AMARAL IN MIAMI: A JOURNEY THROUGH 60 YEARS OF ARTISTIC EVOLUTION

Organized by Marie Perennès, former curator at the Fondation Cartier, and Stephanie Seidel, curator at ICA Miami, the exhibition highlights Amaral’s evolution from studies of color and geometry to experimentation with scale and materiality. Her work challenges the boundaries between craft, sculpture, and architecture, positioning her as a key figure in 20th and 21st-century Latin American abstraction.

Since the 1960s, Amaral has used weaving, knotting, and braiding techniques to create three-dimensional compositions that evoke natural and architectural elements. In the 1970s, she began producing monumental works using wool and horsehair, creating surfaces reminiscent of brick walls, leaves, and geological formations. She later incorporated materials such as linen, cotton, gesso, gold leaf, and palladium, expanding her artistic vocabulary.

"As I build surfaces, I create spaces of meditation, contemplation, and reflection. Each individual unit is significant on its own but also in relation to the whole," Amaral explains about her creative process.

Her work dialogues with Bauhaus modernism, constructivism, and pre-Columbian and Indigenous textile traditions. Notable pieces in the exhibition include Estelas (1996–2018), gold-leaf-covered works that interact with light and evoke pre-Hispanic funerary artifacts, as well as the Brumas (2013–2018) series, suspended structures that integrate geometry with historical and landscape references.

The exhibition design was led by Lina Ghotmeh, a French-Lebanese architect known for her interdisciplinary approach. Inspired by Amaral’s connection to nature and architecture, Ghotmeh conceived the show as a "vertical forest," where the pieces emerge organically in the space. The spiral, a recurring motif in Amaral’s work, guides the visitor’s journey, creating an immersive experience.

"Olga de Amaral has transcended the conventions of textile art with a bold and innovative practice. Her exploration of scale and materials defies categorization," says Stephanie Seidel. The exhibition reaffirms her place in contemporary art history and her impact on postwar Latin American abstraction.

Alex Gartenfeld, ICA Miami’s Artistic Director, emphasizes the importance of this exhibition: "Our focus is on highlighting groundbreaking artists who challenge disciplinary boundaries. The collaboration with Fondation Cartier allows us to offer a comprehensive view of Amaral’s contribution to contemporary art."

Olga de Amaral studied architecture in Colombia and textile design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. She has exhibited at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Cranbrook Art Museum. Her work has been included in international exhibitions at the Venice Biennale, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Her creations are part of prestigious collections, including the Tate Modern in London, the Fondation Cartier in Paris, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The ICA Miami retrospective offers a unique opportunity to explore Amaral’s legacy and her ability to transform the perception of textiles in contemporary art.