Grimanesa Amoros is a Peruvian-American interdisciplinary artist known for large-scale light sculpture installations. Her work finds inspiration from Peruvian cultural legacies and the communities surrounding her sculptures. She has exhibited internationally in Mexico, Tel Aviv, Beijing, New York Times Square, etc. Her most recent public works include GOLDEN ARRAY (Mumbai, India); HEDERA (Brooklyn, NY); MARIPOSA (Havana, Cuba); PINK LOTUS (New York, NY); GOLDEN WATERS (Scottsdale, AZ); ARGENTUM (New York, NY); and UROS HOUSE (Times Square, NY).

Lectures, and Awards

She has participated in many art festivals and fairs, such as The Armory Show in New York City. She has given many artist lectures, most recently at Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY), ArtSpace (Raleigh, NC), Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, VA), Corriente Alterna School of Arts (Lima, Peru), Colgate University (Hamilton, NY), and Spruill Center for the Arts (Atlanta GA). Grimanesa has been a guest speaker at TEDGlobal 2014, a recipient of the ‘NEA Visual Arts Grants Fellowships 1993‘. She has the distinction of being part of the ‘Art In Embassies Program of the U.S.’ and the Civita Institute NE Chapter Fellowship Grant.

Past Works

Her work has been exhibited in numerous museums, including the Ludwig Museum, CAFA Museum, Seoul National University Museum of Art, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba, and Katonah Museum, among many others. She also frequently is a keynote speaker on programs and panels related to feminism and women empowerment. Some recent examples include: Feminism Today with Sophia Johnson and NEYAD Women are the Future, the Future of Turkey. Her latest exhibit, SCENTIA in Bilbao, Spain, for The Wellbeing Summit, is in late May and early June. Grimanesa is currently represented at Leila Heller Gallery.

UZOMAH: How does the choice of voltage you use impact your material choices and color selection?

GRIMANESA:  My projects are created from concept to realization. That is to say, the concept and visualization are completed first. The LEDs for the projects I make are entirely custom-made for the installation. Once the visuals are finalized, the LEDs and electrical hardware are ordered to match the voltage requirements of the space. This has no influence on color selection.

U: What got you into sculpture?

G:  I have always been interested in sculpture. This passion was sparked by a fascination with seafoam during my childhood on the shores of Peru. During certain times of the year, the ocean would become tumultuous, whipping the foam into stiff peaks coating the shoreline. The shapes of these bubbling foam and their mysterious movement created natural sculptures that inspired my later work.

I began my career as a painter, primarily due to space constraints in NYC. However, even my paintings were heavily textured; I explored creating three-dimensional paint sculptures within the context of the composition.

U: You have noted how your father being a civil engineer, highly influenced you throughout your projects. How has your father been a significant influence in your creating process? 

G:  My father, who sadly passed away in 2018, did not significantly impact my creative process. However, his ethics greatly influence how I approach building the final sculpture and conducting myself when collaborating with diverse global teams.

As an engineer, my father was very precise. This attention to detail is present in everything I create. He was also a man of his word; when he promised you something, you knew you could trust my father would do it. I believe that I inherited his professionalism and his precision, qualities that inspire the teams I lead onsite.

My mother had a major impact on how I create; I would stay up late watching her create sculptural centerpieces and other arts and crafts throughout my childhood. She was the one who discovered my artistic inclinations at the age of 11.