Biography

Miguel Betancourt — Contemporary Ecuadorian Artist

(Quito, Ecuador)

Miguel Betancourt (Quito, Ecuador, 1958) is an Ecuadorian contemporary visual artist whose career of more than four decades spans painting, drawing, and mixed media. His aesthetic establishes an enduring dialogue between ancestral Andean memory, colonial architecture, and contemporary artistic exploration. Formed at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a British Council fellow at the Slade School of Fine Art (London), his body of work stands out for rigorous chromatic research and material experimentation with both organic and traditional substrates such as rice paper, native reeds, and canvas.

Key Career Highlights

International Biennials & Triennials: Represented Ecuador at the Venice Biennale (IILA Pavilion, 1993), the Cuenca Biennial (1987), and the 6th Beijing International Art Biennale (2015), along with his participation in the New York Latin American Art Triennial (NYLAAT) 2021–2022.
Museum & Institutional Collections: His artworks form part of prestigious holdings including the Imago Mundi Collection (Luciano Benetton Foundation, Italy), the Museum of the Americas (OAS, Washington D.C.), and diplomatic and private collections across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Global Exhibitions & Honors: Has exhibited individually and collectively in cultural venues across Rome, London, Vienna, Geneva, New York, Tokyo, and Beijing, and was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (New York, 1993).

Explore original paintings in the Online Gallery, review monograph books in Publications, or access art criticism essays in the Press Archive.

Quoting the visual – Portfolio 2026

A visual selection of the painter’s recent work, presented as an echo of his characteristic themes and techniques.

TRAJECTORY

From Ecuador to the World

Miguel Betancourt has built an artistic career defined by exploration, color, and an enduring openness to other cultures. From his earliest formative experiences to his participation in biennials, international exhibitions, and institutional collections, his work has traversed diverse territories and cultural contexts.

◆ CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE (1974 — PRESENT)

EDUCATION / INFLUENCES
1974

Cumbayá

Early Artistic Foundations

Miguel Betancourt took his first steps in painting alongside Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Moreno, gaining early fundamentals of the craft and visual sensibility.

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EDUCATION
1976–1977

Milwaukee

Milwaukee Art Museum Workshop

Attends an intensive painting workshop at the Milwaukee Art Museum, expanding his technical and visual perspective.

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GRADUATION / FIRST SOLO SHOWS
1982–1983

Quito — Cuenca

PUCE Graduation & First Solo Exhibitions

Graduates from the School of Pedagogy and Letters at PUCE (Quito). Presents his first major solo shows at Galería Goríbar in Quito (1982) and Casa de la Cultura in Cuenca (1983).

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SOLO SHOWS / BIENNIALS
1985–1987

Quito — Valparaíso

Valparaíso Biennial & "Las Puertas..."

Presents "Las Puertas, los Muros y los Hilos" (Galería Sosa-Nesle, Quito). Participates in the VII International Art Biennial of Valparaíso (Chile), Miraflores (Lima), and the I International Painting Biennial of Cuenca.

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EDUCATION / TUTORSHIP
1988–1989

USA → London

Slade School of Fine Art & John Hoyland (London)

British Council Scholar at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art (UCL, London). He was mentored by the prominent British abstract painter John Hoyland, developing a close friendship and lasting artistic dialogue. Betancourt held a solo exhibition at the Slade School Gallery.

Estados Unidos → Londres (Slade School, UCL)

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CURATORIAL / CRITICAL RECOGNITION
1988–1990

London — USA

Curatorial Connection with William Jeffett

In the late 1980s, Betancourt established an enduring professional dialogue with William Jeffett (currently Chief Curator at The Salvador Dalí Museum, USA, and a leading scholar on surrealists including Joan Miró). Jeffett collected his work and authored key critical essays on his painting. Later, Betancourt invited him to serve as an international juror at the Cuenca Biennial.

Londres → St. Petersburg, Florida (The Dalí Museum)

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KEY GLOBAL MILESTONE
1992–1993

Rome → Venice → New York

Venice Biennale & Pollock-Krasner Award

Solo exhibitions "Natura e Forma" & "Selvaojival" at Istituto Italo-Latino Americano (IILA, Rome) and Alte Schmiede (Vienna); Ecuadorian Pavilion at Expo 92 Seville; October Gallery (London); XLV Venice Biennale (1993); I Andean-American Triennial (Santiago); and conferred the prestigious Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award in New York.

