Biography
Rude Calderón was born in San Jose, Costa Rica, where he spent the first seven years of his life. His family immigrated to Los Angeles, California in 1964. Rude’s father apprenticed and worked in his uncle Manuel Zuñiga’s sculpture studio creating religious sculpture in the Spanish baroque tradition. His deep respect for materials and craftsmanship is rooted in this family history.
Stone sculpture is at the center of Rude Calderón’s artistic work, the past eighteen years have been largely devoted to this medium. His artworks show a reverence towards the handling and natural appearance of materials that infer the omnipresent mystery of nature. His first public art commission from 2004, is titled: ‘Leaping Fish, Nature’s Cycles’, a two-piece site-specific sculpture executed out of New Mexico travertine, awarded to him by Los Angeles County Arts Commission, at Belvedere Park Lake as part of the East Los Angeles Civic Center Renovation Project. This work beckons the viewer to circle the lake and the sculptures, thus embracing one in its narrative cycle of renewal. More recent public art sculptures are installed in West Palm Beach, Florida; Incheon, South Korea; Laguna Beach, California; Saticoy Springs, Ventura, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; San Diego, California; Whittier, California; His private commission sculptures are approached with the same vision of dynamic integration that allows the natural force imprinted into the stone through millenniums, to inform the form and spirit of the idea. Ever-unfolding consciousness and the energies that drive our physical and inner world are a source of great interest and inspiration in his work.
His paintings, sculptures, and prints have been widely exhibited since 1985, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Laguna Art Museum, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art, as well as FM Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles; Frank Pictures Gallery, Santa Monica; The Art Art Project, Woodland Hills; Ave 50 Gallery, Highland Park; Ventura Artists’ Union Gallery; Tropico de Nopal Gallery, Los Angeles. Nationally in: Anchorage, Alaska; Texas Art Museum, Jose Galvez Gallery in Tucson, Arizona; The Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Chicago, Illinois; The Brandywine Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Internationally his work has shown in: St. Petersburg, Russia, Free Gallery; Amerika Haus Berlin, U.S. Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany; Mexico City, Tijuana and Juarez, Mexico; Colima, Mexico; Santiago, Chile; Galicia, Spain; and El Museo del Niño, San Jose, Costa Rica.
An insightful instructor of stone sculpture and introduction to sculpture at Otis College of Art & Design since 2002, Teale Street Sculpture Studio, and Barnsdall Art Center, Rude Calderón‘s approach to sculptural creation has moved many students to recognize their own inspiration while applying the power of artistic craftsmanship.
Stone sculpture is at the center of Rude Calderón’s artistic work, the past eighteen years have been largely devoted to this medium. His artworks show a reverence towards the handling and natural appearance of materials that infer the omnipresent mystery of nature. His first public art commission from 2004, is titled: ‘Leaping Fish, Nature’s Cycles’, a two-piece site-specific sculpture executed out of New Mexico travertine, awarded to him by Los Angeles County Arts Commission, at Belvedere Park Lake as part of the East Los Angeles Civic Center Renovation Project. This work beckons the viewer to circle the lake and the sculptures, thus embracing one in its narrative cycle of renewal. More recent public art sculptures are installed in West Palm Beach, Florida; Incheon, South Korea; Laguna Beach, California; Saticoy Springs, Ventura, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; San Diego, California; Whittier, California; His private commission sculptures are approached with the same vision of dynamic integration that allows the natural force imprinted into the stone through millenniums, to inform the form and spirit of the idea. Ever-unfolding consciousness and the energies that drive our physical and inner world are a source of great interest and inspiration in his work.
His paintings, sculptures, and prints have been widely exhibited since 1985, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Laguna Art Museum, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art, as well as FM Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles; Frank Pictures Gallery, Santa Monica; The Art Art Project, Woodland Hills; Ave 50 Gallery, Highland Park; Ventura Artists’ Union Gallery; Tropico de Nopal Gallery, Los Angeles. Nationally in: Anchorage, Alaska; Texas Art Museum, Jose Galvez Gallery in Tucson, Arizona; The Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Chicago, Illinois; The Brandywine Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Internationally his work has shown in: St. Petersburg, Russia, Free Gallery; Amerika Haus Berlin, U.S. Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany; Mexico City, Tijuana and Juarez, Mexico; Colima, Mexico; Santiago, Chile; Galicia, Spain; and El Museo del Niño, San Jose, Costa Rica.
