Gabriel Barcia-Colombo

Last updated
Gabriel Barcia-Colombo
Born
Los Angeles, California
Alma mater USC School of Cinematic Arts
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • Video artist
Years active2006–present
Known forDNA Vending Machine,
New York Minute,
Hereafter Institute,
Platform,
Neon Museum Residency
Relatives José Rubia Barcia (grandfather)
Website www.gabebc.com

Gabriel Barcia-Colombo (born 1982) is an American video artist and filmmaker, best known for his video sculpture installations. He explores themes of memory, identity, and human connection through a combination of video, photography, and video sculpture. [1]

Contents

Barcia-Colombo is the grandson of Spanish poet and writer José Rubia Barcia. [2]

Early life and career

Barcia-Colombo graduated from the USC School of Cinema-Television and is currently a Professor of Media Arts at the Tisch School of the Arts. [3] In 2008, he was awarded the NYFA grant for video. [4] In 2012, he was made a TED fellow. [5] Barcia-Colombo has presented two TED talks since then, one in 2012 and the other in 2013. [6] [7]

In 2014, Barcia-Colombo founded “Bunker,” a pop-up VR gallery in New York City which features artists' work in the form of code-driven sculpture, augmented reality, and virtual installation. [8] [9] The gallery was re-opened at Sotheby's in New York in 2017. [10]

In 2025, Barcia-Colombo directed a music video for David Byrne's lead single "Everybody Laughs" from the artist's solo album Who Is the Sky?, set to release later in September. [11] [12]

Art projects

DNA Vending Machine

DNA Vending Machine DNA Vending Machine.jpg
DNA Vending Machine

In 2014, to create the awareness about privacy issues related to the use of information stored in human DNA, Barcia-Colombo created a vending machine that dispenses human genetic material. [13] The machine was installed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

New York Minute

New York Minute "New York Minute" - Gabe Barcia-Colombo.jpg
New York Minute

In 2015, Barcia-Colombo created a video art project entitled New York Minute for the Fulton Center. The project featured 52 portraits of New Yorkers doing everyday activities in super-slow motion. The project was honored by the non-profit organization Americans for the Arts. [14]

Hereafter Institute

In 2016, Barcia-Colombo created the project Hereafter Institute, which was premiered at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as part of the Art and Technology Lab. [15] The project examines the ways in which people memorialize themselves after their death in the digital age and what happens to their data when they die. [16]

Platform

Platform is a video artwork by Barcia-Colombo that examines what it means to be back together in a crowd after years spent apart. The work features a large portrait of 40 New Yorkers in a slow-motion moment of awe as they come together to examine the passersby in the new Grand Central Terminal. [17] Platform also showed in the Madison concourse under Grand Central Station. [18]

The Neon Museum Residency

Temptation in Paradise (Pink) Temptation in Paradise (Pink).jpg
Temptation in Paradise (Pink)

During his residency at The Neon Museum, Barcia-Colombo investigated how technology and light influences and impacts memory by creating a series of sculptures inspired by the neon signs at the museum. [19] Barcia-Colombo gave an artist talk via Zoom and conducted a projection mapping workshop with students.

In addition, Barcia-Colombo utilized his studio space at the Juhl to record video of a number of Las Vegas locals. These came together in a composite video sculpture and as recreations of three Las Vegas figures; Vegas Vic performed by Brent Holmes, Vegas Vickie performed by Laci Cerrone, and Elvis performed by Heidi Rider. [20]

References

  1. ↑ Rubin, Josh. "Interactive new media artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo takes on television's digital takeover". Cool Hunting.
  2. ↑ Bereznak, Alyssa (24 August 2016). "The Afterlife Will Be Digitized". The Ringer.
  3. ↑ "Gabriel Barcia-Colombo". TISCH - New York University.
  4. ↑ "NYFA video fellow". Archived from the original on 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  5. ↑ Barcia-Colombo, Gabriel. "Gabriel Barcia-Colombo - Speaker - TED". Ted.com.
  6. ↑ Barcia-Colombo, Gabriel. Capturing memories in video art.
  7. ↑ Barcia-Colombo, Gabriel. My DNA vending machine.
  8. ↑ ""Save As..." at NYC Pop-Up Gallery, Bunker". Cool Hunting. 4 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Rose, Frank (2017-07-24). "Young Digital Artists, Anxious About ... Technology". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
  10. ↑ "5 Questions for Digital Artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo". www.sothebys.com.
  11. ↑ Aswad, Jem (2025-06-10). "David Byrne Announces New Album, Who Is the Sky?, and World Tour". Variety. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  12. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (2025-06-10). "David Byrne Announces Tour and New Album, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  13. ↑ Hussey, Matt (2014-03-13). "DNA Vending Machine discusses ethics of genetic engineering". Dezeen.
  14. ↑ "'Sky Reflector-Net,' 'New York Minute' Among Best Public Art in U.S., Canada". Metropolitan Transportation Authority . June 12, 2015. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  15. ↑ Miranda, Carolina A. (2016-09-02). "What happens to a person's Facebook posts after they die? One artist is using them to build digital memorials". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035.
  16. ↑ "The Hereafter Institute". www.hereafterinstitute.com. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
  17. ↑ Barcia-Colombo, Gabriel (1 March 2023). "Platform". Gabe BC.
  18. ↑ Barcia-Colombo, Gabriel (22 December 2022). "Now Arriving: Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith's Grand Central Madison Mosaics". New York Times.
  19. ↑ "Neon Museum Artist In Residence Gabriel Barcia-Colombo". The Neon Museum Las Vegas. 10 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "AIR6: Gabriel Barcia-Colombo". The Neon Museum Las Vegas. 8 April 2022.
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