Roma (IILA) → Viena (Alte Schmiede) → Sevilla (Expo 92) → Londres (October Gallery) → Venecia (Biennale) → Nueva York (Pollock-Krasner)

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INTERNATIONAL PROJECTION
1994–1996

Washington → Bonn → Amsterdam

Washington, Bonn, Amsterdam & Alexandria

"Arborescencias" at Moscoso Gallery (Washington D.C.); Deloitte & Touche (Arnhem & Amsterdam); "Memoria Vegetal" (Lexington & Quito); "Pinturas" at Museum König (Bonn); Galerie van den Broek (Netherlands); The British Council (Quito); Ibero-American Art Fair (Caracas); and Latin American Art at Galería L’Atelier (Alexandria, Egypt).

Washington D.C. (Moscoso Gallery) → Bonn (Museo König) → Amsterdam & Arnhem (Deloitte) → Alejandría (L’Atelier)

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
1997–1998

Santiago → Lima → Vienna

"Eros en el arte ecuatoriano" & MoLAA

"Ecuador Contemporáneo" at Casa de América (Madrid); Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA, California); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC, Santiago); "Eros en el arte ecuatoriano" at Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Chile) and Museo Antropológico (Lima); and "Piedra Roja sobre Piedra Azul" at Galería Alte Schmiede (Vienna).

Madrid (Casa de América) → California (MoLAA) → Santiago (MNBA & MAC) → Lima (Museo Antropológico) → Viena (Alte Schmiede)

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GLOBAL SURVEY
1999–2000

Geneva → Madrid → Canberra

United Nations (Geneva), Madrid & Canberra

Solo exhibition at the Palais des Nations (United Nations, Geneva); "Ecuador en España" at Casa de América (Madrid); "Legados del Magma" at the Multicultural Festival (Canberra Museum, Australia); "Arquitectura Vegetal" at Museo de la Nación (Lima); and Galería István Rozsics (Budapest).

Lima (Museo de la Nación) → Budapest (Rozsics) → Ginebra (Palacio de las Naciones, ONU) → Madrid (Casa de América) → Canberra (Multicultural Fest)

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AMERICAS & PACIFIC EXPANSION
2001–2002

Miami → Sydney → Central America

MoLAA, Arte Miami, Sydney & Central America

Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA, California); "Arte Miami 2002" (Florida); Caramba-Latin American Gallery (Sydney, Australia); Museo Ixchel (Guatemala); Galería 1-2-3 (San Salvador); "Lugar y Tiempo del Color" at Galería Banco de Comercio (Lima); and Museo del Hombre Hondureño (Tegucigalpa).

California (MoLAA) → Miami (Arte Miami 2002) → Sydney (Caramba Gallery) → Guatemala (Museo Ixchel) → Lima (Banco de Comercio)

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BIENNIAL / GUEST OF HONOUR
2004–2007

Caracas → La Paz → Brussels

V SIART Biennial (Guest of Honour) & CAF

Guest of Honour at the V SIART International Art Biennial (La Paz, Bolivia); "Tendencias Visuales" at Galería CAF (Caracas); 4 Contemporary Ecuadorian Artists at AFS World Congress (Tokyo); IV Latin American Contemporary Art Fair ETNIA at Archivos del Rey (Brussels); and 2nd International Watercolor Triennial (Santa Marta).

Caracas (Galería CAF) → Tokio (AFS World Congress) → Bruselas (ETNIA) → La Paz (V Bienal SIART)

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CONTINUOUS ITINERANCY
2008 → PRESENT

Treviso / Global

Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton Collection

From 2008 to the present day, his work forms part of the worldwide traveling collection Imago Mundi (Fondazione Luciano Benetton, Treviso), featured in major exhibitions: "Ojo Latino" in Santiago de Chile (2008), Buenos Aires (2009), Treviso (2009–2013), and Milan (Casabella Laboratorio, 2012).

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2011–2012

Rome → Tokyo → Milan

"Ecuador más allá de los conceptos" & Tokyo

Solo exhibition "Ecuador más allá de los conceptos" at Instituto Cervantes Gallery in Rome (2012); Latin American & Caribbean Artists at Tokyo City Hall Viewpoint (2011); and Casabella Laboratorio in Milan (2012).

