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Maria Fernanda Cardoso

born 1963

On the Origins of Art I-II 2016
© Maria Fernanda Cardoso
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Biography

María Fernanda Cardoso (born 1963) is a Colombian artist based in Australia. Her contemporary art references many types of ready-made material, including plastic, trash, plants, dried and living animals, bones and styrofoam. One of her most famous art installations was a flea circus that featured live cat fleas. The circus toured internationally at venues including the Sydney Opera House, the Centre Pompidou, the Arts Festival Atlanta, the Fabric Workshop and Museum (Philadelphia), and the San Francisco Exploratorium. This work, including a series of videos made in collaboration with Ross Rudesch Harley, is now part of Tate Modern's permanent collection.

Her works have been featured in several museums internationally in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, and have won several awards. She resides in Sydney.

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Artworks

Left Right
  • On the Origins of Art - Actual Size II, Maratus Splendens

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    2016
  • On the Origins or Art - Actual Size I, Maratus Volans

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    2016
  • Cardoso Flea Circus

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Ross Rudesch Harley
    1994–2000
  • Corn Cob Coil

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    1989
  • Corn Drawings

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    1985–9
  • On the Origins of Art I-II

    Maria Fernanda Cardoso
    2016

Film and audio

  • Interview

    María Fernanda Cardoso: ‘I’m in awe with the small’

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