Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Santiago Parra has built a body of work recognized for its broad and energetic strokes, which convey a great expressive charge. Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, his work evokes the gestural force of artists such as Franz Kline and the graphic intensity of Richard Serra. Parra makes use of monochrome not only to simplify the palette but also to focus attention on the interaction between movement and empty space, where each line captures the instant of the creative process in its purest form.
Parra’s technique is characterized by its gestural and expressive nature. He works with large canvases where fast and fluid brushstrokes predominate, almost like an extension of his own body. Without prior sketches or corrections, Parra surrenders to the spontaneity of the moment, allowing the gravity, force, and speed of his movements to guide the final form of his strokes. This freedom in execution creates a unique tension between the controlled and the uncontrollable, where each line reveals the precise instant of the creative act.
Parra’s paintings, done in black and white, are an exploration of the relationship between form and void. The black, always the protagonist, emerges dominantly in contrast to the white background, generating a visual dialogue that emphasizes the interaction between presence and absence. His broad brushstrokes, loaded with paint, not only fill the space but transform it, guiding the viewer through a sensory journey that ranges from the intensity of the stroke to the subtlety of the void. For Parra, the use of these two colors is essential; black and white are not simple chromatic choices but tools that allow him to capture the essence of the gesture and the energy of the moment.
His large-format pieces capture the artist’s spontaneous gesture while allowing us to reflect on the balance between control and chaos in his creation. In each work by Santiago Parra, we are offered a space for contemplation, a place where forms and lines speak of universal human emotions and the constant search for meaning.
In each work by Santiago Parra, the viewer is faced with an experience that transcends the visual to become a meditation on the very act of creating. His work, although seemingly simple in its composition, contains an emotional and physical complexity that invites reflection on the balance between chaos and control. Parra uses the language of abstraction to challenge expectations and propose new ways of interacting with art, where the gesture is as important as the result.