Tokio (City Hall) → Roma (Instituto Cervantes) → Milán (Casabella Laboratorio)

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EXHIBITION / ART MOVEMENT
2014

Vienna → Paris

"Ecuador in Focus" (OFID) & Art Résilience

"Ecuador in Focus" presented at OFID Headquarters Gallery in Vienna (Austria); and co-founding member of the international art movement Art Résilience in Paris (France).

Viena (OFID) → París (Art Résilience)

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INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL
2015

Beijing → France

6th Beijing International Art Biennale

Selected artist at the VI Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB, China); and participates in the Salon International Art Résilience at Musée de Peinture de Saint-Frajou (France).

Beijing (BIAB) → Saint-Frajou (Musée de Peinture)

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MAJOR ASIAN ITINERANCY
2017–2018

Beijing → Nanjing → Seoul → Tokyo

Asian Itinerancy: Beijing, Nanjing, Seoul & Tokyo

Major traveling solo & curated museum tour in Asia: "Trazos y Transparencias" at Capital Library Gallery (Beijing); "Trazos y Colores" at Jiangsu Art Museum (Nanjing); "Ecuador Through My Dreams" at Superior Gallery (Seoul) and Takanawa Gallery (Tokyo).

Beijing (Biblioteca Capital) → Nanjing (Museo Jiangsu) → Seúl (Superior Gallery) → Tokio (Galería Takanawa)

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
2020

Mexico City

"Transparencias del país de la mitad"

Solo exhibition "Transparencias del país de la mitad" at Galería Torre del Reloj (Mexico City); and "Lecturas de Quito" at Global Migration Forum.

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BOOK LAUNCH / TRIENNIAL
2021–2022

Bern → New York

Bern, NYLAAT Triennial & "Cosmogonías"

Exhibition "Figuras Ancestrales" and book presentation *Del silencio al color* at Peripherie-Arts (Bern, Switzerland); participates in the New York Latin American Art Triennial (NYLAAT); and presents "Cosmogonías de un pintor" at Alianza Francesa (Quito).

Berna (Peripherie-Arts) → Nueva York (NYLAAT Triennial) → Quito (Alianza Francesa)

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ANTHOLOGICAL SURVEY / MONUMENTAL ART
2023

Madrid → Quito

"Según la dirección del viento" & Meninas Madrid

Major anthological survey exhibition "Según la dirección del viento" at Palacio de Najas (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador); and acclaimed outdoor monumental intervened sculptures at Meninas Madrid Gallery (Spain).

Madrid (Meninas Gallery) → Quito (Palacio de Najas, Cancillería)

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TRIPLE INTERNATIONAL AXIS
2024

Bogotá → Madrid → Vienna

Bogotá, Madrid & Vienna

Three concurrent international exhibitions: "Raíces y visiones, un diálogo artístico" at Geba Art Gallery (Bogotá); "Feminitas, 3 miradas ecuatorianas" at Museo de América (Madrid); and "Three glances from the middle of the world" at OPEC Headquarters (Vienna).

Bogotá (Geba Art Gallery) → Madrid (Museo de América) → Viena (OPEC Headquarters)

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2025

Havana → Rome → Quito

"Ciudades Infinitas", Rome & "Palingenesia"

"Ciudades Infinitas" with Javier Barreiro at Casa Museo Guayasamín (Havana); "Dos miradas de la mitad del mundo" with William Cáceres at Galleria La Pigna (Rome); and solo survey "Palingenesia" (September–October 2025) at Alianza Francesa Galleries (Quito).

La Habana (Casa Museo Guayasamín) → Roma (Galleria La Pigna) → Quito (Alianza Francesa)

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THE PRESENT
2026

Present

AD LIBITUM

2026 · June · Ad Libitum.

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2026 · JUNE · AD LIBITUM

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.

GLOBAL PROJECTION

Miguel Betancourt’s Art in the World

📍 Select a city on the map

Explore institutional presences, exhibitions and biennials worldwide.

