Ivan Toth Depeña (Studio)

Bio

Ivan Toth Depeña is an artist currently based in Charlotte, NC, after having lived and worked in Miami, FL and New York, NY. With a Masters Degree in Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Depeña’s artistic production is informed by his experience in art, architecture, technology and design, and encompasses a range of media. Depeña pursues the intersection between different disciplines with the aim of choreographing the moment when these aspects come together seamlessly. Using traditional avenues such as drawing, painting and sculpture then interweaving interactivity/responsiveness, video, light and high-tech methods of fabrication, Depeña explores the fine line between chance and intention. 

Depeña has been working increasingly in the public realm and maintains a rigorous and experimental, self directed studio practice. He has exhibited extensively, nationally and internationally, in both solo and group exhibitions, including at the McColl Center, NC; Praxis NY, NYC; New Britain Museum of American Art, CT; Miami Art Museum, Frost Art Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami. Depeña has recently completed large-scale public commissions in New York, NY; Denver, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Gainesville, and Miami, FL. His work is held in numerous public and private collections.

In early 2014, he was awarded a prestigious Knight Arts Challenge Miami Grant for his proposal for a first of it’s kind series of augmented reality public art projects throughout South Florida called “Lapse”. Depeña was also a finalist for the renowned Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO) Grants & Commissions program for Hispanic artists for 2017-2018. In addition, he received a nominated for the prestigious United States Artist grant in 2017.

Social media: @depenastudio

Statement

I am interested in pursuing (both as a process and a means of learning) a true intersection between different disciplines. What holds my attention is the more illusive moment of “fusion” when developing my work and installations. It is the instance where different forms of creative thought, production and exhibition are indistinguishable from one another, that I find rewarding. I am constantly in search of the harmonic moment in my work when the various disciplines I pursue come together seamlessly.

Regarding process and inspiration for “making”, I am absorbed in combining the ideas of chance and intention as both mechanism and inspiration in my studio output. Surprise can come from the accident, the anomaly or the serendipitous. But the unforeseen can also come from careful planning and rule structure (I.E. John Cage). I implement both methods mentioned above to establish a neutral ground where I then begin to overlay my specific reactions. This process is repeated via layering until the result is something that, for me, has the right combination of both planned and random results.

Generally, my work starts with a concept that in turn reveals the final media in which it is to be produced with. Variety keeps me interested and also keeps me learning. I use the amalgamation of advanced fabrication methods and traditional, hands on techniques to explore new ways of interpreting, creating and experimenting with material output. I enjoy coupling machine and human to create layered and often unpredictable results. My work encompasses painting, drawing, light, video, photography, architecture, sculpture, interactivity and installation. Sometimes singularly and other times all at once.

Abbreviated CV

GENERAL INFORMATION

Ivan Toth Depeña

Charlotte, NC

 

 

EDUCATION

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Masters in Architecture
Cambridge, MA
1998

 

University of Miami

Bachelor in Architecture

Miami, FL

1996

 

Pratt Institute

Bachelor in Architecture Candidate

Brooklyn, NY

1990-1994

 

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

School of Visual Arts

Public Art Residency
New York, NY 2010

 

Max/MSP/Jitter Certificate

Harvestworks
New York, NY 2008

 

 

LECTURES/DISCUSSIONS

“Mainframe”

Mint Museum -Charlotte, NC

September 2018

 

“Smart Cities Miami 2018 presented by Hotwire Communications”

University of Miami – Miami, FL
Panelist discussing the convergence of technology, design, and development in the shaping of a new urban landscape transformed by disruptive innovation
Spring 2018

 

“Interconnections”

Connecticut College, New London, CT

Exhibition Lecture

February 2017

 

“Technology in Art”

Winthrop University – Rock Hill, SC
Lecture on current projects and work in progress
Spring 2016

 

“Art in Architecture”

National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures

American Institute of Architects Miami Panel: Center for Architecture and Design, Miami
October 2015

 

“Technology and the Arts”

National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures
Panel Discussion, Miami, Florida
January 2015

 

“Chance”

Appalachian State University - Boone, NC
Lecture on current projects and work in progress
March 2014

 

 

RESIDENCIES

Goodyear Arts

Charlotte, NC
2019

 

McColl Center for Visual Arts and Innovation

Technology Architecture
Charlotte, NC
2015 - 2016

 

Atlantic Center for Art

New Media Residency
New Smyrna Beach, FL
2009

 

 

