BIO:
The love of Eugenio Abad's life is art. He crudely pursued it as a child, playing in the dirt (and other less-benign-things found on the ranch) on long, lazy days after riding black-faced sheep down rolling hills through golden dust and red sunsets. This was his father’s ranch outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. Abad desired to pursue his education in Art, but his father didn't allow it. He had to get a "real" degree, which resulted in Architecture in 1982.
Abad worked as an Architect for a short time after college, but his heart went back to art. In 1987 Abad had his first one-man show at Larrazabal Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador, where he almost sold out the opening night of the show. Abad has had consistent shows in Ecuador, and the United States since 1998. He was also invited to show in Mexico City, Mexico, as one of “Young Cuencan Artists.”
He studied for a brief stint at the Massana School of Art in Barcelona, Spain in 1990-91. He returned to Ecuador after six months, and officially launched his career in art as an Abstract painter. In 1991 Abad won the Coloma Silva Award in the Third International Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador.
During this time, Abad has been painting with acrylic over canvas, wood and gold leaf. His style has evolved from abstract to figurative with an abstract flair. Abad's personal life went through many turns during this period and his spiritual pursuit intensified leading him to Yelm, Washington, where he met his wife.
"Master on the Journey" series takes Abad to a new medium, digital art. This work started with an original painting over gold leaf. He photographed it, then started working with it on the computer to make it match what he was seeing in his mind, what his paintbrush was unable to express with the same speed as the computer. The outcome is this prolific group of images continuing to unfold; surely more to come.
Abad paints much of what is on his mind, what he's contemplating, what he's experiencing and what he desires to experience. He started out creating this series to inspire him. Friends and colleagues were so taken with it, they encouraged (demanded!) that he bring it public. If Abad's work inspires the viewers to look within themselves, or to bring them to greater thoughts and contemplation, so be it.
This work is a personal love affair that must come out. Much as a climber climbs a mountain "because its there." This work is dedicated to the beauty and greatness within us all.
Sue Rakes
ARTIST STATEMENT
Eugenio Abad
Art From The Future
For this series, I began with acrylic and gold leaf on canvas. When I became aware of the capabilities of the computer, I added images of stars and galaxies taken by the Hubble Telescope and photographs of nature I took.
Art must have meaning. It must have the ability to evoke a relationship with what the viewer can dream and accomplish. Otherwise, art is just decoration. I want to change this decorative view of art to something that has meaning and inspiration in individual lives. As a student in the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, I initially created these images to inspire myself on my spiritual journey. This series of images came from the visions of what I have learned with Ramtha and they are not just images, but something I want actually to experience. I am grateful to my friends who believed in what I was doing and encouraged me to bring my images to others. It is an honor that others have found these images inspiring to the accomplishment of their own spiritual journey.
The future is open and unknown and I will continue to search there to bring forward both images and experiences – for myself and for all who are in pursuit of a greater life.
