Jim Amaral
After graduating from Stanford, Jim Amaral attended the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he met Olga Ceballos Vélez (Olga de Amaral), a Colombian textile artist whom he married in 1957. They relocated to Colombia since then, with the exception of brief stays in New York and Paris in the 1970s, where Jim believed his work was better understood.
Amaral’s career spans more than 50 years. A multifaceted and exceptionally talented artist, he uses his mastery of a wide range of artistic techniques to serve his expansive imagination, from bronze casting to collage, etching, and watercolor to assemblage and furniture making. Jim’s vast body of work could be associated with the late stage of Surrealism; however, his formal and symbolic language and his recurrent interest in ancient civilizations do not align with a specific movement. Amaral’s artworks suggest forays into uncharted territory, a psychological realm that exposes the frailty of desire.
The breath of Amaral’s work is exemplified by his contribution to In the Flesh, which leaves the viewer to experience the contrasting forces of his original universe. His bronzes possess an ancient presence, serving as bridges to our collective past and as springboards for the invention of new mythical characters. By inscribing cryptic signs on his sculptural works Jim creates an imaginary language that directly connects the viewer with the act of creation.
Parallelly, this artist summons the lightness and precision of his brush to create delicate watercolors which depict hybrid creatures, and new botanical specimens. He exerts the creative power of a naturalist who closely observes nature, yet chooses to create his own. Reminiscent of the nineteenth-century tradition of anthropomorphizing flowers and animals, Amaral’s puzzled creatures are partially composed of body fragments which exude erotism.
Amaral has exhibited internationally on a regular basis since the early 1960s, having his most recent retrospective in 2017 at the Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá (Colombia). His works can be found in both private and public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Fine Arts Museum in Caracas, and the Bank of the Republic in Bogotá.
Portrait: ©Diego Amaral
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 (September-October) Quote Unquote, LAMB Arts, London, UK.
(August-October) Jim Amaral: Objects, AURORA Espacio de arte, Bogotá, Colombia.
(May-July). Dos: Jim Amaral y Olga de Amaral. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia.
2017 (February-April). Jim Amaral: recuerdos del futuro [Jim Amaral: Memories of the Future]. Museum of Modern Art, Bogotá, Colombia.
2016 (October-November). Estados presentes [Present states]. Casa Cano, Bogotá, Colombia (with Olga de Amaral).
(March-May). Chariots of humankind. Galerie Agnès Monplaisir, Paris, France.
2015 (February-April). Jim Amaral: Tiempos del nunca [Jim Amaral: Times of never]. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia.
2014 (December-January). La oreja pasiva y otras fábulas [The passive ear and other fables]. Museo de Arte Moderno de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
2013 Publication of Jim Amaral: aguas turbias [Jim Amaral: murky waters], calendar that compiles fourteen drawings.
(August). Launching of the work of art of the VIII Cartagena International Music Festival. Salvi Foundation. Club El Nogal, Bogotá, Colombia.
2011 (March-april). Jim Amaral: Islas imaginarias [Jim Amaral: Imaginary islands]. Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá [Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá], Bogotá, Colombia.
2009 Jim Amaral: Presencia [Jim Amaral: Presence]. Centro Cultural Corpbanca, Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with Olga de Amaral).
(September). Esculturas: Jim Amaral [Sculptures: Jim Amaral]. Galería Club El Nogal, Bogotá, Colombia.
2008 Jim Amaral: Meridianos [Jim Amaral: Meridian]. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia (in collaboration with Olga de Amaral).
2007 (April-May). Medusas: Jim Amaral [Medusas: Jim Amaral]. Casa Amaral, Bogotá, Colombia.
2004 (November-february). Jim Amaral: Trans/figuraciones, 1960-2004 [Jim Amaral: Trans/figurations, 1960-2004] (Retrospective). Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, Banco
de la República [Central Bank of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
(November). Jim Amaral: Enigmas [Jim Amaral: Enigmas]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Sofisma [Sophistry]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
2003 (December). Jim Amaral en plata [Jim Amaral in silver]. Galería Orfebres, Bogotá, Colombia.
2002 (October). Jim Amaral: No-men. Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
2000 (October). Jim Amaral: New sculpture. Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1998 (May). Monólogos: Jim Amaral [Monologues: Jim Amaral]. Galería Uno, Caracas, Venezuela.
Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1996 (November). Jim Amaral: Imagined. Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
(November). Jim Amaral: Obra reciente [Jim Amaral: Recent works]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1995 (March-April). Jim Amaral: Apariciones [Jim Amaral: Apparitions]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1994 Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Santa Fe, NM,
Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Galería Acquavella, Caracas, Venezuela.
1993 (April-May). Jim Amaral: Esculturas [Jim Amaral: Sculptures]. Galería Alfred Wild, Bogotá, Colombia.
