An artist with a passion for surrealism, his sometimes controversial works contain a great deal of hidden and interpretive meaning. His works become the focal point of the space, drawing the viewer in to discover what lies behind the drawing.

His early works focused largely on religious themes. This first phase of his career lasted more than five years, influenced by colonial Baroque artists such as the Bolivian master from Calamarca, Melchor Perez de Holguin, and the Italian artist Bitti, among others.  He then discovered the power and language of color. This led him to a second phase, which he calls the “Apocalypse” phase, and later, the “Magical Altiplano” phase. His influence came mainly from Bruegel, Bosch, Carrington, Dalí, Kahlo, and Remedios Varo, to name a few.

The repetition of the Bolivian highland landscape is evident in his work. The landscape of his childhood and the memory of that landscape haunt him: it is magical, with great power and energy. The images in Marcelo’s paintings are whimsical, complex, and surreal. These images appear to him at random, and he draws them so as not to lose the ghost.

Solo and group exhibitions in the US, Canada, Bolivia, Mexico, Spain, France, and South Korea. Continued participation in international fairs such as: Miami International Art Fair, TIAFAR International Fair in Toronto, Canada; ARWI International, Puerto Rico; ARTEXPO New York; ARTEXPO Atlanta. Traveling exhibition “Visions of an Apocalypse” in museums in Mexico: Monterrey Metropolitan Museum; Museum of the City of León Guanajuato and ExConvento del Carmen Museum.

Self-taught He attended some painting classes at the School of Art, Center for Extramural Studies, at the Catholic University of Chile in 1992

2022    

Territorio Onírico, Nube Gallery. Santa Cruz – Bolivia.

2021    

Creatures & Demons, Earls Court Gallery. Hamilton – Canada.

2020    

Drawings, Virtual solo show Earls Court Gallery. Hamilton – Canada.

2019    

Escenarios Irracionales. Rozas – Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

Lucid dreams IDB Staff Association Art Gallery. Washington DC. USA.

Erratic Dreams. Mad Ones Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2018    

Entre Sueños.  Merida Romero – Art Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

2017

Rancho Santana Art Gallery Tola – Nicaragua.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa de la Libertad Museum. Sucre – Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa de la Cultura. Simón I. Patiño Museum. Oruro – Bolivia

Negociando con el Tiempo, Casa Nacional de Moneda Museum. Potosi – Bolivia.

2016    

Negociando con el Tiempo, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Centro Pedagógico y Cultural Simón I. Patiño, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Negociando con el Tiempo, Center Simon I Patiño. Santa Cruz – Bolivia.

2015    

Solo Show Edel Gallery. Osaka – Japan.

2014    

Beyond appearance. Articsok Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2012    

Between Dreams. Strata Gallery. Elora – Canada.

Dreams and Temptations, Durham Art Gallery. Durham – Canada.

2011    

Messages of the Time, Aurora Cultural Centre. Aurora – Canada.

Solo show of large pieces, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2010

Visions of the Apocalypse, Museum of Art Ex Convento del Carmen. Guadalajara – Mexico.

Visions of the Apocalypse, Museum of Art of Leon. Leon – Mexico.

2009    

Recent Work, Nota Art Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

Magical and Surreal Art, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2008     

Un Renacentista Andino en Pleno Siglo XXI, Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey. Monterrey – Mexico.

Magical Altiplano, Spence Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2007

An Andean renaissance man in the midst of the XXI Century, St Ambroise Art Gallery. Montreal – Canada.

Vírgenes y Arcángeles, ArtDealers Gallery. Monterrey – México.

2006    

Escenario de Recuerdos, ArtDealeres  Gallery. Monterrey – Mexico.

2005    

Recent Works, Esther Arias Art Gallery. Barcelona – Spain.

2004    

Human Wilderness Kabat Wrobel Gallery, Toronto – Canada.

2003    

Of The Serie Magic Altiplano, ArtDealers Gallery.  Monterrey – Mexico.

2002   

Exploration of Time and Sensuality, Prince Arthur Fine Art Gallery.  Toronto – Canada.

