Artists
Gustavo Vélez
Artist represented by Duque Arango
Gustavo Vélez’s sculpture, although it is commonly pointed out a similarity and closeness to the procedures and materials of those great masters, actually operates in the exact opposite way. Vélez opposes the tripod of the sculptors of the past to a single axis on which it seems that the pieces are magically held in full equilibrium.
Selected Artwork
Piramidal, 2022
Stainless and Corten Steel
203 x 84.5 x 98 cm. (base 102 cm. height)
79 7/8 x 33 1/4 x 38 5/8 in. (base 40 in. height)
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof
Entrecubos II, 2026
White Carrara marble
304 x 196 x 163 cm (base 106 cm high)
119 3/4 x 77 1/8 x 64 1/8 inches (base 41 2/3 inches high)
Ask about Gustavo Vélez artwork
Biography
Gustavo Vélez (Medellín, Colombia, 1975) is a contemporary Colombian sculptor whose work explores the relationships between geometry, balance, movement, and space. Working with Carrara marble, bronze, and steel, he has developed a distinctive sculptural language characterized by abstract forms that appear to defy gravity and transform the perception of weight and materiality.
Vélez grew up in Fredonia, Antioquia, where he was introduced to metalworking and artisanal techniques at an early age. His interest in sculpture was influenced by Colombian master Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. He later studied drawing and sculpture in Medellín before traveling to Italy in 1996 to continue his artistic training in Florence.
His arrival in Pietrasanta, internationally recognized for its sculptural tradition and marble workshops, was a defining moment in his artistic development. There, he refined his stone-carving techniques and established a direct relationship with the materials that would become central to his practice.
Gustavo Vélez’s sculptures are characterized by geometric structures and organic forms that appear to rotate, rise, or remain suspended on minimal points of support. Through his exploration of volume, curves, and axes of balance, the artist creates compositions that establish a dialogue between the solidity of his materials and a visual sense of lightness.
His practice encompasses works ranging from small-scale sculptures to monumental installations designed for public spaces. In 2013, he presented a solo exhibition in the Piazza del Duomo in Pietrasanta, Italy, and later participated in major international exhibitions, including the Bad Ragartz Sculpture Triennial in Switzerland in 2024. His works have also been exhibited across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
In Colombia, his career includes public sculpture projects and exhibitions such as Gustavo Vélez Cartagena de Indias (2015).
Gustavo Vélez is currently represented by Duque Arango Gallery, which has presented his work in exhibitions including Ejercicios de equilibrio al borde del vacío (2021) and Cartografías de la materia (2025).
His ongoing exploration of geometry, materiality, and movement has established him as a prominent figure in contemporary Colombian and Latin American sculpture.