CV
Eugenio Abad
Cuenca, Ecuador, 1957
Residing in Yelm, Washington since 1998
EDUCATION
1990
Massana School of Art, Barcelona, Spain, 1990-1991Surrealist Movement (Literature and Visual Art),
Ecuadorian House of Culture, Cuenca, Ecuador, 20 hour course
1987
Panamerican Current Art, Museum of Modern Art
and the International Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador, 40 hour course
The Last 50 Years of Painting in Ecuador, Catholic University of Ecuador and the Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador, 24 hour course
1982
Degree in Architecture, State University of Cuenca, Cuenca,
Ecuador, 1975-1982
PERSONAL SHOWS
2005- Blue Heron Art Gallery, Vashon, WA
2004- Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima, WA
2000- Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima, WA
1999- Amby Edinger Art Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
1998- Gnostic Art, El Encantado, Yelm, WA
1997- The Great Void, Guayasamin Foundation,Quito, Ecuador
1994- Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
1992- Igor Munoz Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
Manzana Verde Art Gallery, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1991- Young Cuencan Artists, Socicultur, Mexico City, Mexico
1987- Larrazabal Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2002- Pierce County Street of Dreams, American Design, Dupont, WA
2001- Central Washington Art Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
2000- Amby Edinger Art Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
1998- Amby Edinger Art Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
Salon of Contemporary Painting, Ecuadorian House of Culture, Cuenca, Ecuador
From Innocence to Liberty, Cuencan Art of the 20th Century, Cuenca,
Guayaquil, Quito, Ambato, and Loja, Ecuador
Small Formats, D.P.M. Gallery, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1997- David Perez Maccolum Gallery, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1996- Anniversary Celebration, Ecuadorian Central Bank, Cuenca,
Loja, Ecuador Salon of Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1995- Ecuadorian Art Today, “The Tracks of Europe, Ecuador 95” Exposition,
organized by the European Community, Quito, Ecuador
1994- IV International Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador
1993- Humbolt House, Quito, Ecuador
Munoz-Vega Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
IV Pre-Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador
David Perez Maccolum Gallery, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1992- National Salon of Architects, Ecuadorian Architects Association,
Ambato, Ecuador
Paris Award, The French Alliance, Quito, Ecuador
1991- The French Alliance, Cuenca, Ecuador
Manzana Verde Art Gallery, Quito, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Tenth Anniversary of the Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
III International Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador
Igor Munoz Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
Larrazabal Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
1990- III Pre-Biennial of Painting, Cuenca, Ecuador
Art Museum, Military Geographic Institute, Quito, Ecuador
Luis A. Martinez Award, Ambato, Ecuador
Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
1989- El Portal Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
The French Alliance, Cuenca, Ecuador
1988- National Salon of Architects, Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca,
Ecuador
Larrazabal Art Gallery, Cuenca, Ecuador
II Pre-Biennial of Painting, Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
1987- Ecuadorian Central Bank, Guayaquil, Ecuador
First November Salon, Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
1986- I Pre-Biennial of Painting, Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca Ecuador
AWARDS
1991- Second Place, Ecuadorian Architects Association, Ambato, Ecuador
Honorable Mention, Paris Award, Quito, Ecuador
Coloma Silva Award, III International Biennial of Painting, Cuenca,
Ecuador
1990- Honorable Mention, First National Award, Military
Geographic Institute, Quito, Ecuador
1989- Third Place, First National Award of the Ecuadorian
Architects Association, Cuenca, Ecuador
Architects Association, Cuenca, Ecuador
OTHER
1998- Juror, Regional Paris Award Competition, The French Alliance
Cuenca, Ecuador
1994- Instructor, Practical Course in Painting, School of Visual
Arts, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador, 54 hours
COLLECTIONS
Museum of Modern Art, Cuenca, Ecuador
Central Bank of Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Ecuadorian House of Culture, Cuenca, Ecuador
Andreas Gomez Icaza, Private Collection
Serrano Gomez Family, Private Collection
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abad, Eugenio
Ecuadorian Central Bank. 1998. “The Age of the Body (Notes on the Cuenca post avant-garde)”. From Innocence to Liberty. p. 171-185. Cuenca, Ecuador: Monsalve Moreno Printing.
House of Ecuadorian Culture. 1997. “Los Signos (The Signs)”. Salon de Pintura Contemporanea (Salon of Contemporary Painting). p. 58. Cuenca, Ecuador. Monsalve Moreno Printing.
Cevallos, Ivan Cruz. 1995. “Abstraccion (Abstraction)”. El Arte Ecuatoriano de Hoy (Ecuadorian Art Today). p. 9. Quito, Ecuador. Mariscal Printing.
Biennial of Cuenca. 1994. IV International Biennial of Painting. Cuenca, Ecuador. Monsalve Moreno Printing.
Diners Club of Ecuador. 1993. “Galeria (Gallery)”. Revista Diners 130 (Diners Magazine 130). Quito, Ecuador. Mariscal Printing.
Biennial of Cuenca. 1991. III International Biennial of Painting. Cuenca, Ecuador. Monsalve Moreno Printing.