Isabel Pardo
Born in 1999, Isabel Pardo is an artist and curator currently based in Baltimore. She has a BFA in Painting, Art History, and Curatorial Studies from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Curatorial projects include “This Is Not The End,” a virtual exhibit in January 2021, MICA’s 2019 Exhibition Development Seminar’s ‘Historically Hysterical’ at Baltimore’s Peale Center; “Stigma” at the Alhamra Art Center in Bernardsville, NJ; and “Epoch” at the Farmstead Arts Center in Basking Ridge, NJ. Inspired by surrealism and alchemy, her studio work investigates the relationship between classical and contemporary art through painting, collage, and abstraction. She strives to create dynamic experiences for the viewer through multimedia paintings and immersive assemblage installations.
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In my work I address all painting as a collage. I consider my work a deliberate collection of individual images, layers, and colors spliced together to entwine new and old meanings for each symbol chosen. I draw upon my identity as a painter and curator to engage physical space in a way which alters the viewer experience by translating 2D space in my paintings into 3D installations. Implementing a combination of traditional water media and oil painting with assemblage installations including found objects, fabric, and construction materials, I explore how art historical imagery and symbolism can be re-interpreted and recycled. By use of surrealist and mythological imagery, I create my own form of alchemy in work that is transformative in dimensionality and symbolism.
Education
2021 Maryland Institute College of Art, MD
BFA in Painting, Minors in Art History and Curatorial Studies
Spring 2020 Studio Arts College International Florence, Italy
Group Exhibitions
2021 MICA 2021 Commencement Exhibition, Virtual Exhibition
2020 New Normal, MICA GD Archives, Virtual Exhibition
2020 Out of Order, Maryland Art Place, Virtual Exhibition
2020 EXHALE, Liberty Cycle, Basking Ridge, NJ
2019 Junior Independent Pop-up Exhibition, MICA Lazarus Center, Baltimore, MD
2019 Personal Directions Pop-Up Exhibition, MICA Main Building, Baltimore, MD
2019 Studio Mixx, Fox 2 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2019 Who Are You?, Wilgus Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2019 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, Meyerhoff Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2019 De Colores, Middendorf Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2018 First Year Experience Exhibition, Meyerhoff Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2018 Generations, Rosenberg Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD
Publications/Press
2020 “Frontrunner Profile of the Week: Isabel Pardo,” by Mary Pat Abruzzo July 2, 2020
2021 Residual Believers, Issue 1 May 12th, 2021
2021 Seaborne Magazine, Issue 1 May 28th, 2021
Curated Exhibitions
2021 This Is Not The End, Virtual Exhibition
2019 Historically Hysterical, The Peale Center, MICA Exhibition Development Seminar, Baltimore, MD
2017 Stigma, Alhamra Art Center, Bernardsville, NJ
2017 Epoch., Farmstead Art Center, Basking Ridge, NJ
Residencies
2021 Allegorical Impulse, The Rumman Collective, Virtual Residency
Professional Experience
2021 Curator and Program Coordinator at The Aerogramme Center for Arts and Culture
2020 Artist for La Feria Celeste Zine
2020 Intern, Maryland Art Place Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2019 Interior Design Library Intern, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, MD
2018 Panelist for NJPSA Arts Education Series “Fostering Social-Emotional Learning in and through the Arts,”
Awards
2020 Reba Stewart Memorial Scholarship — MICA
2019 Student Program of the Year Award — MICA iLead Program
2019 Emerging Student Leader Award — MICA iLead Program
2019 Painting Department Scholarship — MICA
2018 Foundation Scholarship — MICA
2017 Creative Vision Award — MICA
2017 The DaVinci Award — MICA
2017 Academic Excellence Award — MICA