Santiago Parra was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1986. Known for his large, abstract and highly expressive black and white paintings, his canvases capture the suspended flatness of the calligraphy-like imagery, harmonizing two seemingly incompatible aesthetic moments, spontaneity and pondering, which are all shaped by movement, strength, gravity and skill of the Columbian artist’s creative process. He explores the expressive possibilities of the quintessential abstract form. With an audacious manner he redefines abstract structures with bold sculptural brushstrokes. His work is both an aesthetic exploration and a questioning of the essence of abstract image making.

Through incorporating marble dust into some of the paintings, the intriguing texture of Parra’s paintings allows one to further dive into the tones of blackness. The continuous line intertwines each artwork across the gallery into a single creature – Parra’s vigorous mind. The boldness of his paintings elevates the traditional understanding of abstract expressionism and calligraphy. The artist’s unique practice intersects with, and transforms these painterly genres, resulting in an enthralling experience.

Parra's notable collections include:

Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Miami, USA

Tanya C. Brillembourg Collection, USA Jorge Pérez Collection, USA

Solita Mishaan Collection, Spain Jean et Colette Cherqui Collection, France

Kehinde Wiley Collection, USA

Koç Art Collection Istanbul, Turkey

Cesar Gaviria Collection, Colombia Collection Lazaro, Spain

Solita Cohen Collection, USA

Jean et Colette Cherqui Collection, France.

Coleccion Lazaro, Spain.

Tania C. Brillembourg Collection, United States

Jorge M. Pérez Collection, United States.


César Gaviria Collection, Colombia.


Solita Cohen Collection, United Stated

Kehinde Wiley, United States