RECENT PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS

Breaking Barriers

In honor of Jack Trice

ISU, Ames, IA
2022
View project
 

Aurum

Charlotte, NC
2022
View project
 

The Square

Charlotte, NC

2021
 

Railyard

Charlotte, NC

2020
 

Future Artifact (Pepsi Cube)

Charlotte, NC
2020
 

"Untitled"

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
2019
 

"Steelyard Garage Mural"

Charlotte, NC
2019
View project
 

“Air/Traffic/Control”

Nashville International Airport’

Nashville, TN

2019

View project

 

“Color Forest”

Charlotte Rail Trail

Charlotte, NC

2019

View project

 

“Light Cloud”

Glazer Children’s Museum

Tampa, FL

2018

View project

 

“Surface”

CATS Transit Permanent Public Art Installation

Cornelius, NC

2017

View project

 

“Melt”

Temporary Public Art Installation

Commissioned by Spotify. Miami Beach, FL

2016

View project

 

“Light Fall”

Permanent Public Art Installation

University of Florida. : Gainseville, FL

2016

 

“Lapse”

Multi-Site Permanent Interactive Virtual Public Art Experience (Software).
Commissioned by: Knight Foundation and Miami-Dade Art in Public Places. Various sites throughout Miami-Dade, FL
2015-2016

View project

 

“Arc”

Permanent Outdoor Sculpture

Northeast Regional Library : Aventura, FL

2015

View project

 

“Towards a Fading Signal and Adrift”

Permanent Kinetic Indoor Installation

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

2015

View project

 

“Inside/Out” Spring”

Permanent Interactive Indoor Light Installation
University of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM
2015
View project

 

“Color Field”

Permanent Outdoor Sculpture
RTD Light Rail Station : Denver, CO
2014
View project

 

“The Walkers”

Temporary Interactive Light Installation
Reed Krakoff Flagship Storefront : Madison Avenue, NY, NY
2013
View project

 

“Shape/Shift”

Temporary Interactive Video/Sculpture Installation
Internet Week 2012 HQ: NY, NY
2012

 

 

CURRENT/UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Dreamcaster

Atlanta, GA - In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

 

I-277 Pedestrian Bridge

Bridge Design + Lighting, Charlotte, NC

 

Untitled

Santa Clara Animal Shelter, Santa Clara, CA

 

Cyclone

ISU, Ames, IA

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

"Lift"

Miami River Armory
Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami, FL
2017

 

"remember"

McColl Center for Arts + Innovation
Charlotte, NC
2016 – 2017

 

"Interconnections"

Connecticut College Gallery
New London, CT
2017

 

"Matter"

Praxis
New York, NY
Summer 2016

 

"The Moment"

Locust Projects.

Miami, Florida

Spring 2016

 

"¡SINFONICA!"

Charlotte Symphony.

Charlotte, NC

January 2016

 

"In Process"

Selected Works. McColl Center for Arts and Innovation
Charlotte, NC
November 2015

 

"You and What Army?"

Multimedia Installation. New Britain Museum of American Art
New Britain, CT
November 2014

 

"Reflect" Ribbon Cutting

Art in Public Places. Stephen Clark Government Center

Downtown Miami, Florida

November 2011

 

"The Fallen Sky Chronicles"

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood. Project Room

Hollywood, FL

November 2008

 

"Synthesis"

Heinemann + Myers Contemporary

Bethesda, MD

January 2008

 

"Orbit/Habit/Pattern"

Aqua Art Fair/Ingalls & Associates. Art Basel Miami
Miami Beach, FL
December 2007

 

"Noise"

Ingalls & Associates
Miami, FL
December 2007

 

"Incidental Antinomies: The Portraits"

Ingalls & Associates
Miami, FL
November 2004

 

"Ivan Toth Depeña"

Cultural Center
Miami, FL
September 2003

 

"Like Never Seems"

Locust Projects.Project Room
Miami, FL
October 2002

 

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

"Nutrient Rich"

Goodyear Arts

Charlotte, NC

2022

 

"Modify"

Alchemy Gallery

Charlotte, NC

2020

 

"Future Artifact"

Projective Eye Gallery

Charlotte, NC

2020

 

"Goodyear Arts: Residency Showcase "

Charlotte, NC

2019

 

"City Unseen"

Snap! Orlando

Orlando, FLC

2018

 

"McColl Center Alumni + Local Artist Showcase"

Anne Nielson Fine Arts

Charlotte, NC

2018

 

"Smash & Grab"

Locust Projects

Miami, FL

2018

 

"Wet Paint"

Goodyear Arts

Charlotte, NC

2017

 

