Rodrigo Tafur
Bio
Rodrigo Tafur earned his Bachelor’s degree in Painting from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and his Master’s from Pratt Institute in New York, graduating with honors and receiving the Winternitz PUCP Award (2013–2014), Pratt Circle recognition, and Academic Excellence Award (2023). In 2019, he won the Mapfre Prize in Lima.
He has participated in renowned artist residencies such as the Vermont Studio Center and Mana Contemporary (Miami). His work has been exhibited in various spaces that explore psychology and materiality, focusing on anxiety and obsession through a pictorial language that is both meditative and chaotic.
Statement
My painting practice explores the intersection between psychological states and the physicality of everyday life, with a particular focus on anxiety and obsession. Anxiety manifests in dense, intricate surfaces that create an immersive experience, reflecting the intensity of these internal states. Obsession is expressed through repetitive patterns and meticulous attention to detail, producing hypnotic qualities that evoke continuity, fixation, and transformation. My paintings aim to immerse the viewer in a space where emotion and thought intertwine, inviting them to navigate layers of meaning and sensory experience.
2.5 x 4m / 98.4 x 157 in
