Cecilia Bengolea (Buenos Aires, 1979), works on a range of media including performance, video and sculpture. Using dance as a tool and a medium for radical empathy and emotional exchange. Infused with the symbolic energies found within nature and relationships, her compositions are formed around ideas of the body - both individually and collectively - as a medium. Bengolea develops a broad artistry where she sees movement, dance and performance as animated sculpture.
Bengolea has collaborated with dancehall artists such as Craig Black Eagle, Bombom DHQ, Damion BG, and with artists Dominique Gonzalez Forster and Jeremy Deller. Her collaborative work with French choreographer François Chaignaud, Pâquerette (2005-2008) and Sylphides (2009), have earned several awards such as the Award de la Critique de Paris in 2010 and the Young Artist Prize at the Gwangju Biennial in 2014. They have also co-created dance pieces for their dance company as well as for the Ballet de Lyon (2013), the Ballet de Lorraine (2014) and Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal.
Bengolea presented her work at the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (2021 and 2022); Bourse de Commerce, Collection Pinault, Paris (2021), E.A.T – Engadin Art Talks, Switzerland (2019); Desert X, Palm Springs (2019); Fondation Giacometti, Paris (2019); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2018, 2015); Fiorucci Art Trust, Stromboli (2018); Dhaka Art Summit, Bangladesh (2018); TBA21–Academy, Venice (2018); Dia:Beacon, New York (2017); Elevation 1049, Gstaad, Switzerland (2017); Spiral Hall, Tokyo (2016); 32nd São Paulo Biennial (2016); Hayward Gallery, London (2016); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2016, 2010); 13th Biennale de Lyon (2015); Tate Modern, London (2015); ICA, London (2015) and 10th Gwangju Biennial (2014). She received the prize of the Critique de Paris in 2008 and the Young Artist Prize in Gwangju Biennale in 2014. Her work can be found in major public collections, including TBA21 Academy, MIRE - Fond cantonal d’art contemporain, The Vinyl Factory, Le CNAP, Le Consortium, Fiorucci Art Trust, Tank Shanghai, Fundación Arco, Museo Reina Sofia, Kadist France, Mudam Luxembourg and the MONA - Museum of Old and New Art of Tasmania and in Jimena Blazquez Abascal collection.
Cecilia Bengolea is in residency at Art Explora in 2023 a IFF, International Flavors & Frangances Inc, supported by the french Minister of Culture-Drac-Ile de France.
In 2023, she is a guest teacher for the Performance master’s program of the Architecture University of Venice, Italy.
She lives and works in Paris and Buenos Aires.
SOLO and TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2024
Galeria Nora Fish, Buenos Aires Argentina
Gallerie Andrehn-Schiptjenko, Paris
2023
Radical souls, format23, Derby
Sylphides, TEA - Tenerife Espacio de la Artes, Tenerife
2022
Danza de la materialidades mutantes, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Deary Steel, Mudam, Luxembourg
Hakai Dub, Fond Leclerc, Landerneau
Deary Steel, Armory Show New York, Andrehn-Schiptjenko Gallery
2021
Animations in water, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Oneness Barroco, commission ArtBasel Messeplatz, Basel
Baiser Mortel, Bourse du Commerce, Collection Pinault, Paris
Es siempre verano en algun lugar del planeta, Angels Barcelona, Barcelona
2020
Dancehall Weather, Tryptique. Jean Nouvel train Station, Champel, Geneva Liquid Guru, Gallerie Andreh-Schiptjenko, Stockholm
2019
Alliga, Sfer ik, Tulum
Oneness, Der Tank, Art Basel, Basel
La danza de la esponja, Arte Ba, Faena Festival, Buenos Aires
2018
La danza de la esponja, Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami
2017
Sylphides and Dub Love, with Francois Chaignaud, Dia Art Fondation, Beacon, Upstate New York
2016
ANSYTAE, with Francois Chaignaud, Tokyo Spiral Hall, Tokyo
2015
Georges Condo’ s Masques, with François Chaignaud, Block Universe, London
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Noor Festival, Riyadh, KSA
180 Studios, The Strand, London
The Infinite Woman Carmignac Foundation, Ile des Porquerolles
Radicar, Poush, Paris
Olivier Varenne galerie, Geneve
Healing Performance Emiliano Valdes, Art Dubai
Mimosa or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church, Impustanz, Vienna
Sous l’Azur, Art Explora
2023
Crysalides, Centre d’art contemporain de Genève
Everyone is a complete disappointment, New Galerie, Paris
Angels Barcelona, Arco
TBA21 Accademy, Cordoba, SP
Tono, Mexico City
2022
Be Water, CAC Cincinatti Museum, Cincinatti
There must be a way out there, Crone Gallery, Vienna
In the Realm of the Senses, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhaguen
collection du CNAP au CAPC Bordeaux, FR
2021
Triptych, 13Th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju
Lux, 180 Studios, London
Drawings, Angels Barcelona, Barcelona
Andrehn-Schiptjenko, ArtBasel Basel, Basel
Shelly Belly inna Real life, Parcours ArtBasel, Basel
La chambre humaine by Dominique Gonzalez Forster, Chantal Croussel Gallery, Paris
Grimlove, Universal Exposition 2020 Dubai, Art Explora, Dubai
Autres Habitants, Art Explora Dubai-Paris, Dubai and Paris
Sweat, Haus der Kunst Munich, Munich
Grimlove, Fiac Paris, Musée du Louvre, Art Explora, Paris
2020
More, more More, Tank Shanghai, Shanghai
Danse au fond de la mer, Angels Barcelona, Art Geneve, Geneva
Ceramics and drawings, Angels Barcelona, Arco Madrid, Madrid
Lightning Dance, Highline Art Program, New York
Film Program. LEFEST, Festival de Video, selection by Pascale Cassagnau, Loop Barcelona, Barcelona
2019
Mosquito Net, DesertX, Salton Sea
Dancehall Weather, Pompidou Center, Paris
Les Trois Grâces, Engadin Art Talks, Engadin
Serendipity, Galeria Francisco Fino, Lisboa
Lightning Dance, Loop Barcelona, Angels Barcelona, Barcelona
Before We Die, with Michele Lamy, Performa19, New York
Sylphides, with Francois Chaignaud, Giacometti Foundation, Paris
Favorite Positions, with Francois Chaignaud, Fiac, Louvre Museum, Paris
Anti-clock wise spin, Frieze Live London, Angels Barcelona, London
2018
Carnival des animaux de la mer, TBA21, Chiessa San Lorenzo, Venice
Volcano Extravaganza, Stromboli, Fiorucci Arts Trust Program, Stromboli
Volcano Extravaganza, Dhaka Summit, Dhaka
Repetition et Roy, Consortium Dijon, Almanch, Dijon
Party Animal - Do Disturb, Palais de Tokyo, Paris
Repetition et Roy, Brussels Independent, Almine Rech, Brussels
2017
Auto Body II, Faena Art Centre, Buenos Aires
Same Same Joy, Elevation, Gstaad
Art Night, ICA London, London
2016
The Infinite Mix, Hayward Gallery, London
Bombom’s Dream, Bienniale of São Paulo, Incerteza Viva, São Paulo
2015
Do Disturb, Palais de Tokyo, Paris
Fig2, ICA, London
Auto Body, Faena Art Center, Buenos Aires
In dialogue with Charles Atlas, Tate Modern, London
Rythm ass poetry, La vie Moderne, Lyon Bienniale, Lyon
2014
Sylphides, 10th Gwangju Bienniale, Gwangju, curated by Jessica Morgan
(M)Mimosa, Centre Pompidou, Paris