"Works from AIR"

McColl Center for the Arts

Charlotte, NC

2015

 

"Cintas Fellowship Finalist Exhibitions"

Museum of Art + Design

Miami Dade College, Freedom Tower - Miami, FL

2016, 2013, 2011, 2009 and 2007

 

"Interactive Installation" May 2012

Public Installation. Working with students from NYU/ITP and the Spatial Media course. Internet Week 2012 HQ

New York, NY

May 2012

 

Big Screen Plaza

Video Screenings
New York, NY
Summer 2011

 

"DCG Open"

David Castillo Gallery
Miami, FL
July 2011

 

"Caos & Conclusion"

Museo de Arte Moderno
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
June 2011

 

"Shared Island"

Edge Zones
Miami, FL
June 2011

 

"Aesthetics and Values 2011"

Frost Museum of Art
Miami, FL
March 2011

 

"Not the Usual Suspects: [new] Art in [new] Public [new] Places"

ArtCenter
Miami Beach, FL
February 2011

 

"Time and Temp: Surveying the Shifting Climate of Painting in South Florida"

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood
Hollywood, FL
November 2009

 

"Miami: The Edge of a Nation"

Melissa Morgan Fine Art
Palm Springs, CA
January 2009

 

"Thirteen Artists"

Museum of Art
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June 2008

 

"Big Juicy Paintings and Other Work"

Miami Art Museum
Miami, FL
June 2006

 

"Big Juicy Paintings and Other Work"

Miami Art Museum
Miami, FL
June 2006

 

"Miami in Transition"

Miami Art Museum
Miami, FL
April 2006

 

"Independent Project: Ingalls & Associates"

Art Taipei
Miami, FL
March 2006

 

"Project: Ingalls & Associates"

NADA. Art Basel
Miami Beach, FL
December 2005

 

"Project: Ingalls & Associates"

DiVA
New York, NY
March 2005

 

"Light and Atmosphere"

Miami Art Museum
Miami, FL
April - December 2004

 

"New Art"

Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art
West Palm Beach, FL
July 2003L

 

"Made in Miami"

Fredrick Snitzer Gallery
Miami, FL
July 2003

 

"Optic Nerve"

Museum of Contemporary Art
North Miami, FL

 

"Rumblestrip in Artbase"

Rhizome.org. Web

July 2001

 

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Public Art “Year in Review” Award

National Public Art Network

Awarded to “Air/Traffic/Control” in Nashville, TN

2019 

 

Public Art “Year in Review” Award

National Public Art Network

Awarded to “Surface” in Cornelius, NC

2018

 

United States Artist Fellow Finalist

National Award
2017

 

CIFO Collections Finalist

Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation
2017

 

Knight Arts Challenge Winner

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
“Augmented Miami (A New Way of Experiencing Art)”

Miami, FL

2014-2016

 

Emilio Sanchez Award in Visual Arts Finalist -

Cintas Foundation
Miami, FL
2016, 2014, 2011, 2009 and 2007

 

Public Art “Year in Review” Award

National Public Art Network

Awarded to “Reflect” in Miami, F

2012

 

SFCC Visual + Media Artist Fellowship Grant Award -

S. FL Division of Cultural Affairs
Miami, FL
2008 and 2003

 

Artist Enhancement Grant

State of Florida
2007

 

Artist Access Grant

S. FL Division of Cultural Affairs/Tigertail Productions
Miami, FL

2006

 

Creative Capital Workshop -

S. FL Division of Cultural Affairs
2005

 

Artist Access Grant

S. FL Division of Cultural Affairs/Tigertail Productions
Miami, FL2005

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Locust Projects: 20th Anniversary Retrospective Book

Tra Publishers

Book Inclusion

 

Art in Transit: Charlotte Area Transit System

Art in Transit Publishers

Book Inclusion

Bright 2: Architectural Illumination and Light Installations : 2015

Frame Publishers

Book Inclusion

Various studio projects showcased

 

Ways of Worldmaking (Notes on a Passion for Collecting) : 2012

Miami Dade College Art Gallery System

Authors: Arturo Mosquera

 

Miami Contemporary Artists : 2007

Book. Schiffer Publications

Authors: Paul Clemence and Julie Davidow, intro by Elisa Turner

 

Wet 2 : 2006

Book. Schiffer Publications

Authors: Edge Zones

 

Carlos Zapata: The Restlessness of Architecture : 1995

Book Inclusion. Design Credit Victor Hotel

Authors: Beth Dunlop and Joseph Giovannini, L’Arcaedizione