institution is held at the Americas Society, New York.
2011 An important retrospective of his work is held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.