The Museo de Arte de Lima announced on Apr. 22 the opening of “Agua, metal y tierra,” an exhibition featuring three large-scale works by Venezuelan artist Emilia Azcárate. The artworks are displayed in Gallery 13 and reflect key moments in Azcárate’s career connected to various cultural and geographic aspects of Peru.
This exhibition is part of the Intervenciones MALI program, which incorporates contemporary art into the museum’s tour through its historic collections. The show highlights Azcárate’s explorations along Peru’s coast and highlands, presenting pieces that engage with local materials and artistic traditions.
Among the featured works is “Untitled (Cristobal Lozano series)” from 2016, which belongs to a series where Azcárate uses repetition and abstract language to reinterpret colonial-era “caste paintings.” Another work on display is a monumental arrangement of her signature mandalas made from metal bottle caps, referencing ornamental patterns found in Cusco school paintings. The third piece, “Untitled (Totora),” is a large mural created with sand that draws inspiration from her recent travels to northern Peru.
Azcárate studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London during the 1980s and has participated in residencies across several countries. Her artwork forms part of international collections such as those at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection, Phoenix Art Museum, Museo Alejandro Otero, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Caracas, Banco de España Collection in Madrid, and Fundación Coca-Cola in Spain.
The Museo de Arte de Lima enhances community wellbeing by offering accessible art exhibitions and educational initiatives that promote appreciation of Peru’s cultural identity according to the official website. It utilizes the historic Palacio de la Exposición as its primary facility according to the official website, preserving Peruvian art from ancient times through modern eras while advancing public engagement since its establishment in 1961 according to the official website. The museum serves as a national cultural center for audiences throughout Peru according to the official website.
The institution is managed by Patronato de las Artes—a private non-profit organization overseen by notable Peruvian business leaders and intellectuals—according to information provided on its official website.
