Oscar Murillo and the work series that reshaped painting
Published on 06/27/2026 at 23:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Oscar Murillo emerged in the 2010s with large, stitched canvases that collapsed studio, travel and social observation into one surface. His work series have since expanded across painting, installation and performance, while remaining anchored in questions of labor, migration and community.
The stitched canvases and early series
Murillo gained international attention with expansive canvases composed of sewn-together fragments of painted and raw fabric, often stained, scuffed and marked with traces of everyday use. These works introduced a vocabulary where abstraction intertwined with material evidence of movement and work.
In these early series, canvases sometimes incorporated elements such as dust, food wrappers or studio detritus, underscoring how industrial labor and informal economies seep into aesthetic form. The paintings rarely stay fixed on the wall, instead draping, folding or lying on the floor as if refusing stable display.
From canvases to social installation
As Murillo's practice evolved, his work series expanded into installations that use simple materials like chairs, tables and improvised structures to stage social situations. Visitors often navigate spaces that recall classrooms, factories or community halls, blurring conventional boundaries between exhibition and lived environment.
These installations highlight how collective presence and absence operate in globalized systems. Murillo tends to foreground anonymous participants and workers rather than singular heroic figures, emphasizing structural conditions over individual biography.
Further context on Oscar Murillo's practice
For readers following Oscar Murillo's work across painting, installation and performance, the AD HOC NEWS archive collects news and background on his exhibitions, projects and institutional presence.
How the artist works
Murillo moves between large-scale canvases, sculptural elements and time-based actions, often allowing works to accumulate physical damage over time. This process stresses how painting can register wear, travel and institutional handling as integral aesthetic layers.
Where the artist stands now
Oscar Murillo continues to develop long-running work groups and projects that link painting, installation and social research, without a publicly announced new exhibition date in the immediate 30-day horizon.
Key facts on Oscar Murillo
- Artist: Oscar Murillo
- Medium / Genre: Painting and installation (conceptual)
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice spanning Colombia and the United Kingdom
- Active since: 2000s with broader institutional visibility in the 2010s
- Key work groups: stitched canvases, participatory installations, social research projects
- Current/last exhibition: Ongoing presentations of large-scale canvases and installations in institutional and gallery contexts
- Major collections: Presence in significant public and private collections focused on contemporary art
- Awards: Recognition through nominations and art-world rankings reflecting his international profile
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Oscar Murillo
What defines Oscar Murillo's stitched canvas series?
Murillo's stitched canvases combine painted and unpainted fabric segments with stains, scuffs and everyday traces, allowing abstraction to intersect with material evidence of labor, movement and time.
How does Oscar Murillo use installation in his practice?
He often arranges chairs, tables and simple structures into settings that recall classrooms or workplaces, turning exhibition spaces into social environments that foreground collective experience.
Which themes recur across Oscar Murillo's work?
Recurring concerns include migration, precarious labor, community, and the circulation of people and materials across borders, approached through painting, installation and occasional performance formats.
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