📍 View full directory of international cities, exhibitions & collections (39 locations)

Quito (Ecuador) Education & Influences

PUCE (1982) · Palacio de Najas (2023) · Guayasamín Distinction (2020) · Alianza Francesa: "Palingenesia" (2025) · Diners Club · Banco Central

Cuenca (Ecuador) International Exhibitions

I International Painting Biennial (1987) · Museo de Arte Moderno (1991, 2000, 2005) · Casa de la Cultura (1983)

Guayaquil (Ecuador) International Exhibitions

MAAC Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo (2006) · Galería Todo Arte · Manzana Verde

Lima (Peru) International Exhibitions

Museo Antropológico (1998) · Museo de la Nación (1999) · Galería Banco de Comercio (2002)

Santiago (Chile) Collections & Itinerancy

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (1998) · MAC Universidad de Chile (1996, 1997) · Galería Matthei · Arte al Límite AAL

Valparaiso (Chile) Biennials & Triennials

VII International Art Biennial of Valparaíso (1985)

Bogota (Colombia) International Exhibitions

Geba Art Gallery: "Raíces y visiones" (2024)

Caracas (Venezuela) Collections & Itinerancy

CAF Development Bank of Latin America (2004) · Ibero-American Art Fair (1994)

La Paz (Bolivia) Biennials & Triennials

V SIART Biennial - Guest of Honour (2007) · Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore

Buenos Aires (Argentina) Collections & Itinerancy

ITIMUSEUM Mercosur Traveling Contemporary Art Museum (2009) · La Noche de los Museos

Havana (Cuba) International Exhibitions

Casa Museo Guayasamín: "Ciudades Infinitas" (2025)

Mexico City (Mexico) International Exhibitions

Galería Torre del Reloj (2020) · VIII Ibero-American Biennial (1991)

Guatemala (Guatemala) International Exhibitions

Museo Ixchel (2001) · Centro Cultural Elmar Rojas (2004)

New York (United States) Awards & Movements

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award (1993) · NYLAAT Triennial (2022) · UN Permanent Mission

Washington D.C. (United States) Collections & Itinerancy

OAS Art Museum of the Americas Collection · Moscoso Gallery (1994) · Ardel Gallery (1988)

Miami (United States) International Exhibitions

Arte Miami (2002) · The Wirtz Gallery (1995)

California (United States) Collections & Itinerancy

MoLAA Museum of Latin American Art (1997, 2001) · FHP International Collection

London (United Kingdom) Education & Influences

Slade School of Fine Art / UCL (1988) · October Gallery (1993) · UCL Art Museum · Thames & Hudson (2020)

Paris (France) Awards & Movements

Art Résilience Founding Member (2014) · Salon International (2015)

Madrid (Spain) International Exhibitions

Casa de América (1997, 2000) · Meninas Madrid Gallery (2023) · Museo de América (2024)

Seville (Spain) International Exhibitions

Universal Exposition of Seville (Expo 92, Ecuadorian Pavilion)

Geneva (Switzerland) Collections & Itinerancy

Palais des Nations (United Nations, 2000) · UNAIDS Institutional Collection

Bern (Switzerland) International Exhibitions

Peripherie-Arts: "Figuras Ancestrales" & Book Presentation (2021)

Rome (Italy) International Exhibitions

Istituto Italo-Latino Americano (IILA, 1992, 1993) · Instituto Cervantes (2012) · Galleria La Pigna (2025)

Venice (Italy) Biennials & Triennials

XLV International Venice Biennale (1993)

Treviso (Italy) Collections & Itinerancy

Fondazione Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton (2008–Present) · Antiga Edizioni (2017)

Vienna (Austria) International Exhibitions

Alte Schmiede (1992, 1998) · OFID (2014) · OPEC (2024) · United Nations Collection

Bonn (Germany) International Exhibitions

Museum König: Solo Exhibition (1996)

Amsterdam (Netherlands) International Exhibitions

Deloitte & Touche (Amsterdam & Arnhem, 1994) · Galerie van den Broek (1993, 1996)

Brussels (Belgium) International Exhibitions

ETNIA IV Latin American Art Fair (Archivos del Rey, 2007) · Musée International du Carnaval (1991)

Budapest (Hungary) International Exhibitions

Galería István Rozsics (1999)

Beijing (China) Biennials & Triennials

VI Beijing International Art Biennale (2015) · Capital Library (2017) · Latin-American Pavilion (2013)