2001   

The Colors of the Soul. Nota Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

2000    

Live Nature, Dead Nature, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1998    

Allegory to Life and Dead, Gildaro Antezana Gallery of Art. Cochabamba – Bolivia.

1997    

Angels, Archangels and Temptations, Centre Cultural Las Condes Corporation. Santiago – Chile.

1996    

Angels and Demons, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1994    

Between the Sky and the Earth, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Center for Contemporary Art, Simón I Patiño. Cochabamba – Bolivia.

EMUSA Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

Art Gallery of the School of Art.  Oruro – Bolivia.

1991    

Spain House, Institute of Ibero American Corporation. La Paz – Bolivia.

1990    

Religious Art, Imagine Gallery. Oruro – Bolivia.

2022    

ArtTaipei, International Art Fair, Taipei – Taiwan

Everithing But the Kitchen Sink,  La Luz de Jesus Gallery. Los Angeles – USA

Art Market San Francisco International Art Fair. San Francisco – USA

Autorrevelaciones MURB Museo Unis Rozas- Botran, Guatemala City – Guatemala

2019    

Latin American Art Triennial. 2019 edition. New York – USA.

Juannio. National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. Guatemala City –      Guatemala.

Surreality. Bill Schwarz & Marcelo Suaznabar.  Earls Court Gallery.  Hamilton – Canada.

2018    

“Ciclo” with José Ortega. Sheldon Rose Gallery. Toronto – Canadá.

Arte en Mayo. Espacio Cultural Paseo Cayalá. Rozas-Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

Art Busan.  International Art Fair. Busan – Korea.

Arte en las Calles. Rozas-Botran Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2017

Juannio, Exhibition and Art Auction. National Museum of Art Carlos Merida. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2016

Art Wynwood, International Art Fair. Miami – USA.

Art Palm Beach, International Contemporary Art Fair. Palm Beach – USA.

Juannio, Exhibition & Art Action. National Museum of Modern Art Carlos Merida. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2015

Aqua Art Fair. International Art Fair. Miami – USA.

Scope Basel International Art Fair. Basel – Switzerland.

Inspirazione Divino. Articsok Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2014

Scope Art Fair. International Contemporary Art Show. Miami- USA

Juannio Exhibition and Art Auction. National Museum of Modern Art. Guatemala City – Guatemala

International Art. Club Alpino Chipinque. ArtDealers Galeria. Monterrey – Mexico

Art Palm Beach. International Art Fair. Palm Beach County Convention Center. Palm Beach – USA.

Art Cartagena. International Art Fair. Cartagena – Colombia.

Miami International Art Fair. Downtown aboard Sea Fair. Miami – USA.

2013    

Surrealism for the 21st Century Group Show. Articsok Gallery. Toronto, Canada.

Daegu Art Fair. International Art Fair Exco-Daegu – Korea.

2012

National Society of Fine Arts, Carrousel Du Louvre, Canadian Delegation. Paris –   France.

“Vírgenes y Arcángeles” Club Alpino Chipinque. Monterrey – Mexico.

Emerging Directors Art Fair Ultra, Spiral Garden. Osaka – Japan

2010    

Transeuntes del Tiempo, with Jaime Jose, Club Alpino Chipinque, Galeria Artdealers. Monterrey – Mexico.

Colores de Latinoamerica 2010, “Sunfest” The Artist Project. London – Canada.

2009    

Genesis 28.11.09 Chalk Farm Gallery. Santa Fe – USA

2008   

ARWI, International Art Fair. San Juan – Puerto Rico.

Cruz Roja Mexicana. Banamex Centre. Nuevo Leon, Monterrey – Mexico.

Space -Vision, Lurie Art Galleries. Miami – USA.

2007    

XXX Anniversary show Cruz Roja Mexicana, Banamex Centre. Nuevo León, Monterrey – México.

2006    

Imagine other Ways Spence Gallery.  Toronto – Canada.

2005

TIAFAIR Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Toronto – Canada.

2004

Little Treasures, Mittica Gallery. Toronto – Canada.

