Santiago Torres - Biography

Born in Paris in 1986, Santiago Torres is an interactive artist whose work lies at the intersection of digital and kinetic art. He explores the relationship between light, color, and geometric abstraction, often through interactive devices and works utilizing cutting-edge technologies. His work is characterized by a quest for dialogue between the viewer and the artwork, where active participation becomes an essential element of the aesthetic experience.

After spending part of his childhood in Venezuela, he permanently settled in Paris in 2005, where he was granted political refugee status. Early on, he engaged in artistic research on color, light, and interactivity. His arrival in France placed him at the heart of the kinetic and neo-constructivist art scene, where he met influential figures such as Julio Le Parc and Octavio Herrera, who had a decisive influence on his work.

Early Research and Immersion in Kinetic Art (2008-2009)

In 2008, Torres made his debut by exhibiting his first personal work in France, Hommage à Malevitch, at the Galerie Neri Marigno. This exhibition marked his entry into the world of contemporary French art. In the same year, he joined the Atelier Schöffer, where he deepened his knowledge of cybernetic and kinetic art, a field that would allow him to develop his own approach to interactivity and digital art. It was also at this time that restorer Éléonore Schöffer noticed his work, declaring that his creations "are not static but open to aesthetic and sensitive dialogue."

In 2009, he participated in Nuit Blanche Paris, where he presented an interactive installation. That same year, he was tasked with restoring a large portion of Julio Le Parc's light works, notably Jeux Surprises, which led him to develop a deeper understanding of the materials and technical processes used in kinetic and digital art.

Rise on the International Scene (2010-2014)

In 2010, he was represented by the Galerie Denise René, a leading figure in kinetic art, where he presented Trame en temps réel, a work exploring the unpredictability and fluidity of digital visual composition. That same year, he exhibited at Art Basel and FIAC, thus joining the world’s foremost contemporary art fairs.

In the following years, he continued exhibiting, such as Noir et Blanc (2011, Architektur der Stille, Das Kleine Museum) and Trame en temps réel at the Musée en Herbe (2012), while remaining regularly represented by Galerie Denise René. In 2013, he unveiled his Lumières Aléatoires series at the Les Sud-Américains exhibition at Galerie Denise René and participated in prestigious events such as Cinétique Numérique at Art-ON Istanbul and the PINTA-London Latin American Art Fair. That same year, he was invited to participate in Hommage to Denise René at the Espace Expression in Miami.

In 2014, Galerie Denise René dedicated a solo show to him, Interactive, affirming his role as a pioneer in integrating digital technologies into kinetic art. It was also in this year that he developed Illuminar, a series of interactive devices designed to be installed in hospitals in collaboration with the association Art dans la Cité, illustrating his commitment to integrating art into public and medical spaces.

Institutional Development and Technological Expansion (2015-2025)

Between 2015 and 2019, Torres continued to fuel his artistic research by participating in numerous exhibitions, including Cinétique et Numérique 2 (Galerie Denise René, 2015), Lumière et Mouvement (Galerie Denise René, 2016), and Variation at the Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris, 2016). In 2018, he inaugurated EP7, a Parisian cultural space with a 133 m² digital facade, where he presented a solo exhibition entitled Interactive. He also continued to exhibit at significant events such as Ballet Mécanique in Souillac and Espace Oblique (Galerie Denise René).

In 2019, he began an artistic residency at the Villa Dufraine – Académie des Beaux-Arts, where he explored interactions between algorithms, sculpture, and artificial intelligence. This exploration continued in 2020, when he exhibited Colorful at Galerie Denise René and developed a series of laser engravings created by generative algorithms.

In 2021, he exhibited his first algorithmic works, which were also laser engravings, in a new minimalist and generative approach. That same year, he completed his residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts and participated in the exhibition Structures du silence at Galerie Denise René. In 2022, he launched Rotations Colors, a collection of NFTs, and presented Real-Time at the Calculer la beauté exhibition, curated by Dominique Moulon.

In 2023, he initiated the In Material project with Janine Sarbu, a project bringing together 27 artists under the curatorship of Dominique Moulon, Janine Sarbu, and himself. In April 2024, he was celebrated in a solo show at METAHAUS, VITRIOL, curated by Janine Sarbu, with the participation of the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. In October 2024, he launched the UnReal project, once again bringing together 27 artists, under the curatorship of Moulon, Sarbu, and Torres.

In 2025, he continues to push the boundaries of his art by exploring new digital and technological horizons, notably participating in the DIEU EST ALGORITHME exhibition at Galerie Plateforme Paris and Fluctuations at METAHAUS.

Santiago Torres is an artist committed to a constant search between art, technology, and interaction, aiming to renew the contemporary aesthetic experience through his interactive, digital, and algorithmic works.