2024

The Frankencorn Project

Genspace AIR  (Brooklyn, NY)


06/23

Resident Foreigners

Soil Factory (Ithaca, NY) 
04/23

The Ustilago maydis Project

Coalesce Bioart Labs (Buffalo, NY) 
05/23

The Huitlacoche Project

Torn Space Theatre (Buffalo, NY) 

2022

The Blue Revolution

(Los Angeles, CA)
06/22

MINIATURE COLOSSAL LANDS

ArtSci Gallery (Los Angeles, CA)

2022

Maize should be Capitalized I

ArtSci Gallery (Los Angeles, CA)

2021

Maize should be Capitalized I

UCLA MFA Thesis Work 

2020
2020

MILPA

UCLA Gallery 

2019

Monografía

(Los Angeles, CA)
2019

Huitlacoche Sculpture 

Root Division Gallery (San Fransico, CA)

2018
2018

Soil Laboratory II

Berkeley, CA
2018

Seed Vesicles 

Berkeley, CA
2018

Prior work

SEMO Introduction

Berkeley, CA

Uniform 

Berkeley, CA



Artist Statement

Alvaro Azcarraga is a Mexican artist and researcher that works with plant-like organisms with a focus on the history of scientific colonialism. With a background in Molecular and Cellular Biology, he looks at how the micro relates to the human and beyond. His work also examines the post-natural, specifically looking at the artifice that is embedded within the term natural. He has been working with Maize for the last 5 years. Past projects include things like laser etching maps of Tenochtitlan onto tortillas, collecting maize seeds from all over the globe, to growing maize varieties to engage in a genetic-based conversation.





Education


2022        University of California,  Los Angeles (UCLA)
@ Design Media Arts

Master in Fine Arts (MFA)


2018        University of California, Berkeley

B.A. Molecular and Cellular Biology
B.A. Art Practice (Honors)

Teaching Engagements and Lectures



2023Bioart in the Public Sphere @ Coalesce 
at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo NY. 
2022Instructor SCIART Summer Sessions, ArtSci UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
2021Lecturer SCIART Summer Sessions, ArtSci UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
2021Pepperdine Art x Sustainability Lecture Series, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
2020Lecturer SCIART Summer Sessions, ArtSci UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
2019
to 2022
Teaching Assistant, UCLA Design Media Arts Department, Los Angeles, CA
2018Root Division Studio Artist and Teaching Assistant, Los Angeles, CA

Awards + Residencies  


May - July 2024 Genspace Artist in Residence, Brooklyn NY. 

June 2023 Soil Factory Residency, Ithaca NY. 

2022-23  University of Buffalo Coalesce Artist Residency, Buffalo NY. 

2019 Root Division Resident, San Francisco, CA. 

2018 Theresa Cha Fellowship Awards at the Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley, CA. 

2018 UC Berkeley Art Practice Honors, studio recipient, Berkeley, CA. 


Center and Lab Work


2023
Coalesce Bioart Lab at the University at Buffalo, NY.
 
2019 - 2022    
ArtSci Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

2019 - 2022   
Counterforce Lab at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA




Exhibitions


Solo Work
June 2023
Resident Foreigners, Soil Factory Ithaca, NY.


Summer 2021    
Maize should be Capitalized, UCLA Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA

February 2020    
MILPA, EDA - Broad Art Center UCLA, Los Angeles, CA


Selected Exhibitions

2022
miniature colossal lands, UCLA ArtSci Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2021
THE LAST ONLINE SHOW! MFA Thesis Exhibition, online,
Los Angeles, CA
CULTUREHUB Re-Fest: RE-CIRCULATION, online.

2020
Ars Electronica: In Kepler’s Gardens, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Global Broadcast for a Total Eclipse: 2’10’’, online. 
Screen Share Fall MFA Preview Exhibition, online, Los Angeles, CA

2019
Counterforce Lab: Biophilia Treehouse, Pandopopolus, Los Angeles, CA

Feast Your Eyes, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
New Growth: Shared Stories, Root Divison, San Francisco, CA

2018
SEMO x Leymusoom, Wurster Courtyard, Berkeley, CA
Put this on your CV, Worth Ryder Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Possible Titles, Worth Ryder Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA

2017
Nopalito, Kroeber Hall, Berkeley, CA
Sculpture Exhibition, Kroeber Lawn, Berkeley, CA