2003

Sueños, Fantasias y Realidades, Art Dealers Gallery. Monterrey – Mexico.

Small Works, Roberto Martin Contemporary Art Gallery. Buenos Aires – Argentina.

2002

Le Monde Surrealist of Marcelo Suaznabar and Tom Gray, Galerie d’ Art Contemporains. Montreal. Quebec – Canada.

10 World Artists Show, Gallery Virtual. Noosa Gallery. Sidney – Australia

2001

Contemporary Bolivian Art, Dresden Bank. Hamburg – Germany.

Bolivia One Selection, National Museum of Art. Santiago – Chile.

2000

The Portrait, DP Fong Galleries. San Jose California – USA.

Young Artists Agreement, Andres Bello. Bogota – Colombia and National Museum of Art La Paz – Bolivia.

1999

II Mercosur Art Biennial, Porto Alegre – Brazil.

First International Contest of Art SIART 99, National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1998

Identities. Emergent Young Artist from South America and Caribbean. International Development Bank. Passage de Retz. Paris – France.

1997

XI Culture House Art Biennial, Raul Otero Raiche. Santa Cruz – Bolivia.

1996

Three Artist, Moscosso Gallery. Washington DC – EEUU.

Bolivian Cultural weekend in Peru, National of Art Museum. Lima – Peru.

1995

The Nude, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

XIII International Young Artist Symposium, Center of Art. Baie Saint Paul. Quebec – Canada.

Contemporary Arcángel from Bolivia, Arte Unico Gallery. La Paz – Bolivia.

1994

Bolivia New Art., Mapocho Cultural Center. Santiago – Chile.

1993

Four Young Artist, BHN Foundation’s Gallery of Art. La Paz – Bolivia.

1992

Las Condes Cultural Corporation. Santiago – Chile.

Center for Extramural Studies, University Catholic of Chile. Santiago – Chile.

Awards and Distinctions

2018     Honorific mention. Rozas-Botrán Foundation. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

2017     Distinction of Concejo Departamental de Culturas de Oruro. Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction  Bolivian Artists Association  ABAP Bolivia. Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction  Institute Superior de Bellas Artes.Oruro – Bolivia.

Distinction Mesa Redonda Panamericana Oruro. Oruro – Bolivia.

2016     Condecoration: Procer Pedro Domingo Murillo on the grade of Civic Honors given by Council of City Hall. La Paz – Bolivia.

2011     3rd Price Lemon Competition, The Artist Project Toronto. Toronto – Canada.

Arts Council. Exhibition assistance. Ontario – Canada.

2010     2nd Price Queen Competition, The Artist Project Toronto. Toronto – Canada.

2009     Ontario Arts. Council. Exhibition assistance. Ontario – Canada.

2008    Ontario Arts. Council. Visual Artist Mid-Career Grand. Ontario – Canada.

2002     Best in Drawing Art FOCUS, Toronto Metro Hall, Toronto – Canada.

1999     Especial mention given by the National Museum of Art in the International contest SIART 99. La Paz – Bolivia.

1996     Distinction given by Mesa Redonda Pan-American. Oruro – Bolivia.

First Medal Artist. given by DIDEJU. Oruro – Bolivia

Honorary Diploma, given by Center for Extramural Studies, Catholic University.

Santiago – Chile.

Honorary Diploma, given by Government. La Paz – Bolivia.

Collections

• National Museum of Art. La Paz – Bolivia

• Center of Contemporary Art. Baie Saint Paul. Quebec – Canada.

• Ralli Contemporary Museum of Art. Punta del Este – Uruguay.

• Ralli Contemporary Museum of Art. Santiago – Chile.

• Museum UNIS Rozas – Botrán Contemporáneo MURB. Guatemala City – Guatemala.

• Arte Al Limite AAL Foundation. Santiago – Chile.

• Sayego & Payon Art Collection. Miami – USA.

• And private collections in Bolivia, Canada, Chile, United States, Spain, France, Poland, Argentine, Germany, Korea, Panama, China, Brazil, Colombia, Singapore, Turkey, Nicaragua, Guatemala and  Mexico