AITY GALLERY

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY & STATEMENT

MARIANO BOTAS (b.1969)

Artist Biography

Mariano Botas, born in 1969 in Argentina, is a renowned Chilean artist currently residing in Santiago. Initially a self-taught artist, Botas honed his skills through workshops with esteemed Chilean artists such as Eduardo Medici, Raúl Ponce, and Martin Kovensky. After a successful career as a full-time model in Europe and photographer, Botas returned to Chile in 2000 to focus solely on his artistic pursuits. His work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and projects throughout South America. 

About His Work

Botas’s artistic exploration delves into the vastness and interconnectedness of the world. Through cartography, landscapes, and linguistic resources, he seeks to deconstruct and reconstruct territories with a certain ambiguity. This approach invites viewers to connect from a universal perspective, uniting everything and everyone. Botas’s artistic exploration centers on the immensity of the conditioned world, both collectively and personally. Through cartography, landscapes, and linguistic resources, he seeks to deconstruct and reconstruct territories with a certain ambiguity, inviting viewers to connect from a universal perspective.

Relationship with AITY Gallery

A mutual connection led to AITY Gallery discovering Botas’s work, fostering a wonderful and collaborative relationship. Botas’s art resonates with AITY’s commitment to representing artists with cohesive narratives and aesthetics, balancing support for local talent with providing a platform for international artists in South Africa and beyond. His dual citizenship and focus on detail within a broader perspective align with AITY’s vision of showcasing artists who reflect the modern world.

Artistic Journey

Botas’s career has been marked by numerous exhibitions and projects throughout South America. 

Notable milestones include:

• Early Exhibitions:

Solo exhibition, Ricardo Rojas B.A Cultural Center (2000)

Collective “Portraits,” Espacio Lambare (2002)

Collective Metrovías, Recoleta Cultural Center (2003)

Book Fair, Eclectic Space (2004)

Individual exhibition, “Still Life” (2005)

• Recent Exhibitions:

Individual exhibition, “Drawings and Paintings” (2009)Individual exhibition “Inherencia” (2011)Solo exhibition “THE HERO’S ADVENTURE” (2012)Individual exhibition “Paradise: a human landscape” (2013) Individual exhibition “Pulsar” (2014)Individual exhibition “Without Territory: Only Shelter” (2018)Individual exhibition ANOTHER WORLD (2021)Solo exhibition “More interior than the most intimate” (2024)

In addition to his solo exhibitions, Botas has participated in numerous group shows and art fairs, including Art Stgo, FAXXI, and artweek Santiago. His work has been showcased in prestigious galleries such as LA SALA Art Gallery, Bosque Nativo Gallery, and AOA Space.