Marisol Escobar has always stood up for her singular way of making art. Associated with pop art, even though she rebelled against labels, Escobar was an artist who crossed paths with names like Andy Warhol, starring in some of his films. Her work has been exhibited at various museums, with her art known for raising important questions regarding social conventions, highlighting her personal life, and showcasing her skill for satire.
Maria Sol Escobar was born in Paris on May 22nd, 1930. Her parents were Venezuelan and wealthy, allowing her the opportunity to travel the world from a young age, growing up between Caracas, the cities in the US, and Paris. When she was 11 years old, her mother died by suicide, prompting periods of prolonged silence in Escobar that concluded in her 20s. Before that decade, she rarely spoke up.
"Through my life I have learned to be patient—to whisper—not to scream. To look beyond a square—to flow with the sea—to breathe the wind—and to be proud to be an artist."
In 1946, she moved in with her father and older brother to Los Angeles, adopting the name she would use in her art: Marisol.
She began her studies at the Otis Art Institute and the Jepson Art Institute, two historic educational institutions in the city. She also studied painting at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Her interest in the arts continued, with her taking numerous classes in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and ceramics, taking classes in schools in New York and with private teachers, among them the beloved German painter Hans Hofmann.
Following her arrival in New York, Marisol met and befriended some of the leading artists of the era, including Willem Kooning, Frank O'Hara, Alex Katz, Ruth Kligman, and William King. She made her debut in the art world in 1957, hosting an exhibition at the Leo Castelli Gallery, where she showcased sculptures made from wood and terracotta. Her success took her to Rome for a couple of years, with her returning to New York later.
Upon her return, she developed friendships and relationships with more artists, including Conrad Marca-Relli and Anita Gibson, personalities who inspired some of her works. In 1960, she created Tea for Three, an artwork that included the colors of the Venezuelan flag. In the following years, she created similar sculptures, trying out various materials.
"I never wanted to be a part of society. I've always been horrified by schemes and conventions. All my life, I've wanted to be different from everyone else. I feel uncomfortable with the established code of conduct."
In 1962, Marisol met Warhol, entering the exclusive social scene of New York City. She continued making connections with celebrities, members of the art world, and New York's high society. Warhol called her "the first feminine artist with glamour."
In 1968, Marisol represented Venezuela at the Venice Biennale, becoming one of five women invited to showcase their work at the Kassel Documenta 4. She traveled to India and various locations in Southeast Asia, seeking an escape from the ongoing Vietnam War. There she learned how to practice deep diving, with the ocean becoming one of her great sources of inspiration and refuge.
Between the 70s and 90s, Marisol began working in costumes and on the world of the stage. Through these years, she collaborated with revered theater personalities, among them Martha Graham, Louis Falco, and Elisa Monte in nine different productions. She also began to focus on developing her drawing skills, making plenty of portraits and studies of hands, feet, and bodies.
In the final years of her life, Marisol was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, slowing down her creative process as an artist. She never gave it up, drawing until her final days. After her death, Marisol donated a significant part of her work to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Early last year, some of her work was exhibited at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.