Musalán Guzmán was born in Barranquilla Atlántico but grew up in Caucasia Antioquia, Colombia. His career in the plastic arts began at a very young age; when he entered high school a teacher detected the talent of the young Musalán and encouraged him to participate in a painting contest, whose theme was “The day of water”, where he won third place. From that moment on, he began to receive requests for drawings, which led him to create billboards for many years.

That seed that he sowed since he was very young for the plastic arts, took him to Medellín in 1997 to enter the Fine Arts Institute, where thanks to his qualities he was promoted from the first semester to the fifth… “I think that made me miss many other things to learn”, adds Musalán with a humble and reflective tone when he remembers that moment.

Interview conducted by Subastas en Mexico, 2022

One of the teachers who most influenced Musalán was the draftsman and engraver Óscar Jaramillo, who belonged to the group of the 11 Antioqueños, which in the 70’s explored urban themes.

He describes his work as figurative but above all he understands it as an accomplice of the complexity that surrounds him as a human being; he assures that he has always been accompanied by the academy for which he feels an enormous respect and love. Since 2010, Musalán became involved in the world of horses where he was able to express the enormous love he has for this animal through his paintings; his work in this field led him to be considered the best artist in painting horses, which are recognized by Universo Equino magazine, Confepaso Association, Fedequina magazine of Colombia, Asdesilla Horse Riders Association of Colombia, as well as different important breeders of the same country.

Mark Rothko and Francis Bacon are not only the artists he most admires, but they have also influenced his recent work with more conceptual tints. The Colombian artist assures that this process has been very interesting because it has added to his classical conception, an event that has allowed him to have more expressive possibilities to show his art.

A clear example of this evolution was expressed by the Art Curator of the Casa de la Cultura de Envigado, Juan José Saldarriaga González, in the solo exhibition Trasmutación del ser. “In the work Trasmutación del Ser del Maestro Musalán”, we find the evolution of the artist and the geometric constructivist style that is the path of expression. Within the sculpture, a language with great spiritual content is transmitted; it is here where the artist tells us his story with a direct dialogue, his colors transmit the sense of perspective creating an atmosphere full of memories and reality is transformed into “Work of Art”.

During the years 2004, 2005 and 2006, Musalán Guzmán was curator and jury in the Northwest Regional of the National Penitentiary and Jail Institute (INPEC), during the Penitentiary and Jail Painting and Drawing contest, where he also conducted workshops in plastic arts in support of the participants of the contest.

It is worth mentioning that Musalán arrives in Mexico thanks to the contact he had with a couple of gallery owners, Matilde Pérez and Herminia Álvarez, who have provided him with more references. At this moment (June 2020) Musalán is participating in the art auction, Trasnsformaciones, organized by Subastas en México. Here you can consult the complete catalog of the auction.

Here some of the solo and group exhibitions, as well as some distinctions of this artist and human being passionate not only for his work but for life.

Solo and group exhibitions:

  • Abundacia. Comfama de Envigado. Envigado, 2000. Holstein, Bogota, 2000
  • Colombia and its charms. Belfort Hotel. Medellín, 2003
  • Tribute. Dann Corlton Hotel. Medellín, 2008
  • Memorable moments. San Fernando Plaza Hotel. Medellín,2009
  • Alchemy, “The transmutation of La Brea”. San Fernando Plazo Hotel. Medellín, 2013
  • Alchemy, “The transmutation of the Brea”. Tal cual Gallery. Medellín ,2015
  • Transfer. San Fernando Plaza Hotel. Medellín, 2015
  • A Reminder. “The path to self-knowledge, to reach consciousness” Hotel San Fernando Plaza. Medellin, 2017
  • Transmutation of being. Casa de la cultura Miguel Uribe Restrepo, City of Envigado, 2018. Colombia.
  • Ve They Match (exhibition and auction) BAGA06, Mexico City 2019.
  • Equus Gallery. BAGA06, Mexico City, 2018.
  • All Latinos. BAGA06, Mexico City, Mexico, 2018
  • Tribute to the best artist of the Group of artists Zona 6. Medellin, 2000.
  • Tribute to the House of Culture Reynaldo Gonzales Guevara. Caucasia, 2001.
  • Maximum award “Cañafistula de oro”. Social and community recognition for his invaluable work. Municipality of Caucasia, Antioquia, 2012.
  • Order of Artistic Merit. Awarded at the XLIII Muestra Pictórica y Musical del Caribe Salón Signos y Leyes del Senado de La República. Bogota, 2017.
  • Transformations (online auction) Auctions in Mexico, Mexico City 2020.

Distinctions:

  • Tribute to the best artist of the Group of artists Zona 6. Medellin, 2000.
  • Tribute to the House of Culture Reynaldo Gonzales Guevara. Caucasia, 2001.
  • Maximum award “Cañafistula de oro”. Social and community recognition for his invaluable example. Municipality of Caucasia, Antioquia, 2012.
  • Order of Artistic Merit. Awarded at the XLIII Muestra Pictórica y Musical del Caribe Salón Signos y Leyes del Senado de La República. Bogota, 2017.