An insightful instructor of stone sculpture and introduction to sculpture at Otis College of Art & Design since 2002, Teale Street Sculpture Studio, and Barnsdall Art Center, Rude Calderón‘s approach to sculptural creation has moved many students to recognize their own inspiration while applying the power of artistic craftsmanship.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE ART COMMISSIONS
2023 - WOVEN STORIES - Public art sculpture, and tile collaboration with Roberto Delgado. City of Petaluma, California. To be installed in November, 2023
2023 - KNOWLEDGE - Public art sculpture, and tile collaboration with Roberto Delgado. Hamilton Public Library, Fishers, Indiana. To be installed in November, 2023
2020 - COMMUNITY – Public art sculpture, and tile collaboration with Roberto Delgado, Hickory Grove Police Station, Charlotte, North Carolina.
2019 - SOLAR TREE – Whittier Dog Park, Philadelphia Greenway Trail, Public art sculpture, in collaboration with Roberto Delgado. Whittier, California
2018 - NATURE’S LIGHT – San Diegito River Park, Founders’ Tribute. Public art sculpture, in collaboration with Roberto Delgado. San Diego, California
2017 - LIGHT OF JUSTICE, Public art sculpture commission, in collaboration with Roberto Delgado (tile pavers), State of Florida, 4th District Court of Appeal, West Palm Beach.
2016 – A LOVE THAT BINDS, Public art sculpture commission, in collaboration with Roberto Delgado for the City of Laguna Beach, California; Crescent Point Bay Park.
2014 - DANCING STONES, Public art sculpture commission, in collaboration with Roberto Delgado for Burbank and Inchon Sister City Art Exchange, Songdo Central Park, Incheon, South Korea.
2012 - Limestone relief portraits of president Eisenhower for Gehry Partners, LLP. Public art sculpture commission
BONSAI WATER STONE LANDSCAPE, Yorba Linda, California. Private commission for Gary and Karen Dickinson.
2010 - ARCHANGEL OF PEACE, St. Louis, MO. Private commission for collector Ron Smith.
2008 - MARINE SCULPTURE, Collaboration with Paul Lindhard, Chris Provenzano and G. Ramon Byrne. Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, California
2007 - REDEMPTION, OUR SONG, Private commission. Five part group stone sculpture. Woodland Hills, California
2006 - SATICOY VILLAGE, CHUMASH HISTORIC MARKER, Saticoy, California. Collaboration with Paul Lindhard (Art City Studios). Basalt stone composition and bronze.
2004 - LEAPING FISH, NATURE'S CYCLES (East Los Angeles Civic Center Redevelopment Project), two travertine stone sculptures with water works, on the surface of five acre, Belvedere Park Lake.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Metamorfica - Museo Pinacoteca de la Universidad de Colima
2016 - Intrinsic Realms - FM Fine Art Gallery, West Hollywood, California
2010 - Stone Journey- The Art, Art Project, 21st Century Insurance Towers, Woodland Hills, California
2008 - Redemption/Our Song - Kate and Brent Nelson Sculpture Garden, unveiling of private commission and exhibit of stone sculptures, Woodland Hills, California.
2001 - Rude Calderón -Sculptures and Mono-serigraphs - Library Gallery, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California
1997 - Art Cabaret - The IMPROVisation Comedy Night Club, Los Angeles, California
1996 - Love's Transcendence - Granados II Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1995 - Rude Calderon, Paintings/Sculptures - Hollywood Digital, Hollywood, California
1994 - Works of Rudy Calderón - Costa Rican Consulate, Los Angeles, California
1993 - Aesthetic Rituals - EZTV, West Hollywood, California
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Metamorfica - Museo Pinacoteca de la Universidad de Colima
1998 - IVth International Festival of Snow and Ice Sculpture - Perm, Russia.
Rock the World - Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano - San Jose, Costa Rica
1997 - Visiones Lejanas-Artico 97 - El Museo de los Niños, San Jose, Costa Rica.
El Museo del I.M.P.E.,Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
1996 - Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana/Azcapotzalco, Mexico D.F., Mexico
1995 - Self Help Graphics Prints - Amerika Haus Berlin, U.S. Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany.
