Biography of Abraham Cruzvillegas
Famous for his sculptures and installations composed of found objects, the Mexican-born artist Abraham Cruzvillegas finds most of his materials free of charge in the street. Recognizing the interest and worth in objects that have been discarded, Cruzvillegas observes "I use what other people think is garbage and for me its gold." Building his work using found materials, a notion he terms "autoconstrucción", it is an approach drawn from how his parents constructed their own home on the outskirts of the city. "Autoconstrucción is about scarcity, solutions and ingenuity… And how you can conceive a philosophy of life that you can make something out of nothing", he notes. Cruzvillegas' slanting, self-constructed installations threaten to collapse at any moment, piled high with objects and instilled with a warm joyful inviting feel.
Born in 1968, Abraham Cruzvillegas has had major shows at Tate Modern, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, and the 2003 Venice Biennale. His work can be found in a number of collections, including the Tate, London, and MoMA, New York. Cruzvillegas has had numerous artist residencies, notably at DAAD, Berlin, and at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. He is also the 2012 winner of the 5th Yanghyun Prize. Korea.
