Carlos Fernández (born 1986) lives and works in the mountains surrounding the capital city of San José, Costa Rica.

His work has been the subject of numerous international exhibitions and biennials, including presentations at Palais de Tokyo (Paris), MAC (Panama), Fuso (Lisbon), Despacio and MADC (San José), and is part of the Kadist collection. He was the recipient of the 2017 Random Institute Award.

Since 2018 Fernández directs with Ingrid Cordero and Sofía Villena the independent art space Réunion in San José, Costa Rica.



carlos@carlosfernandez.cr


Solo Exhibitions


2021
Agrofilia
Lemoyne, Zurich
2020
FEMSA Biennial
2019
Where Light Is Needed
2019
Do Some Agrofit
2019
Causes en Masiva
Réunion, San José
2017
Estación
Despacio, San José
2016
Semillas
2014
Piña Matriz
Despacio, San José
2013
Eco Contra Lógico
MADC, San José
2013
Fermentando sinergias
TEOR/éTica, San José
2013
Zona nativa para la improvisación tropical
Public Space, San José
2012
Dejar entrar
Public Space, San José, New York, Pirineos 
2011
Sucede
Despacio, San José


Group Exhibitions


2021 
LandLiebe, Kunst und Landwirtschaft
2021
2021
2020
2020
Próxima temporada
Horizonte espinozo
Bancarte
Performance festival
MADC, San José
MADC, San José
MADC, San José
Réunion, Amapala, Honduras
2019
Nature distance
CAN, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
2019
MAFA Digit
Art Museum Arad, Romania
2019
Ingesta
TEOR/éTica, San José
2018
VideoSur
2018
Valle Central Valley Pilot
Bergen Kjøtt, Bergen
2018
La Tigra Performance Festival 
Réunion, Tegucigalpa
2018
Tierra de en medio
TEOR/éTica, San José
2017
Muestra internacional de videoarte
Fuso, Lisbon
2016
Serendipia
MAC, Panama City
2015
Escala Humana
Despacio, San José
2015
Chicharlatorio
MADC, San José
2014
Bienal del Itsmo Centroamericano 
Bienal, Guatemala City
2013
Bienal de arte costarricense
Bienal, San José
2012
Novo Museo Tropical
TEOR/éTica, San José


Residencies


2019
Centre d’Art Neuchâtel (CAN)  
Neuchâtel
2019 
Indez-Freiraum 
Zurich
2017
Dos Mares Residency
Marseille
2016
Estudio Nuboso Residency
Panama


Awards


2020
2017 
1st Honor mention, Bancarte
Random Institute Travel Award


Collections


Huser Collection, Zurich
since 2018
Kadist Collection, Paris / San Francisco
since 2015

Studio Visit





“Independent of location and thanks to a world surrounded by constant inspiration, Fernandez has no reason to separate his daily life from art. He always finds little pieces of the puzzle that then fit into the big picture and give rise to new projects.”


by Erno Hilarion and Cristina Ramirez (Despacio)

Texts



“Carlos’ art practice does not disguise itself. It is unique in its ability to create these moments when the border between art and life blurs and any explanation would only detract from experiencing them.”


by Sandino Scheidegger (Random Institute) – Read text


“Suddenly, art is life understood through the idea of purpose: of working the soil as if it were a canvas; of generating spaces to share or exhibit beyond the traditional ones.“


by Paula Piedra (TEOR/éTica) – Read text


“El artista reflexiona sobre la naturaleza que se abre paso y sobrevive ante una opresión. Va en relación estrecha al cuestionamiento de patrones rectilíneos impuestos y a la aspiración de cierta armonía entre lo artificial y el ritmo de la naturaleza”


by María José Chavarría (Museo de Arte Costarricense) – Read text


“The thin line between his artistic practice and daily life, allows the viewer to play an active role in a story yet to be told, connecting the body to a place and place to home.”


by Violeta Burckhardt (Vogt Landscape Architects) – Read text