Eduardo Olbés
Filipino, 1951
Eduardo Olbés (b. 1951) has been making furniture at his workshop in Tepoztlán, two hours outside of Mexico City, for the last 30 years. His artistic process combines techniques from Filipino and Mexican woodworking, synthesizing tropical woods and difficult-to-work materials like marble, obsidian, jade and limestone.
Olbés has long been a favorite of affluent clients around Mexico City and came to the attention of the international design community under the aegis of ADN Galería, in Mexico City. In recent years, the sculptor has been featured in a number of collective shows, including FOG Design+Art (San Francisco, 2016), Miami Art Basel: Design Curio (Miami, 2015), and Collective Design (New York, 2015).
Born in Manila, Olbés worked as an apprentice under the cabinet-maker Mario Viel before attending Goddard College, in Plainfield, Vt. After studying a variety of wood, stone and metal techniques with Arturo Ramos, Olbés taught woodworking at Escuela de Diseño y Artesanía, in Mexico City, from 1976 to 1982. He set up his own studio in 1978.
Featured Work
C.V. (Resume)
EDUCATION
Attended Goddard College, in Plainfield, Vt.
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Shows -2016 Bululs and other oddities, SilverLens Gallery, Manila -2015 Sabor a Ming, Ayala Museum, Manila -2014 Sticks & Stones El Leñero, Atlixco, Puebla -2013 Cuerpos celestes Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México -2012 Evocación Ming Museo de Artes Decorativas Franz Mayer, Ciudad de México -2011 A farewell to arms (invited by Alianza Cívica/WOLA) Museo Memoria y Tolerancia, Ciudad de México -2010 Narco y las ecuaciones económicas perversas Museo del Chopo, Ciudad de México -2009 Ángeles y diablos Jardin Borda, Instituto de Cultura De Morelos, Cuernavaca -2008 Obra reciente Galería BAJO EL BALCÓN – Tepoztlán, Morelos -1996 Anitos Arturo Luz Gallery Manila, Filipinas -1994 Esculturas de piedra y agua Galería KIN Ciudad de México -1993 Tallar una emoción, pulir un placer Exconvento de Tepoztlán through Galería de Arte Sandra Azcarraga -1992 Obsidian pieces Eye International Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. -1991 Beached turtles Raleigh Film Studios, Los Angeles, Ca. -1984 Jewelry Galería OMR, México 1984 -1981 Jewelry and small sculpture in stone Centro Teotihuacan, México -1979 8 figurative wood sculptures Galería Argentum, México Collective Shows -2016 100 Sillas Mexicanas, Museo Franz Mayer, Ciudad de México -2016 Fog Design & Art San Francisco, Galería ADN -2015 Miami Art Basel Design Curio, Galería ADN -2015 Collective Design, Galería ADN, New York -2015 Manila Art Fair, SilverLens Gallery -2011 Anahuacalli, Ciudad de México -2011 Bienal Arte/Artesano Museo De Arte Popular Ciudad de México -1995 Galería Kin, Ciudad de México -1995 Festival Cultural de Tepoztlán -1992 Jannsen Perez Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. -1991 Galería La Casona, Ciudad de México -1991 Eye International Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. -1991 Francine Ellman Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. -1991 Daniel Saxon Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. -1989 Centro México-Japón, Ciudad de México -1987 Galería OMR, Ciudad de México -1985 Gallery Of Primitive Art – New York City -1980 Trienal De Escultura Ciudad de México -1978 Torres Joyeros – Barcelona, Spain
