Pedro Montilla (b. 1997, Bogotá, Colombia) is a Colombian artist who lives and works in Chicago, IL. Montilla’s practice perceives painting as a mystical being, full of vitality and a capability to imbue objects with life, a perspective which allows space for transformation and reflection in his practice. Montilla works primarily on fique fabric, a fibre connected to his Andean roots used traditionally to transport coffee beans and harvests. This material is tied both to belonging as well as dislocation and memory for what it touches. Montilla’s hybrid objects on fique depict landscapes, scenes, and abstractions, revealing a blend of internal conditions and lived experience.
Solo exhibitions include Mirar abajo, moniquemeloche, Chicago, IL (2025); Estudios para un horizonte inestable, Galería Policroma, Medelín, Colombia (2023); La palabra casa tiene dos techos: Ahora rosado, Galería Policroma, Medelín, Colombia (2021).
Group exhibitions include Minima expression, Policroma Galería, Medellín, Colombia (2025); ARTBO Feria, Policroma Galería, Bogotá (2025); This is too rapid, it hurt the eyes, Betsy Gallery, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist’s Residency, Saugatuck (2025); Self-Made: Narratives of Knowing and Being, EXPO Chicago, Chicago, IL (2025); Drown-Proofing, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL (2025); Graduate Exhibition One, SAIC Galleries, Chicago, IL (2025); Auto Portrait Spectacular: Algo así como un sancocho entre una Chiva, un paseo de olla y un trasteo, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL (2024); YAWN SIGH! Colllaboration with Berenice Vargas, MAYFIELD, Chicago, IL (2024); Geographies Of The Self, PASTEL CO, online (2024); A Garden Show, Slow Dance, Milwaukee, WI (2024);Visiones de la naturaleza, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia(2024); Social Tapestry, Chili Art Projects, London, UK (2024); ARTBO Feria, Policroma Galería, Bogotá, Colombia (2023); La cerca suena lejos, Policroma Galería, MedelÍin, Colombia (2022); ARTBO Feria, Policroma Galería, Bogotá, Colombia (2022); ARTBO FDS, Salón Comunal & Policroma, Bogotá, Colombia (2022);Dog show, Mmaison Galería, Bogotá, Colombia (2022); Dios bendiga este hogar, Quinta paredes Artist-run-space, Bogotá, Colombia (2021); Nuevos pintores, SGR Galería, Bogotá, Colombia (2021); Antes de que todo sea polvo, ARTBO: programa Artecámara, Bogotá, Colombia (2020); Layover, Maleza Proyectos, Bogotá, Colombia (2020); Tierraleja, Obra en la vía, BFA Thesis Exhibition, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia (2019).
Highlights
In 2024, Pedro Montilla received the Second Year International Graduate Scholarship. The year prior, he received the New Artist Society Scholarship as well as the Graduate Enrichment Award from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at which he currently lectures.