Ernesto Burgos

Ernesto Burgos (b. 1979, California, raised in Chile) currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his BFA from the College of the Arts in San Francisco and his MFA from New York University. Burgos’ works bring the fervor of Abstract Expressionism into the third dimension with gravity-defying forms that harness the tension between painting and sculpture. His wall-based sculptures serve as a conduit for his ongoing exploration of transformation dynamics, stemming from earlier experiments with ordinary, everyday objects that delved into the transformative and boundless potential of materials. Burgos employs a diverse array of industrial materials such as cardboard, fiberglass, and resin, meticulously subjecting them to a repetitive process involving tearing, cutting, bending, and adhesive manipulation. This harmonious interplay between materials results in unexpected transformations, often extending beyond the artist’s precise control. Material manipulation combines with chance to give rise to fluid forms that capture motion in a suspended state. The rapid mark-making techniques employed by Burgos enhance the illusionary spatial dimensions of his work, continually shifting and evolving with each change in perspective. His distinctive approach blurs the boundary between artistic mediums, transcending the traditional constraints of materiality and contemporary sculpture.