(September). Jim Amaral: Sculptures and Olga de Amaral tapestries. Elite Fine Arts, Coral Gables, FL.
(October-December). Jim Amaral. Galería Der Brücke, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
(October). Jim Amaral. Salón Cultural Avianca, Barranquilla, Colombia.
Galería Quintero, Barranquilla, Colombia.
1992 (May-June). Jim Amaral: New bronzes. Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
(May). Jim Amaral. Galería D’Museo, Caracas, Venezuela.
1991 Jim Amaral: Soliloquies, sculptures. Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
(May-June). Jim Amaral: Bronzes. Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
(November). Jim Amaral: Esculturas y dibujos [Jim Amaral: Sculptures and drawings]. Galería Alfred Wild, Bogotá, Colombia.
1988 (June-July). Pinturas y mesas [Paintings and tables]. Galería Garcés Velásquez, Bogotá, Colombia.
Galería Arte Autopista, Medellín, Colombia.
1986 Pinturas y artefactos [Paintings and artifacts]. Galería Garcés Velásquez, Bogotá, Colombia.
La vida como metamorfosis [Life as metamorphosis]. Galería Siete-Siete, Caracas, Venezuela.
Green Gallery, Miami, FL.
1985 (June). Amaral. Galería Quintero, Barranquilla, Colombia.
1984 (March-May). J. Amaral: Pintura, escultura, dibujo [J. Amaral: Painting, sculpture, drawing]. Galería de Arte Diners, Bogotá, Colombia.
Jim Amaral. Galería Arte Autopista, Medellín, Colombia.
1983 (April-May). J. Amaral: Metamorfosis [J. Amaral: Metamorphosis] (Retrospective). Museo de Arte Moderno, Bogotá, Colombia.
(October-December). J. Amaral: La vida es una transformación transitoria [J. Amaral: Life is a transient transformation]. XVII São Paulo Biennial. São Paulo, Brazil.
1982 (May-July). Amaral. Fiac, Galerie Fred Lanzenberg, Paris, France.
1981 Jim Amaral: Dibujos. Flores invisibles [Jim Amaral: Drawings. Invisible flowers]. Galería de Arte Partes, at the Centro Coltejer, Medellín, Colombia.
1980 Galerie Le Salon d’Art, City of Brussels, Belgium.
(March-April). Amaral: Floralies [Amaral: Flower show]. Galerie Albert Loeb, Paris, France.
(September-October). Jim Amaral: Flores invisibles [Jim Amaral: Invisible flowers]. Galería Garcés Velásquez, Bogotá, Colombia.
Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
1979 (February-March). Pittore di Jim Amaral [Paintings of Jim Amaral]. Galleria del Naviglio, Milan, Italy.
(April). Pittore di Jim Amaral [Paintings of Jim Amaral]. Naviglio Venezia, Venice, Italy.
1978 (January-March). Amaral. Galerie Levy, Hamburg, Germany.
(August). Jim Amaral. Galería Garcés Velásquez, Bogotá, Colombia.
1977 Galerie Singulier-Pluriel, City of Brussels, Belgium.
Galerie Octave Negru, Paris, France.
Galería Diners, Bogotá, Colombia.
Launching of the series of seven colored engravings, limited edition. Un paisaje en siete fragmentos [A landscape in seven parts]. Ed. Le Soleil Noir, Paris, France.
1976 (September-November). Amaral. Aix Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden.
Amaral: Paisaje de un dedo ausente [Amaral: Landscape of an absent finger]. Galería Belarca, Bogotá, Colombia.
Galleria del Naviglio, Milan, Italy.
1975 Galería Conkright, Caracas, Venezuela.
(August-September). Jim Amaral. Galería Belarca, Bogotá, Colombia.
Galería Adler & Castillo, Caracas, Venezuela.
1974 Galleria del Naviglio, Milan, Italy.
(November-December). Amaral: Oeuvres recentes [Amaral: Recent works]. Galerie Albert Loeb, Paris, France.
Salón Nacional de Artistas [National Salon of Artists], Bogotá, Colombia.
1973 Galerie Arta, Geneva, Switzerland.
(April-May). Amaral. Galerie Albert Loeb, Paris, France.
1972 (May-June). Amaral. Galería Belarca, Bogotá, Colombia.
1971 (November-December). Amaral. Galerie Albert Loeb, Paris, France.
1969 (December-January 1970). Jim Amaral: Dibujos a lápiz [Jim Amaral: Pencil drawings]. Galería Buchholz, Bogotá, Colombia.
1969 Benson Gallery, Southampton, New York, NY.
1968 (February-March). Jim Amaral: Drawings in the graphics corridor. The Arleigh Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
(January-february). Jim Amaral. Galería San Diego, Bogotá, Colombia.