Pinturas de Rudy Calderon - San Xenxo, Pontevedra, Spain
1993 - Multi Cultural Exhibit - Shizuoka, Japan. Galeria de Almacen de Fujikyo – Numazo, Shizuoka, Japan
1992 - Inter-View - Free Gallery, St Petersburg, Russia. Images From the Border - Los Angeles, CA, Tijuana, Mexico,
1990 - Semana de Cultura Chicana: Aztlan en Mexico - CCH, de la UNAM Mexico City
SELECTED EXHIBITS
2023 - Marking an Era: Celebrating Self Help Graphics & Art at 50. Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach,California
2022 - Aqui y Alla y Mas - El Camino College Gallery
2022 - Studio Artists - Art City Gallery, Ventura, California
2018 - ‘Muraliscious’ – Coagula Curatorial Gallery, Los Angeles
MA Art Space, Alhambra, California
2017 - The Female Figure - Beyond the Lines Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, California.
The Immigrant Artist - Neutra Institute Museum of Silverlake, Los Angeles.
Valentine's Salon with Natasha & Cheech Marin – MA Art Space, Alhambra, California
2016 - Portrait Show - Beyond the Lines Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, California.
Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series - Building Bridges Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica.
Groundswell – Groundspace Gallery, Los Angeles, California, Juried by curator Mat Gleason.
December Exhibit - Beyond the Lines Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica.
Holiday Showcase - MA Art Space, Alhambra,
2015 - Faculty exhibit - Barnsdall Art Center. 2014 - Faculty exhibit - Barnsdall Art Center, Los Angeles, California
2013-2015 - The New Stone Age, Art City Studios - The Art, Art Project, Farmers Insurance Towers, Woodland Hills,
2012 - Sculpture showcase- Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, California
2011 - Written in Stone - Artists Union Gallery, Ventura California
Hanging Gardens - 1019 West, Beacon Arts Building, Inglewood, California
Tel-art-phone - Beacon Arts Building, Inglewood, California
Art as Healing - 1st Defense Inc. Los Angeles, California
Stone Sculpture-Art City Gallery, Ventura, California
2010 - Artists’ Union Gallery, Ventura, CA; Art City Gallery, Ventura, California
2009 - Sculpture showcase - Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Sation, Santa Monica, California
The Politics of Green - Curated and exhibited Artists’ Union Gallery, Ventura, California
Salon Contemporary - The Art Art Project Gallery, Canoga Park, California
Los Angeles Latino Heritage Artists - Fremont Gallery, South Pasadena, California
2008 - Sculpture showcase- Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, California
the bellwether effect: At The Foreground of Design - Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, California
Latino Visions - Oxnard College McNish Art Gallery, Oxnard, California
LA vs. War - Old Firehouse, Downtown, Los Angeles, California
Sculpture Symposium - Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, California
2007 - Sculpture Exhibit - Blue Bird Art house, Whittier, California
Salon Showcase - Artists’ Union Gallery, Ventura, California
Simply Stated - Red Brick Gallery, Ventura, California
2006 - Surviving: Kinkade - I-5 Gallerry at The Brewery Complex, Los Angeles, California.
A Short and Sweet Epiphany aka Dia de Los Reyes - Tropico de Nopal Gallery, Los Angeles.
2005 - Hispanic Heritage Month Fine Art - California Technical Institute, Pasadena, California
Mirando al Norte/Mirando al Sur - Cal State University Northridge Galleries, Northridge, California
Fine Art Showcase - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
2004 - Likeness & Presence - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
Images & Visions - MA Art Space, Los Angeles, California
2003 - Sculptures at 21st Century Plaza - Chatsworth, California
2002 Rebirth-Retoño – Tropico de Nopal Gallery, Los Angeles, California.
Forty Something – Fifty Bucks Gallery, Pomona, California
2001 Take It (Recent LA Figuratives) - Eye Five Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Best of the West - Zero One Gallery, West Hollywood, California
2000 - Revolving Expressions - Casa Azul Gallery - Pomona Arts District, Pomona , California
Retribution of Circumstance - 50 Bucks Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1999 - Downtowners, Outsiders and Beyond - Rico Gallery, Santa Monica, California.
