Alejandro Suarez Ruparrecognized Argentine plastic artist He has navigated for twenty years between gestural painting, portraits of rock icons and contemporary styles, however maintaining an unbreakable core: the energy and emotion behind each work. “Sometimes it is no longer about representing, but about interpreting”he expressed.
Coming from Buenos Aires, Suárez Rupar has known not only how to adapt his work to monumental formats—the pieces dedicated to Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta or John Lennon—, but also explore the freest of gestural painting. “It appeared little by little,” he recalls.
Portraits of Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta: the vision of Suárez Rupar
And in that “little bit” his own language also appeared, where colors, gestures and textures no longer only reproduce images, but transform them into visual experiences. With exhibitions that have attracted attention for their interpretive intensity and constantly evolving technique, Suárez Rupar invites the viewer to connect with the visceral nature of art.
—You have been working on diverse styles and themes for twenty years with a common thread that has to do with energy and emotion. How did you discover that common thread in your work?
-It was appearing little by little. It had to do with the need to incorporate a force that went beyond what I saw in the photos of landscapes or characters I portrayed. I began to stray away from the original colors, seeking to convey the energy or emotion behind the image. Along that path, common points appeared, certain tones, gestures and textures that, without planning it, became the thread that unites all the works.
—In your latest series you work on iconic rock figures. How does the creative process differ when you portray a rock figure from when you approach a more gestural work?
-When I portray a rock figure I try to be faithful to his expression, to features that define him. It’s not about copying a photo, but about capturing its energy. Colors are the space where I can interpret and leave my mark. In gestural works the opposite happens: there are no limits or references. I start without knowing where the painting is going to take me, and precisely that freedom is what makes it more authentic.
—At what point was there a before and after in terms of artistic approach, in the way of working or in how you saw yourself as an artist?
-Without a doubt it was with the work The Old Pier. It was the first time I worked from a black and white photo, which forced me to decide the colors from scratch. That challenge led me to move away from where I was moving and towards a freer, almost abstract language. From then on I felt that something had changed: it was no longer about representing, but about interpreting.
—How does the rock theme influence your recent pieces?
-Everything emerged almost as an experiment. I was looking for an iconic figure to paint and ended up meeting those who had been part of my personal history with music. I started with Charly García, continued with Spinetta and then with Lennon. It wasn’t planned, it just happened that way. In terms of technique, rock encourages me to use more intense colors, stronger contrasts and a more physical energy in painting. I try to preserve what makes each artist unique—a look, a smile, an expression—and let that dialogue with my own gesture. In Spinetta, for example, the melancholy was already in him; I just let it appear.
—What upcoming project do you have in mind?
-I want to continue with the path of rock characters and probably incorporate some iconic figure from cinema or art. Beyond that, I try to listen to the inner voice and let it guide me. I don’t want to lose myself in the search for acceptance; I prefer to continue exploring and find new forms of connection, both with the public and with myself.
With a career spanning more than twenty years, Alejandro Suárez Rupar continues to explore gestural painting and portraits of rock icons. His works combine energy, emotion and innovative technique, consolidating him as one of the most interesting contemporary Argentine artists.
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