Marcelo Eli Sarmiento (b. 1989, Chicago) is an American artist whose work bridges the contemporary and ancestral, drawing deeply from his Mexican and Ecuadorian heritage. Grounded in pre-Columbian cosmology, symbolism, and mythology, his practice reimagines these traditions through a deeply personal lens, exploring the intersections of culture, identity, and collective memory.

As a first-generation American, Marcelo’s paintings serve as a space to navigate the complexities of belonging. Grappling with the tension of not being “enough”—not Indigenous enough, not American enough, not European enough—his work reflects his journey of self-discovery. Through painting, Marcelo confronts and reconciles these layered nuances of identity, using the creative process to explore his roots and histories in ways that are both introspective and transformative. Rather than claiming representation of Indigenous cultures, his work seeks to honor his heritage while inviting broader conversations about how personal histories are shaped by cultural displacement and inherited memory.

Through vibrant compositions that intertwine ancestral wisdom with contemporary sensibilities, Marcelo’s paintings evoke questions about identity, hybridity, and the complexities of human experience. His work resists simple categorization, instead offering a profound meditation on the connections between art, culture, and the evolving self.

Currently based in Chicago, Marcelo has exhibited widely in national and international venues. Recent solo exhibitions include Moments You Can’t Relive (Central Server Works, Los Angeles, 2024), Love Yours (Baby Blue Gallery, Chicago, 2023), and Be Without Fear (Uncurated Gallery, Online, 2022). His group exhibition highlights include Chicago and Vicinity (and Redux) (c/o Gallery, 2024), Thought Forms (Central Server Works/Marian Projects, Paris, 2023), and Wouldn’t You Love to Know? (Half Gallery, Berkshires, MA, 2023). Marcelo’s works are included in prestigious collections such as the ENS Collection (Los Angeles, CA), the Nick Themelis Collection (New York, NY/Palm Beach, FL), the Deutsch Collection (Chicago, IL), and The Macedonia Institute Collection (Brooklyn, NY), underscoring his position as a rising voice in contemporary art.

In 2024, Marcelo embarked on a transformative phase of his practice, transitioning to fine linen as a medium and exploring the interplay between large and small-scale compositions. This experimentation deepened his mastery of color and technique, while amplifying his exploration of ancestral narratives and their intersection with lived experience. By forging a new visual language that bridges pre-Columbian traditions with contemporary perspectives, Marcelo continues to push the boundaries of his craft. His work offers a thoughtful and resonant perspective on identity, inviting viewers to reflect on their own histories while contemplating the enduring connections between past and present.