1998. Dia de Los Muertos - Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, California.
1997 - L.A. Slide - The Living Room, Santa Monica, California
Self Help Graphics Prints -Los Angeles County Museum of Art Sales & Rental Gallery
Saber Escultura/Sculptural Savvy - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
'Downtown Lives! '97' -Multimedia sculptural installation, Los Angeles, California
1996 - Across the Street-Self Help Graphics and Chicano Art in L.A. - Texas Art Museum, Corpus Christi, Texas and Anchorage, Alaska
Now Be Here - Granados II Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Beloved Chicana - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
1995 - Across the Street - Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Across the Street - UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California
Down and Under - Jose Galvez Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1994 - FAR Bazzar - Los Angeles, California
Voces/Voices SHG Prints - Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, California
1993 - Fusion '93 - Pauline Hirsh Gallery, Jewish Council Federation, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Recovery Workshop - El Pueblo Gallery, Los Angeles, California
From el Corazon de East L.A. - The Mexican Fine Arts Center, Chicago, Illinois
1992 - Four Sculptors - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
Quincentenial Monoprints - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
FAR Bazzar - Los Angeles, California
1990 - Natural Forces: In Los Angeles Sculpture - Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Self Help Graphics: The Atelier Program Retrospective - Bridge Gallery, Los Angeles City Hall
Best of the West - Zero One Gallery, West Hollywood, California
Fire Show VII - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
Brandywine Workshop - Brandywine Institute, Philadelphia, PA
1989 - Hispanic Art on Paper - Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Works on Paper – B-1 Gallery, Santa Monica, California
Self Help Graphics Serigraphs - The Mexican Fine Arts Museum, Chicago, Illinois.
1988 - Five From E.L.A. - Rex Wignall Museum Gallery, Chaffee College, Cucamonga, California
Atelier X - Self Help Graphics,Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
Presenting L.A. Works - Galeria Sin Fronteras, Austin, Texas
Self Help Graphics Atelier Prints -Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1987 - East Los Streetscapers: Individual Expressions - The Art Store Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Fire Show IV - Self Help Graphics, Galeria Otra Vez, Los Angeles, California
1986 - Sangre Nueva - Centro de la Raza, San Diego, California.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Los Angeles Times, Burbank Leader, Dec. 7, 2015. Community: Art exchange fortifies sister city bond. By Joyce Rudolph
myBurbank.com – Interview on Sculptural gift to Incheon, S Korea Dec. 7 2015 By Joyce Rudolph http://myburbank.com/12/sections/city-of-burbank/council-members-receive-gift-while-visiting-incheon-south-korea/
‘El Reto’ • Año 17 • Número 769 • 30 Enero-5 Febrero 2015 • Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua • Director: Samuel Schmidt, director.
II Seminario Internacional sobre Arte Publico en Latinoamerica (2011) Arte publico y espacios politicos: interacciones y fracturas en las ciudades latinoamericanas, published essay with Dr. Ana Uribe ‘Arte Publico y Comunidad Latina: La produccion artstica del Centro Civico en el Este de Los Angeles, California.
'Rude y la Piedra', featured artist interview in cultural studies journal: Interpretextos de la Universidad de Colima, October 2012, By Rafael Mesina.
Video interview for Coagula Art Journal, with Mat Gleason 2011,
Ventura Breeze 'Redemption to Build On' by Sophia Kidd, July 2008,
'A Language of Passion' - Documentary video by Patricia Cunliffe, 2004.
Eastern Group Publications - 'A Tale of Two Fish' April, 2004.
Diario de Colima, Agora, Dec. 23, 2001 - 'Rude Calderon: Interview in four parts', by Jose Luis Negrete. Jan. 6, 13 & 20,
Canal 12 TV Colima, Mexico – Interview, October, 2001.
'Cartapasios Cultural Magazine' Ecos de la Costa, 2001Colima, Mexico - Published artworks.
Review of Conference 'Arte Chicano Contemporaneo' -Diario de Colima, Mexico, 2001.
Review of Conference 'Arte Chicano Contemporaneo' - El Comentario, Universidad de Colima, 2001.
Cultural TV Channel of Perm, Russia – Interview, 1998
Canal Cultural de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica - TV interview, 'Rock Your World', 1998.
