Artists

1975, Santa Fe, Argentina.

My name is Ariel Costa. I was born in the city of Santa Fe, Argentina. I am the third of four siblings. My first memory is of a dog crossing the street and being hit by a bus. I was with my father, who picked it up and carried it to the opposite side of the sidewalk. I believe I was 2 years old. At 3, we moved to Villa Angela, Chaco, the city where I grew up. My parents did theater. As a teenager, I helped with the sets and sound. My father plays the piano, and there was always a lot of music in my house. Our home was located in a neighborhood on the edge of the city. A bit further out, there were low forests and a large yard.

My maternal grandparents lived in Santa Fe. We visited them every summer. In their bedroom, they had a chair on each side of the bed, each with a stack of magazines. El Toni, Dartagnian, Intervalo. I had other comics in my room, and now I have more.

In 1993, I moved to Rosario to study Fine Arts. I participated in lithography and offset workshops at the Musto school and also took clinics and workshops with different artists. I also studied for several years at the provincial music school and the university of music. In reality, I like songs. I wanted to be like Spinetta or Silvio Rodríguez, but I was very shy about singing for others. Right now, I am trying something in this regard.

I have exhibited in Rosario and other cities. Together with other artists, I managed Oficina26, which was both a studio and a space for exhibitions and art-related events.

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Ariel Costa spent his childhood in Villa Ángela, Chaco. He later moved to Rosario to study Fine Arts at UNR, where he has since lived. During his training, he completed the "Professionalization of Artists" seminar, organized by La Herrmana Favorita (Rosario, 2010), and the "Production Workshop" led by Fabiana Imola and Leandro Comba (Rosario, 2004). He also did an art clinic with artist Alicia Herrera (Rosario, 2005).

In his work, he uses drawing, painting, comics, and song as platforms. His paintings constantly reference the universe of superheroes, the littoral landscape of his childhood, music, and fantasy cinema. His vibrant use of color creates dreamlike scenes, demonstrating his skill in drawing and his connection with music, songwriting, and guitar playing.

Among his solo exhibitions, the highlights include: “La tragedia de la voluntad” (CRUDO - Rosario, 2023); “Ese hueco en el hielo” (CRUDO - Rosario, 2018); “Mi hermano indestructible” (Mal de Archivo - Rosario, 2016); “Todo va a estar más o menos bien” (Embrujo - Rosario, 2015). He has participated in group exhibitions at the Castagnino+MACRO Museum, the National Arts Fund headquarters, and the Rosa Galisteo Museum in Santa Fe. With CRUDO, he participated in “El cuerpo con letra entra,” an exhibition curated by Manuel Quaranta (Rosario, 2021) and in contemporary art fairs: Ch.ACO (Santiago de Chile, Chile, 2022); 3500 Feria de Arte (Chaco, 2022); MAPA (CABA, 2022); Pinta Miami 2018 and 2019 (Miami, USA); Microferia (Rosario, 2017 and 2018); +Feria de Arte (Santa Fe, 2021); Mercado de Arte (Córdoba, 2017 and 2018); La Fugaz auction (Semana del Arte de Rosario, 2017); and in the backroom at Arteba (CABA, 2022). In 2020, he released his album “Material legendario,” in a physical edition in Iván Rosado's "Serie maravillosa de energía universal" collection.

In 2023, his work was selected for the Salón de Mayo (National Salon of Santa Fe). He has received several awards for his works: honorable mention at the LXIII National Salon (Rosario, 2009); second prize for drawing at the LXXXVI Salón de Mayo, Museo Rosa Galisteo (Santa Fe, 2009); honorable mention at the Salón Cordón Plateado (Rosario, 2007); honorable mention at the 5th Salón Diario la Capital (Rosario, 2006); selected work for public placement in the city from the First Open-Air Sculpture Workshop coordinated by Enio Iommi, Centro Cultural Bernardino Rivadavia (Rosario, 1994). Together with Pauline Fondevilla, he ran Oficina 26 (Pasaje Pan, Rosario), a studio, exhibition, and event space related to contemporary art.