1966 Galería Colseguros, Bogotá, Colombia.
Jim y Olga de Amaral [Jim and Olga de Amaral]. Museo de Bellas Artes [Museum of Fine Arts], Caracas, Venezuela.
1964 (April). Jim Amaral: dibujos, collages, óleos [Jim Amaral: Drawings, collages and oil paintings]. Galería El Callejón, Bogotá, Colombia.
1962 Vorpal Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 (August-December). Dos por uno. Instituto Caro y Cuervo, Bogotá, Colombia.
2017 (September). Los que dibujan II. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Bogotá, Colombia.
2014 (May-July). Paper Trail. Latin American Masters Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
2012 (October-January 2013). Inmigrantes: artistas, arquitectos, fotógrafos, críticos y galeristas en el arte colombiano, 1930-1970 [Immigrants: artists, architects,
photographers, critics and gallery owners in Colombian art, 1930-1970]. Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño at the Museo de Bogotá and Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango.
2012 Grandes maestros [Great masters]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
La esmeralda en el arte [The emerald in the arts]. Fundación Museo Internacional de la Esmeralda, Bogotá, Colombia.
(August-September). Los que dibujan [The ones who draw]. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales, Bogotá, Colombia.
Ritual de títeres: homenaje a Gonzalo Márquez Cristo [Puppets’ ritual: tribute to Gonzalo Márquez Cristo]. Galería Taller La Escalera, Bogotá, Colombia.
2010 Corpus eroticus (femenino/masculino) [Corpus eroticus (feminine/masculine)]. Museo de Arte de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia [Museum of Art of the
National University of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
2007 (April-May). Formas divergentes: una mirada a la escultura colombiana de entre siglos [Divergent shapes: an overview of Colombian sculpture between centuries].
Montealegre Galería de Arte, Bogotá, Colombia.
2003 Arte Diners [Diners Art]. Museo Nacional de Colombia [National Museum of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
Recordando a Leonel Góngora [Remembering Leonel Góngora]. Galería Café Libro, Bogotá, Colombia.
Solidarte 03. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Microcosmos (esculturas) [Microcosmos (sculptures)]. Galería Galena, Bogotá, Colombia.
2002 Art Miami. Miami, FL (in collaboration with Juan Ruiz Gallery, Maracaibo, Venezuela).
XI Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with Juan Ruiz Gallery, Maracaibo, Venezuela).
XI Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with Adolfo Pecchio Galería, Caracas, Venezuela).
Dibujos del cuerpo humano [Drawings of the human body]. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia.
Homenaje a Nueva York [Tribute to New York]. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia.
Grandes maestros de Colombia [Great masters of Colombia]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
2001 (November-January 2002). La bandera: exposición homenaje [The flag: exhibition- tribute]. Galería La Cometa, Bogotá, Colombia.
Shidoni Foundry Anniversary, Tesuque, NM.
Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Art Miami, Miami, FL (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Chicago International Art Fair, Chicago, IL (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Toronto Art Fair, Toronto, Canada (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
2000 San Francisco International Art Exposition, San Francisco, CA (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
1998 (November). The homecoming: Jim Amaral new sculpture and Jeff Bertoncino: New Paintings. Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Art Miami, Miami, FL (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
VII Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Fundación Francia-Solidaridad en Colombia. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1997 VI Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
1996 V Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Latin American International Art Fair – Mirarte [Mirarte – Feria Latinoamericana de Arte Internacional], (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Objetos creativos [Creative objects]. Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Cali, Colombia.
Mixta. Arte Contemporáneo Nacional e Internacional [Mixed. National and International Contemporary Art] at the Galería El Museo, Bogotá (group exhibition).
1995 Art Miami, Miami, FL (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
XXII International Contemporary Art Fair [Fiac – Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporaine], Paris, France (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
IV Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
IV International Contemporary Art Fair – Expoarte 95 [Expoarte – Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo], Guadalajara, Mexico (in collaboration with the Galería El
Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
1994 Galería Taller, Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Cali, Colombia.
(December). Juguetes [Toys]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Latin American Artists. Lowe Museum, Miami, FL.
25th Anniversary of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá [Museumo of Modern Art of Bogotá], Bogotá, Colombia.
1993 Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Maestros sobre papel [Masters on paper]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
(May-August). Colombian sculpture I. Colombian Center, New York, NY.
II Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with Gary Nader Fine Art, New York, NY).
Miami International Art Exposition – Art Miami ‘93, Miami, USA.
1992 Dedicada a Obregón [To Obregón]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Miami Art. Miami, FL (in collaboration with the Galería D’Museo, Caracas, Venezuela).
Ibero-American Art Fair [FIA – Feria Iberoamericana de Arte], Caracas, Venezuela (in collaboration with the Galería Alfred Wild, Bogotá, Colombia).