North from Mexico - Interview for Television Cultural Magazine, Mexico City, 1998.
La Republica - Costa Rica, Nov. 1997.
'Vista L.A.' - ABC, Channel 7, 1996.
'Emerging Artist Profile' - Coagula Art Journal, Feb., 1996.
Los Angeles Times Calender, 'Love's Transcendence' art review, 1996.
'Arte Without Walls' - Buenavision Cable, Feb., 1994.
Smena, St Petersburg, Russia “Inter-View” art review, 1992
NBC News – on the trip and exhibit to St. Petersburg, Russia, Sept. 27th, 1992.
'East L.A. After Dark' - Buenavision Cable, Feb. 20th, & Mar. 6th, 1991.
Los Angeles Times Calendar, 'Natural Forces in Los Angeles Sculpture' art review, 1990.
'L.A. Art' - Documentary video by Angelica Gonzalez, L.A.C.M.A. & Public Access Cable, 1989.
'Muralismo Chicano' - ECCO television program aired worldwide, 1988.
'East Los Streetscapers' - La Opinion, 1986.
ART INSTRUCTOR
2002 - Present Otis College of Art and Design, Part time professor CE program teaching Introduction to Sculpture, and Stone Sculpture
2007 - Present Teale Street Sculpture Studio: Stone Sculpture
2012 - Present Barnsdall Art Center: Stone Sculpture
2005 - 2006 Pacific Oaks College: Art Appreciation and Human development
GUEST LECTURER
2014 - The Language of Sculpture, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
2013 - Palau Freedom Memorial, presentation and lecture with the Queen of Palau and community.
Lecture on stone sculpture for the Otis College of Art & Design, Creative Action: An Integrated Learning Program, Palau Freedom Memorial
2012 - Lecture on stone sculpture for the Otis College of Art & Design, Creative Action: An Integrated Learning Program, Palau Freedom Memorial
A Brief History of Sculpture – University of Colima in Los Angeles, California.
2001- Contemporary Chicano Art – Lecture at Guadalajara University, Fine Arts Dept.
Contemporary Chicano Art – Lecture at Colima University, Pinacoteca Museum.
Contemporary Chicano Art – Lecture at Casa del Poeta, Colima, Mexico
1995 - Across the Street - Lecture on artist’s work, UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California
1998 - Lecture on Los Angeles art, American Cultural Center, San Pedro, Costa Rica.
1995 - Across the Street - UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California
PUBLIC ART FABRICATION AND CONSULTANT
2014 – Consultant and fabricator for Sandra de la Loza and Arturo Romo, public art sculptures, East Los Angeles, California
2009 - 2010 - Glazed and fired tile murals for San Jose Fire Station 2; Goss Stadium, Oregon; and Valley Boulevard, by artist Roberto Delgado
2008 - 2009 - Carved monumental granite urns with Paul Lindhard for Katsuja restaurants.
2005 - Carved and served as design and technical consultant for the stone elements in Jose Antonio Aguirre’s stone and mosaic murals for the new East Los Angeles Library.
EDUCATION
1980 Associate Arts degree in Fine Arts, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut California
1985 - 1988 Bachelor’s of Fine Arts studies with an emphasis in painting and sculpture, California State University Los Angeles
1984 - 1989 Apprenticeship and collaboration with Streetscapers public art and mural team.
COLLECTIONS
City of Incheon, City Hall, Songdo Central Park; South Korea
Los Angeles County Museum, Print Department, Los Angeles, CA
Three serigraph prints printed at Self-Help Graphics, L.A., CA.
UC Santa Barbara Library; Archive of Chicano Printmaking in California (part of the Multicultural Ethnic Archive), Santa Barbara, CA., Permanent collection, three serigraphs printed at Self-Help Graphics, L.A., CA.
Laguna Art Museum/Orange County Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA., permanent collection. Three serigraph prints, Occidental College, Mono-serigraph
Los Angeles County Arts Commission collection, Public art sculpture, Belvedere Park. La Opinion Newspaper
Mexican Fine Art Center Museum, permanent collection, Chicago, IL., Three Serigraph prints
UCLA/ Hammer Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California. Self-Help Graphics, and Studio, Los Angeles, CA. 2011, Three serigraph prints.
Hutahmaki Group, Los Angeles, California
