Bio

Elías Crespin is a Venezuelan plastic artist born in Caracas in 1965, whose unique creative practice is rooted in a profound synthesis of two seemingly disparate worlds: engineering and art. Trained initially as a computer engineer, Crespin leverages his extensive knowledge of mathematics, algorithms, and programming to create his signature works. This intellectual foundation is deeply intertwined with his artistic heritage; as the son of mathematicians and the grandson of the seminal kinetic artist Gego, he naturally embodies the tradition of geometric abstraction that flourished in Venezuela, approaching it with a unique 21st-century technological rigor.

The artist’s international trajectory solidified in 2008 when he relocated to Paris, France, where he currently resides and works. This move placed him at a central hub of the art world and allowed his innovative style—which he describes as "electrokinetic" or robotic art—to gain significant European exposure. Crespin's sculptures consist of meticulously arranged geometric modules, typically made of metal elements, suspended in midair by nearly invisible nylon threads. Controlled by custom-software-driven motors, these elements engage in slow, elegant, and algorithmically choreographed dances, constantly shifting in form and challenging the viewer's perception of space, time, and gravity.

A landmark achievement underscoring his international standing came in 2020 with the inauguration of his permanent installation, L'Onde du Midi (The Midday Wave), at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Commissioned to mark the 30th anniversary of the Louvre Pyramid, this monumental work features 128 suspended aluminum tubes performing a non-linear, undulating choreography over the Escalier du Midi. By installing a permanent contemporary artwork in one of the world's most classical institutions, Crespin joined the ranks of elite artists—such as Anselm Kiefer and François Morellet—who have been invited to contribute to the museum, cementing his reputation on the global stage.

Crespin’s global impact is further reflected in his inclusion in the permanent collections of prestigious international institutions across three continents. These include the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), El Museo del Barrio in New York, the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (MALBA), The Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, and the Maison de l’Amérique Latine in Paris. Furthermore, his work has been featured in major exhibitions worldwide, such as the Busan Biennale in South Korea and the Dynamo exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, confirming his recognition as a key figure continuing and advancing the legacy of kinetic art through computational rigor and elegance.

SELECTION OF SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

• 2025: CONTINUUM, Hacienda La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
• 2024: Chronomorphosis, Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden.
• 2023: Tempomorphosis, Sicardi Gallery, Houston, TX, USA.
• 2023: Cosmologies, Baró Galería, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
• 2021: And Yet It Moves!, Sicardi Gallery, Houston, TX, USA.
• 2017: Slow Motion, Maison de l’Amérique Latine, Paris, France.
• 2011: Visionary Collection Vol. 14. Elias Crespin Electrokinetics, Haus Konstruktiv, Zürich, Switzerland.

SELECTION OF AWARDS:

• 2019: Proyección Internacional, AICA Venezuela.
• 2006: Premio Armando Reverón, 63 Salón Arturo Michelena, Valencia, Venezuela.
• 2005: Artist’s Choice Award, ArtBots, Dublin, Ireland.