Brooklyn-based artist Rafael Vargas-Suarez - known as Vargas-Suarez Universal - will transform the lobby of the Miller Theatre at Columbia University into an immersive artwork, creating a large-scale wall drawing that references musical notation and musician's staff paper through abstract geometrics.

Vargas-Suarez Universal is an internationally recognized artist primarily known for large-scale, site-specific wall drawing, painting and sound pieces. In Vector Composition No. 1, 2013 will utilize the existing architectural space of the Miller Theater's lobby as a canvas. The artist's deep interest in music is evidenced in his work and practice. Yet, The Miller Theater project will be the first time Vargas-Suarez Universal will explore this passion directly.

In Vargas-Suarez’s own words: “The point of departure for this piece is my constant observation of the public's commentary that my wall drawings, paintings and overall aesthetic looks "musical." I find this opinion quite accurate since I almost exclusively draw and paint while listening to music. I pace myself to the rhythm of songs from classical to progressive and experimental musical artists from one artwork to another.”

Vargas-Suarez was raised in the Houston suburb of Clear Lake City, adjacent to the Johnson Space Center (NASA), he studied astronomy and art history at the University of Texas at Austin from 1991 to 1996, and moved to New York City in 1997. The artist’s work is based in research conducted on American and Russian manned and unmanned spaceflight programs, astronomy, and aerospace architecture. The work is informed by engineering guides for American and Russian spacecraft design; technical reports for launch preparations, manned spaceflight, and space junk mitigation; vintage NASA publications; images sourced from spacewalk helmet cameras; hand-held digital photography by astronauts and cosmonauts; launch pad cameras; satellite photography; telemetry visualization; VR modeling; earth observation video; live NASA TV and Roscosmos TV broadcast screen shots. Often, linear "vector" drawings connect images and information while referencing the design and mathematical elements of these subjects.

Since childhood Vargas-Suarez has an abiding interest in music. His grandfather, Miguel Suarez Sanchez, had been successful jazz musician in Mexico from the 1920s to the 1950s. Rafael grew up listening to recordings of his grandfather’s work on 78 RPM records. While Rafael played the drums, his brother played the viola and later the guitar. The family had keyboards, that in the 1980s led to his interest in electronic and industrial music. The aesthetics associated with this type of music dovetailed with Rafael’s burgeoning interests in contemporary American and German art of that time.

Music continues to hold a special place for the artist. He has created audio works, at times in collaboration with sound artists (including composer Stephen Barber). He conceives of these sonic landscapes as drawings with interruptions in air pressure or sound. Moreover, his very practice is closely linked to his experience of music. He paces his creative efforts to it, working in spurts related to the length of whatever album or live concert recording he chooses to accompany him.

Vargas-Suarez Universal’s work is in numerous international public and private collections including the Museum of Modern Art Library, Whitney Museum of American Art, El Museo del Barrio, Queens Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Dieu Donne Papermill, Inc. Archives (all New York); Jersey City Museum, NJ; Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, RI; Baltimore Museum of Art, MD; Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin,TX; Palazzo delle Papesse Centro Arte Contemporanea, Siena, Italy; DA2 (Domus Artium, 2002) Salamanca, Spain; Winzavod Contemporary Art Centre, Moscow, Russian Federation, and the UBS Art Collection.

The artist is currently creating murals for the new IS/PS 342 Riverside Center School, on West End Avenue between 60th and 61st Street. This work has been commissioned by the “Public Art for Public Schools (PAPS)” program, a unit of the NYC Department of Education and a program of the New York City School Construction Authority, in collaboration with the Percent for Art program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.. The school’s completion and inauguration is scheduled for September 2015.

The Wallach Art Gallery contributes to Columbia’s long-standing tradition of historical, critical, and creative engagement in the visual arts, by presenting exhibitions and related programming that reflect the diversity of interests and approaches to the arts at the University. While embodying the Columbia’s high standards for research and instruction, exhibitions strive to include the broad range of research and production undertaken by students and faculty, and to animate the University’s rich cultural resources.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University is the leading presenter of new music in New York City and one of the most vital forces nationwide for innovative programming. In partnership with Columbia University School of the Arts, Miller is dedicated to producing and presenting unique events in dance, contemporary and early music, jazz, opera, and performance. Founded in 1988 with funding from John Goelet, Brooke Astor, and the Kathryn Bache Miller Fund, Miller Theatre has built a reputation for attracting new and diverse audiences to the performing arts and expanding public knowledge of contemporary music.

Miller Theatre
2960 Broadway (at 116th Street)
New York (NY) 10027 United States
Tel. +1 (212) 8547799

Opening hours
Monday - Friday
From 10am to 6pm

Related images

  1. Installation view, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014. Courtesy the artist
  2. In process, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014, Photograph by Gerald Sampson
  3. Installation view, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014. Courtesy the artist
  4. In process, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014, Photograph by Gerald Sampson
  5. Installation view, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014. Courtesy the artist
  6. In process, Vector Composition No. 1, 2013, by Vargas-Suarez Universal, Miller Theatre at Columbia University in collaboration with The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery. October 10, 2013-May 31, 2014, Photograph by Gerald Sampson