Amaia Marzabal
SPAIN
Who is Amaia Gómez Marzabal?
Amaia Gómez Marzabal holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and a Master's degree in "Research and Creation in the Arts: INCREARTE" from the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Spain. She also holds a Master's degree in Secondary Education from the VIU University, Valencia, Spain. She has received scholarships from Kutxa Bank, the Vasco Government/Euroregion/Garapen, and the Etxepare Institute, Spain.
Her works have been shown in numerous exhibitions, including the Azkuna Zentroa Cultural Center in Bilbao, Spain, the Shirley Fiterman Art Center in Manhattan, NY, and a solo exhibition at the Politecnico di Milano.
She has been an artist in residence at Fabrique Pola (Bordeaux), the NARS Foundation (Brooklyn), and the ESKFF Foundation at Mana Contemporary Art Center (NJ).
Her works are in private collections in the USA, Europe and the Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation.
Amaia about her art
My work explores the interplay of portraiture, abstraction, and the human figure. At its core, my practice addresses the complexities of human relationships, societal norms, emotions, and personal growth. Through the human form, I strive to create a visual language that reflects the journey of self-discovery. I am drawn to the tension between order and chaos, perfection and imperfection—ideas that unfold within the fluidity of the figure. The transition from the controlled, structured body to the wild abstraction that can emerge symbolizes the ambiguous, sometimes turbulent process of understanding oneself and tracing the patterns of one's life. In my paintings, I strive to capture this dynamic balance—where clarity and disorder coexist, offering a reflection on the ongoing search for identity and meaning.
Publications & Collaborations
- Illustrator for Baskavigin Film, Old Port Films (2016)
- Publications for Diarionorte.es (2014)
- Cerdas Collective fanzines: “Cíclope” No. 0, No. 1 & “Operación Bikini” (2015)
- Comic story for Replika Magazine (2014-13)
- No. 1 FabrikArt Catalog, UPV-EHU in collaboration with the artist Luis Badosa (2003)
Memberships
- Park Slope – Windsor Terrace Artists (2024)
- “ConArtist,” NY (2017)
- “Cerdas” Illustration Association, Vitoria (Spain) (2015 – current)
- “Denokinn-Elkartea”, Santurce (2012)
- “Zintzilik” art collective, Vitoria (2009-06)
- int>act, art collective, Bilbao (2012-09)
Solo & duo exhibitions
- A solo exhibition of new paintings, Spoke The Hub, Brooklyn, NY (2024)
- Lost Identity, The Porch Upstate Gallery, NY (2023)
- La Femme Idéale De La Société, curated by Louis Angel, Pop-Up Show at 333 Church St, NY (2021)
- Painting and Design, Politecnico di Milano (2003)
Group exhibitions
- Internal Logic, Shirley Fiterman Art Center, Manhattan, NY (2025)
- Expressions In Every Form, Bank Art Gallery, Newburgh, NY (2025)
- Synergy Art in Motion, Selva Gallery, Brooklyn (2024)
- King Killer Studios, Gowanus Open Studios, Brooklyn (2024)
- Earth Crafted Designs, Porcelanosa, Manhattan, NY (2024)
- Salon des Refusés, BWAC, Redhook, Brooklyn (2024)
- Open Studios, Ossam Gallery, Park Slope, NY (2024)
- B&W Exhibition, Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park, NY (2024)
- Drawing Alphabets, Shirley Fiterman Art Center, Manhattan, NY (2024)
- A Celebration of Light – A Celebration of Humanity, The Kota Alliance, NY (2023)
- Extraordinaries, 35 Meadow St., NY, March & December (2023)
- Working On It, Shirley Fiterman Art Center, Manhattan, NY (2023)
- Polychromatic, Blue Gallery, Manhattan, NY, curated by Louis Angel (2021)
- TRANSMISSIONS virtual exhibition at The Holy Art Gallery, London (2021)
- Art Movement Exhibition, curated by David De Hannay, 454 Broadway, NY (2021)
- Grounded Exhibition, curated by Natalie Burlutskaya, Mensur Bojda and Kika Espejo, Sleepcenter Gallery, Manhattan, NY (2021)
- The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn Expo Center, NY (2019)
- Gowanus Open Studios, Rabbithole Project Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2019)
- Opening at Egoless Creative Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2019)
- Immigration is the Nation, Cargo Project Gallery, Queens, NY (2019)
- Superfine! Art Fair, 107 Grand St, Soho, NY (2019)
- Privilege, Jersey City Theater Center, NJ (2019)
- Superfine! Art Fair, LA (2019)
- OVERLAP Exhibition, Prime Gallery, Jersey City, NJ (2018)
- Women & Immigration, Julia de Burgos Art Center, Manhattan, NY (2018)
- ESKFF Spring Residents, Mana Contemporary Art Center, NJ (2018)
- “US for the Art”, Wall Gallery, Brooklyn (2017)
- “Woman to the Front,” Superchief Gallery, Brooklyn (2017)
- Pop-Up for Artists at Yiu Gallery, Manhattan, NY (2017)
- “Women” group exhibition, Julia de Burgos Art Center, Manhattan, NY (2017)
- “Various Existential Angsts” Summer Residency Group Exhibition, NARS, Brooklyn (2017)
- “She said”, curated by Cerdas, Mariaenea Basauri & Kataku Herriko Ostatua, Spain (2017)
- “Mini Worlds,” curated by Cerdas, Cultural Center of Bera de Bidasoa, Spain (2017)
- Illustration fair Mazoka Montehermoso, Spain (2016)
- “Paper Shelter,” curated by Cerdas, GeroArte, Vitoria, Spain (2016)
- “Group Exhibition”, ZAS Culture Espazioa, Vitoria (2016)
- “Home=Shelter”, curated by Iratxe González Villaluenga, Fair Saturday, ZAWP, Bilbao (2016)
- VI. Edition: “Setting Up” Álava Emprende, Vitoria, Spain (2009)
- “Dark Progress” installation, curated by Zintzilik, City Council of Alegría-Dulantzi (2008), Spain
- “Textures”, curated by Zintzilik, Pilar & Judimendi Cultural Center, Vitoria, Spain (2007-06)
- Students of the UPV, Getxo Cultural Center, Spain (2006)
- “Paintings & Cinema”, Lamiak Bilbao, Spain (2005)
- XIII. Painting Prize of Beasain, Spain (2004)
Residences
- ESKFF Spring Resident (2018) Mana Contemporary Center, NJ
- NARS Foundation: Artist in Residence (2017) and supported by the Etxepare Institute
- Basque Government and Euroregion: Basque Artists in Aquitaine (France), Fabrique Pola, Bordeaux (2016)
- Erasmus: Politecnico Milan, Bbk scholarship (2003)
Awards & Scholarships
- Funded by Bitamine Faktoria, Gobierno Vasco/Garapen in collaboration with Fabrique Pola, Bordeaux (2017)
- Etxepare Institute Scholarship, Spain (2017)
- Atrio Alhóndiga Prize, Bilbao (2010)
- 1st Prize in the Idea Awards, 2nd edition of “Bizkaia Creaktiva”, Creativity Center (2010)
- Finalist at the Business Ideas Awards, Lanekintza, Bilbao (2010)
- 2nd Prize at the WANTED Idea Awards, Getxo City Council (2009)
- 3rd prize at the painting competition, Encartaciones, Biscay (2004)
- 2nd Prize at the XXIV IPAR Painting Competition, Biscay (2000)
- 2nd Prize at the VIII. Open-Air Painting Competition, Aramaio (1999)
- 2nd Prize at the VII. Open-Air Painting Competition, Beasain (1998)
