Cayetano Sanz de Santamaría (b.1997 Bogotá, Colombia) is a visual artist with a focus on painting, drawing, and etching who lives and works in London. In his practice, Sanz de Santamaría is deeply influenced by surrealism, magical realism and explorations of the human psyche that combined with his figurative approach serve to create vivid pieces filled with stories. His work is a tapestry of personal experiences and outside inspirations, interwoven with hidden narratives meant to engage and challenge the viewer. He believes that aesthetics, figuration, humor, and metaphor are powerful tools for communication in his work. Professionally, he aspires to be a voice for his country, Colombia, and to use his work as a tool for questioning and reflecting on the realities and complexities of our world.
Sanz de Santamaria graduated from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY in 2021 with Highest Honors. He is based in London, where he is currently completing his MA at the Royal College of Art.
Throughout his career, he has
participated in different exhibitions and projects. Highlights include the
silent auction of the Association of Friends of the National Museum of Bogotá
with the most bided artwork The Lord of Light (2022), a solo exhibition in Galeria La Localidad, a
prize of the Colombian news channel Caracol TV to produce exclusive prints, the
elaboration of drawings for the production of Corona/Homecenter crockery,
winner of the Tagsmart award at The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair (UK) and
several group exhibitions in London, UK.
Exhibitions
2024
Royal College of Arts
Painting Masters Graduate Show in London, UK in June 2024
Candid House x Peggy.com
Group show and auction for Arts for Dementia “100 Years of Surrealism” in London, UK in January 2024.
Waverton Art Prize
Shortlisted work shown in the Waverton Art Prize group show, in London, UK in May-June 2024.
Brushes With Greatness
Group show “Apocalyptic Changes of State” in London, UK in April 2024.
Peckham Arches
Group show “Are We There Yet?” in London, UK in April 2024.
Bermondsey Project Space
Group show “Club Silencio” in London, UK in January 2024.
Arusha Gallery
Group show “Palimpsestic Impressions” in London, UK in January-February 2024.
2023
Holy Art Gallery
Group show “Future Stars Exhibition” in London, UK in December 2023.
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair
In London, UK in October 2023. Winner of the Tagsmart Award on my etching “The Lord of Light”
Art Number23
Group show to collect relief funds for Turkish earthquake victims, Turkey, Istanbul in October 2023.
The Gallery at Green & Stone summer show
In London, UK from July-August 2023.
AMP Gallery
Group show “Parasomnia” in London, UK on May 2023.
Loess Collective’s “Taste The Difference”
Group show in London, UK from February to March 2023.
Galeria Ocre
Group show "En Serie" in Galeria Ocre, Bogotá, Colombia in 2023.
2022
SoyArte
Group show in Bogotá, Colombia in 2022, 2023
Hola Metaverso
Bogota group show in 2022, where I presented my latest experiments with web 3 technology, and my paintings and was also a panelist.
Amigos del Museo Nacional, Gran Zoombasta
In Bogotá, Colombia in 2022, where my etching “El Patron de la Luz” received the highest number of bids in the silent auction.
Galeria La Localidad
Solo show in Bogotá, Colombia in 2022
Galería el Garage
In Bogotá, Colombia in 2018, 2019, and 2020.