Beatriz Olabarrieta
Long-term residency
April 2024 - 2026
Beatriz Olabarrieta. Bilbao, ES
Beatriz Olabarrieta lives and works between Berlin and Barcelona. She holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Deusto, a degree in Sculpture from Wimbledon School of Art in London, and a Master’s in Sculpture from the Royal College of Art in London. Her solo exhibitions include: I like to watch, EtHall, Spain, 2024; Lagom (de lugar), Okela, Bilbao, 2022; Medium, CentroCentro, Madrid, 2020; Faces, Espai 13, Joan Miró Foundation, Barcelona, 2020; Stay Twice, Bielefeld Kunstverein, Bielefeld, 2019; Ask the Dust, Museum of Contemporary Art of Santa Barbara, California, 2019; The only way out is in, The Sunday Painter, London, 2017; Book! Don’t tell me what to do, Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico City, 2017; Cosmic Clap, MOT International, London, 2015. Upcoming: Very, REPERTOIRE, Berlin; A corner in wheat, Dilalica, BGW, Barcelona.
Beatriz Olabarrieta’s work is all about communicative errancy — the space of misbehaving words and images. She makes installations with text, objects and images where each component retains a certain elasticity. Rarely anything is fixed or glued and the work has a literal and metaphorical mobility. Speech is (mis)translated into textual and material acts, and there is a conversational and sociable tone between the various components in her installations. The sculptures are logographic and diagrammatic, continually pointing outwards to other things. There is a lexicon of simple and suggestive shapes. The profile of a face and onomatopoeic forms. The installations are often accompanied by sounds that merge static, and somatic references. The body belches and breathes as do the sculptures. There is a constellatory quality to the work with elements pushed to the edge of legibility. (Extract) by George Vasey.
