Jose Dávila

Jose Dávila is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist working in various mediums, including sculpture, installation, collage, and photography.

Biography of Jose Dávila

Jose Dávila was born in 1974 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied at the Sculpture Fine Arts Academy of San Miguel de Allende and Architecture School ITESO University in the 1990s. 

During the creative path of Dávila, his works were presented at various solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Among them are Incidental, Torre Guadalajara, Expoarte 98. Guadalajara, Mexico; Anonimous, Centro de arte Santa Monica, Barcelona, Spain; Whats my name?, HIST, Ghent, Belgium; INSIDE OUT, Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen, Denmark; Praise to the Shadow, MAZ, Zapopan Museum of Art, Guadalajara, Mexico; El primer fuego, Travesia Cuatro, Guadalajara, Mexico; Sense of Place, Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND) and Getty’s Pacific, Los Angeles, USA, among others. 

Dávila's artwork can be found in numerous collections such as  Collection FEMSA, Monterrey, Mexico;  MUDAM, Museum of modern art, Luxembourg, Luxembourg; The Frank-Suss Collection, UK, US, Hong Kong; Zabludowicz Collection, London, UK;  Centre Pompidou, Paris, France; Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar, The Netherlands, and many more. 

Jose Dávila has received many awards, including EFG Bank/Art Nexus Latin America Award (2014) and Baltic Artists’ Award (2017). 

Currently, the artist lives and works in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Jose Dávila's Art Style

Jose Dávila engages with diverse artistic mediums, including sculpture, installation, collage, and photography, to delve into the realms of materiality and form. Drawing inspiration from the ideals set forth by the 20th-century avant-garde, Dávila skillfully re-contextualizes artists, iconic artworks, and raw materials in his creative endeavors. With a background in architecture, Dávila's work reflects a keen interest in how objects inhabit and interact with space and time, acknowledging the influence of context on their existence in the world.

In the early stages of his career, Dávila delved into the conceptual usage of images within the art context, employing various techniques to manipulate them. During this period, he initiated his ongoing series of "cut-out" works, which continue to evolve to this day. This series consists of distinct clusters of images wherein the primary subject is extracted through meticulous cutting, leaving behind only the surrounding elements. 

In recent years, Dávila has shifted his focus to projects related to sculpture. He creates intricate structural systems where stones, construction materials, and found objects remain in perilous balance. Through his adept manipulation, he deftly orchestrates compositions that maintain stability using ratchet straps or wires. Furthermore, his larger installations on-site often incorporate materials specific to the location, emphasizing a site-specific approach.

Dávila's artistic exploration extends beyond the technical aspects, delving into the material and cultural histories of stone and its relationship with the human world.