Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nelson Gutierrez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nelson, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I am a multidisciplinary artist whose practice engages deeply with the social, political, and psychological conditions shaping contemporary life. My artistic practice is centered around a continuous exploration of collective and personal memory, contemporary sociopolitical issues, and the persistent human quest for dignity and belonging.

My projects often emerge from long periods of research and observation, combining personal experience with broader historical and global contemporary events. Emphasizing how individual lives intersect with larger systems of power and conflict. This dual focus allows me to position personal narrative as a lens through which collective histories can be better understood.

Recently, I have used the reality of forced displacement and mass migration. Particularly, in the series A Journey into the Shadows, I look into the experiences of individuals forced to leave their homes in search of better futures. These works use cut-out figures, light, and moving shadows to create shifting, ephemeral images of bodies in motion. The visual instability of these forms, figures that appear, dissolve, and overlap, mirrors the precariousness of migrant identity and the tension between visibility and erasure. Through this approach, I transform drawing into a time-based and spatial practice, emphasizing process and transformation rather than fixed representation.

This project does not merely document suffering or hardship; it seeks to create spaces for reflection, empathy, and dialogue. By engaging viewers in these processes, my work encourages a deeper awareness of both shared humanity and structural inequality.

Nelson, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and now I’m based in Memphis, Tennessee. I hold a BA in Fine Arts from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano in Bogota, Colombia, and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, UK.

I have developed a body of work that moves continuously across drawing, sculpture, installation, and conceptual work. Although drawing has always been at the center of my practice, a defining feature of my work is the exploration of materiality and medium. Rather than adhering to a single form, I employ a wide range of materials, such as charcoal, ink, wood, metal, wax, glass, light, shadows, video, and photographic elements, often juxtaposed to create symbolic relationships. This mixture reflects not only a formal experimentation but also a conceptual strategy: the layering of materials parallels the layering of memory, trauma, and meaning. Some recent installations and sculptures sometimes blur the boundaries between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space, expanding the possibilities of drawing into sculptural and immersive forms.

I have exhibited my work in the US and internationally, in Colombia, the UK, and Switzerland, and it is part of private and public collections.
I have participated in residencies at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, TN, and the Vermont Studio Center. I am the recipient of the Tri-Star Arts Current Art Fund Grant (2023), the Individual Artist Fellowship of the Tennessee Arts Commission (FY25), and the South Arts Tennessee Fellow for Visual Arts (2024).

I have served as an Exhibition Committee Member for the Brooks Museum of Art, an Artist Advisory Council Member at ArtsMemphis, and an Official Advisor for Locate Arts in Nashville, TN. I am also the Founder of Future Project Art, formerly 2021 Projects, a Contemporary Art collective dedicated to increasing the awareness for, appreciation of, and involvement in the visual arts in the Mid-South.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2021, with the help of some fellow artists, I founded 2021Projects, a temporary gallery operating in a commercial space located in downtown Memphis. We were able to do so as part of the Open on Main initiative spearheaded by the Downtown Memphis Commission. The space became available at an interesting juncture: it coincided with an easing of pandemic restrictions, including the lifting of the safer-at-home orders in Memphis. This, in turn, marked an opportunity to engage and motivate a select group of visual artists to create new work after a prolonged hiatus. 2021 Projects aimed to support our art ecosystem as it regains momentum and begins to rebuild and develop during and after the pandemic.

When 2021 Projects were being conceptualized, I knew I could not solely rely on the physical exhibition space to promote the artists’ work. So we created a robust programming schedule that leveraged different forms of interaction with the artists and their works. Virtual activities include live Zoom opening/artist talk for each show; video interviews with Brooklyn-based artist and art critic, Julian Kreimer, and all the pareticipating artists; video and photographic documentation of the works shared on different social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook; and a website where the public could access all this material, as well as background information on the artists.

I saw an opportunity to help provide an outlet for artists to make and showcase their art during a particularly difficult time. Being part of a community is an important part of succeeding in the arts. 2021 Projects allowed me to help strengthen connections, foster collaboration, and bridge resources. I enjoy being around fellow artists who never fail to enrich my own artistic process. I, however, learned that there is a balancing act when it comes to juggling the demands of making art while running an art space. During the year that the place was open, I organized 10 exhibitions featuring the work of 18 talented local artists.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the many rewarding aspects of being an artist is having the ability to manage my own time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nelsongutierrez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tuto_gutierrez
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelson-gutierrez

Image Credits

All images courtesy of Nelson Gutierrez Studio