Francisco De la Barra

Francisco De la Barra (b. 1970, Santiago, Chile) lives and work in Montreal, Canada. He holds MFAs in architecture, landscape architecture and in visual arts, the latter obtained from Université du Québec à Montreal. His work focuses on drawing and painting, most recently with the production of ink washes on paper. His interests lay in the exploration of the role of memory in the construction of images through the depiction of the male body and of architectural and natural spaces. Portraiture, the construction of masculinity and the erotism of the everyday are preoccupations at the core of his practice. He has shown his work in Canada, the United States, Chile and Argentina. Selected exhibitions are McBride gallery and the Maison de l’architecture du Québec, both in Montreal, Fine Arts Museum of Boston, Tufts University and Northeastern University Galleries, in Boston, Samsøn Projects and Hampden Gallery in Massachusetts, and Paul Petro Contemporary Art, in Toronto.

  • The Unseen, Chimera Gallery, Nashua, NH
    • Solo Exhibitions
    2022
    • In Flux, POPOP Gallery, Montreal, Qc
    • Dans la Nature, Projet Y, Wentworth-Nord, Qc
    2021
    • La Nature d'Oka, Oka National Park, Oka, Qc
    2020
    • Ellos de Espalda, Gallery POPOP, Montreal, Qc
    2019
    • Cuando Te Miro, Me Enfrento A Mi Mismo, Espacio Morales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    2018
    • Comprar Me Aburre, Vender Me Cansa, Espacio Metáfora, Santiago, Chile
    • Lo Que Sueño No Lo Imagino, Panal 361, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Filiation, CDEx, UQAM, Montreal, Qc
    2016
    • Regards d'Architectes, Maison de l'Architecture du Québec, Montreal, Qc
    2012
    • Souvenirs, Armory Cultural Center, Sommerville, MA
    2011
    • Victoria, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts Gallery, Boston, MA
    2010
    • Familiar Faces, Gallery 360, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
    2009
    • In Transition, University Church Gallery, Cambridge, MA
    2007
    • Expressions, Willoughby & Baltic Gallery, Somerville, MA
    1999
    • Indenpence Day, Northampton, MA
  • Positive Masculinity, Maison Depoivre Gallery, Picton, ON
  • No Direction ; Home>, Mes Pants de Queer, Motnreal, Qc
  • Postcards from the Edge, Ortuzar Projects, New York, NY
  • España, Real Colegio Complutense, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
  • Armory ART Start!, Armory Cultural Center, Somerville, MA
    • Selected Group Exhibitions
    2023
    2026
    2020
    • Salon des Refusés, McBride Contemporain, Montreal, Qc
    • Overall There Is No Wall, Spacee 321, New York, NY
    • Peripheral Hours IV, Si Proche Si Loin, Montreal, Qc
    2019
    • Peripheral Hours III, Site of the Not Yet, Montreal, Qc
    • A Montreal State of Mind, Local Project, LIC, New York, NY
    • Musée de Carlton, ArtSouterrain, Montreal, Qc
    2018
    • Patria Dulce, Fonda New York, New York, NY
    • Passeport, Dare-Dare, Montreal, Qc
    • Voyage, Canadian Lesbian + Gay Archives, Toronto, ON
    • Garage, École Européenne Supérieure de l'Image, Poitiers, France
    • Précarité, ArtSouterrain, Montreal, Qc
    2017
    • 10-1 pour 7, CDEx, UQAM, Montreal, Qc
    • Bully, Daniel Spectrum, Toronto, ON
    2016
    • Scène de Vie, L'Espace Contemporain, Montreal, Qc
    2015
    • SalonEsque, MAI Gallery, Montreal, Qc
    2014
    • Libre, Village Éphemère, Montreal, Qc
    2013
    • Crime Idéal, Park (ing) day, Montreal, Qc
    • Belvédère du Vent, Village Éphemère, Montreal, Qc
    2012
    • Saint-Lambert Art Fair, Montreal, Qc
    • Benefit Summer Auction, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
    2011
    • Chain Letter, Samsøn Projects, Boston, MA
    2010
    • America Remixed, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
    2009
    • 6th Juried Exhibition, Tufts University Gallery, Medford, MA
    2007
    • Summer, Baak Gallery, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
    2000
    • Earth Bound, Hampden Gallery, UMass, Amherst, MA
    Awards
    2013
    • Village Éphemère, Audience award for installation “Belvédère du vent”
    2009
    • Somerville Arts Council Grant
    Bibliography
    • Gardner, Jane "Literary news from around New England", The Boston Globe, August 25, 2012
    • Cardin, Mich “Portrait series celebrates the faces of Villa Victoria”, South End Patch, August 25 , 2011
    • Ackerman, Meghann "Somerville artist spices up his portraits", Somerville Journal, March 03 2010
    • Fairclough, Julia "Artist creates spicy portraits of Somerville chefs", The Somerville News, November 11 2009
    • Sand, Ian “Power to the people”, The Boston Phoenix, June 11, 2009
    Publications
    • The complexed male: exploration of the diversity of contemporary masculinity through a practice of painting and installation,MFA Thesis UQAM, 2020
    • Séminaire et Stage de création : États des lieux, nous ne voit riens, ÉESI, 2018
    • Studio Visit Magazine, Vol. 37/38, The Open Studios Press, 2017
    • Nibble, exploring food, art and culture in Union Square/em>, 2012, Somerville Arts Council Publication, by Rachel Strutt
    Education
    2017-20
    • Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Qc, Master in Visual and Media Arts
    1997-99
    • University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA, Master in Landscape Architecture
    1988-93
    • Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, Bachelor and Master in Architecture
    1996-97
    • Félix Lazo Studio, Santiago, Chile, Painting Classes
    1987-88
    • Eugenio Brozalez Studio, Santiago, Chile, Drawing Classes