Artist Spotlight: Marcelo Suaznabar
The dreamlike distortions of Marcelo Suaznabar occupy the space between symbolism and surrealism, where hidden spiritual truths meet the wild, unfiltered currents of the unconscious mind.
Suaznabar (@marcelosuaznabar), the youngest of six brothers, was born and raised in the Bolivian mining town of Oruro. He first exhibited in group shows at the age of 16, going on to attend painting classes at the Catholic University of Chile. Since relocating to Canada in 2001, Suaznabar has been a fixture in galleries across North America, Latin America and Europe, with more than two dozen solo exhibitions and 100-plus group shows to his name.
Suaznabar made his Vertical Gallery debut as part of our 2024 Summer Group Show, returning the following spring for our 12-Year Anniversary Show. Now he’s one of close to four dozen artists featured in Vertical’s group exhibition ‘ASCENDING,’ presented in partnership with Frame Chicago (1627 N. Clybourn Ave.). Learn much more about Suaznabar’s life and work in the latest installment of our web-exclusive Artist Spotlight series.
Vertical Gallery: Tell us about "El reloj sigue marcando" and “Tres ojos,” the two oil paintings you’re contributing to ‘ASCENDING.’
Marcelo Suaznabar: In these two works, my interest was in exploring a portrait format, depicting figures who stare directly at the viewer with an intimidating gaze. These distorted figures are very characteristic of this stage of my creative process.
Your homepage includes the following quote: “I need to express something… thoughts, ideas, visions, and to express visually with the language of colour.” What thoughts, ideas or visions are you expressing through these two pieces?
Ideas and emotions are abstract until they take form on the canvas. My process begins on paper, where thoughts and visions first materialize as raw sketches before evolving into full paintings.
With these two works, I am expressing the tension between the inner emotional world and the external viewer. The distorted, characteristic figures act as embodiments for feelings and memories, staring directly out at the observer to create a visual dialogue shaped entirely by the emotional language of colour.
What role does your subconscious mind play in relation to your conscious mind?
I love generating new ideas that can contribute to something unique, letting my imagination flow and my conscious mind directly manage what can be created. The subconscious acts as the mediator of attitudes, memories and emotions, and thus they complement each other perfectly.
You’re a Bolivian artist based in Canada. How has living and working in these two radically different societies and cultures shaped the art you create?
Moving to Canada marked a profound shift in my work. Living in a completely different cultural environment has altered my daily rhythm, expanded how I process information and exposed me to new creative perspectives. Yet, despite the geographic distance, my memory continuously anchors me back to Bolivia. This duality fuels my art.
As Canada shapes my present environment and process, my mind frequently travels back to revisit childhood memories, roots and the vivid atmosphere of my origins. My paintings exist in that bridge between past and present, blending the quiet reflection of my current surroundings with the deeply rooted memories of home.
You’ve cited inspirations like Salvador Dali, Bridget Tichenor and Remedios Varo. What role does surrealist art play in this increasingly surreal world we occupy?
From the enigmatic, visionary works of Hieronymus Bosch, who anticipated the surreal centuries ahead of his time, to our accelerated modern world where every image feels already seen, surrealism remains essential. In a time dominated by noise and constant movement, surrealism pulls us out of rigid, daily reality and immerses us in a dreamscape. It gives us a space to step back, process internal truths and reconnect with wonder, imagination and the subconscious.
What do you hope Vertical’s audience takes from experiencing your work?
I want to create a compelling moment of observation that pulls the viewer in and encourages them to linger. Rather than offering a definitive answer, I aim to give the audience complete freedom of interpretation. I hope experiencing these pieces unlocks something personal within them, whether that is a sudden feeling, a distant memory or simply a new way of seeing. Ultimately, I want the work to act as a mirror for the observer’s own emotional landscape.