Barro de América [Clay of America]. First Biennial, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo [Museum of Contemporary Art], Caracas, Venezuela.
(September-October). Masters of painting. Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations, Colombian Center, New York, NY.
1991 Antes y ahora [Before and now]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
International Art Fair of Bogotá – Fiart 91 [Fiart – Feria Internacional de Arte de Bogotá] (in collaboration with the Galería Alfred Wild, Bogotá, Colombia).
Los Angeles Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA (in collaboration with the Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, NM).
Trece artistas colombianos [Thirteen Colombian artists]. Galería Taller, Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Cali, Colombia.
(November-December). Artistas y orfebres [Artists and goldsmiths]. Galería Deimos, Bogotá, Colombia.
1990 Grandes obras, grandes maestros [Great Works, Great Masters]. Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Elite Fine Arts, Miami, FL.
Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Tesuque, NM.
Los Angeles Fair, Los Angeles, CA.
Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
El paisaje [The Landscape], tribute to Antonio Barrera at the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Colombian figurative. Moss Gallery, San Francisco, USA.
1989 International Fair of Contemporary Art of Madrid [Arco – Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Madrid], Madrid, Spain, (in collaboration with the Galería El
Museo, Bogotá, Colombia).
Grandes Maestros [Great Masters], at the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Donations Daniel Cordier, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá [Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá], Bogotá, Colombia.
Exposición de Navidad [Christmas Exhibition], at the Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
1987 Los Maestros, tres obras, tres décadas, 1960-1980 [The Masters, three artworks, three decades, 1960-1980]. Galería Diners, Bogotá, Colombia.
XIV International Contemporary Art Fair [Fiac – Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporaine], Paris, France (in collaboration with the Galería Garcés Velásquez, Bogotá,
Colombia).
XXXI Salón Anual de Artistas Colombianos [Annual Salon of Colombian Artists] at Olaya Herrera airport. Instituto Colombiano de Cultura [Colombian Institute of Culture
(Colcultura)], Medellín, Colombia.
Dibujantes colombianos modernos, un gran examen [Modern Colombian Drawers, A Great Review] at the Museo de Arte de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia
[Museum of Art of the National University of Colombia], Bogotá.
1986 Cien años de arte en Colombia [One hundred years of art in Colombia] . Museo de Arte Moderno, Bogotá, Colombia (travelling ehxibition to Paço Imperial [Imperial
Museum], Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Centro Cultural Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil; Centro Culturale Italo-Latinoamericano, Rome, Italy.
1984 Amazoni Art Gallery, New Yor, NY.
1983 Galerie Fred Lanzenberg, City of Brussels, Belgium.
1980 Chicago Art Fair, Chicago, IL (in collaboration with the Galerie Octave Negru, Paris, France).
1979 Musée d’Art Moderne, Atelier Lacourière & Frelaut, Paris, France.
1977 (November-January 1979). Why poets in a hollow age? Le Soleil Noir and Galerie Nina Dausset, Paris, France.
American Drawn and Matched. Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
L’Estampe Aujourd’hui [Today’s print]. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, France.
Galerie Sylvie Bourdon, Paris, France.
1976 Galerie Maia, City of Brussels, Belgium.
(April-May). Galerie Octave Negru, Paris, France.
1975 (May-June). XXII International Biennial of Art: Aspects of Today’s Fantastic Art. Florence, Italy.
XXV Salón Nacional de Artes Visuales [National Salon of Visual Arts], Museo Nacional de Colombia [National Museum of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
Galerie Singulier-Pluriel, City of Brussels.
1974 Exposición de artes gráficas [Graphic arts exhibition]. Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Cali, Colombia.
1973 32 artistas colombianos de hoy [32 Colombian artists today]. Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá [Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá], Bogotá, Colombia.
1972 Galerie Alfonse Chave, Vence, France.
Galerie Maia, City of Brussels, Belgium.
Art Basel. Basel, Switzerland (in collaboration with the Galerie Albert Loeb, Paris, France).
1968 Galerie Eve Goldschmidt, New York City, NY.
COLLECTIONS
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.
Museo Nacional de Colombia [National Museum of Colombia],Bogotá, Colombia.
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá [Museum of Modern Art ofBogota], Bogotá, Colombia.
Banco de la República de Colombia [Central Bank of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
Museo de Arte de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia [Museum of Art of the National University of Colombia], Bogotá, Colombia.
Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Cali, Colombia.
Museo de Bellas Artes [Museum of Fine Arts], Caracas, Venezuela.
Gallery Hopping: Jim Amaral’s Unsettling Sculpture at Agnès Monplaisir, March 26, 2016
Must-See Art Guide: Brazil, Audrey Fair, April 9, 2015, Artnet News
Jim Amaral, The New Mithologies, Juan Gustavo Cobo Borda, June 2005, Art Nexus