Nanjing (China) International Exhibitions

Jiangsu Art Museum: "Trazos y Colores" (2017)

Seoul (South Korea) International Exhibitions

Superior Gallery: "Ecuador Through My Dreams" (2017) · Dongwon Industries Collection

Tokyo (Japan) Collections & Itinerancy

IDB Inter-American Development Bank Collection · Takanawa Gallery (2018) · Tokyo City Hall (2011) · AFS (2004)

Canberra (Australia) International Exhibitions

Canberra Museum: "Legados del Magma", Multicultural Festival 2000

Sydney (Australia) International Exhibitions

Caramba-Latin American Gallery (2002)

Jerusalem (Israel) Collections & Itinerancy

Instituto Cultural Israel-Ibero América Collection

Alexandria (Egypt) International Exhibitions

Galería L’Atelier: Latin American Contemporary Art (1996)

PATRIMONY & ARCHIVE

Work in Collections

Organización de las Naciones Unidas
Viena, Austria
Organización de las Naciones Unidas / ONUSIDA
Ginebra, Switzerland
Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA / AMA)
Washington D.C., United States
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
Tokio, Japan
Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina (CAF)
Caracas, Venezuela
UCL Art Museum / University College London
Londres, United Kingdom
OFID - OPEC Fund for International Development
Viena, Austria
Fundación Imago Mundi (Luciano Benetton)
Treviso, Italy
Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA)
California, United States
Musée International du Carnaval et du Masque
Binche, Belgium
Dongwon Industries Co.
Seúl, South Korea
ITIMUSEUM - Museo Itinerante del Mercosur
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto Cultural Israel-Ibero América
Jerusalén, Israel
Misión Permanente del Ecuador ante la ONU
Nueva York, United States
Arte al Límite (AAL)
Santiago, Chile
Fundación Banco de Comercio
Lima, Peru
Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno
Cuenca, Ecuador
Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador
Quito / Cuenca / Bahía, Ecuador
Cancillería del Ecuador / Palacio de Najas
Quito, Ecuador
Diners Club del Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
Galerías de la Alianza Francesa
Quito, Ecuador

→ View original artworks in the Online Gallery

DISTINCTIONS

Awards & Honours

1993 · New York, USA

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award

Conferred by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York, recognizing artistic excellence.

2014 · Paris, France

Founding Member of Art Résilience

Founding member of the international artistic movement Art Résilience in Paris.

2020 · Quito, Ecuador

Oswaldo Guayasamín Distinction

Conferred by the Concejo Metropolitano de Quito for outstanding artistic career and cultural merit.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Miguel Betancourt in Publications

Betancourt: del Silencio al Color Editorial CCE, Quito (2021)
Latin American Art Since 1900 Thames & Hudson, Londres (2020)
Ecuador: Light of Time, Contemporary Artists from Ecuador Imago Mundi, Antiga Edizioni, Treviso (2017)
El transcurrir del sueño, poesía y pintura Editorial del Trauco, Chile (2016)
The Album of the 6th Beijing International Art Biennale China (2015)
Imágenes a Trasluz Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (2014)
Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in London: The Slade School of Fine Art & UCL Art Collections Londres (2005)
Nuevos Cien Artistas Mundo Diners, Quito (2001)
200 Años de Pintura Quiteña Citymarket, Quito (2007)
Betancourt Paradiso Editores, Quito (1996)

→ Explore all books & catalogs in Publications

Miguel Betancourt — Contemporary Ecuadorian Artist

(Quito, Ecuador)

Key Career Highlights

Quoting the visual – Portfolio 2026

From Ecuador to the World

Early Artistic Foundations

Milwaukee Art Museum Workshop

PUCE Graduation & First Solo Exhibitions

Valparaíso Biennial & "Las Puertas..."

Slade School of Fine Art & John Hoyland (London)

Curatorial Connection with William Jeffett

Venice Biennale & Pollock-Krasner Award

Washington, Bonn, Amsterdam & Alexandria

"Eros en el arte ecuatoriano" & MoLAA

United Nations (Geneva), Madrid & Canberra

MoLAA, Arte Miami, Sydney & Central America

V SIART Biennial (Guest of Honour) & CAF

Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton Collection

"Ecuador más allá de los conceptos" & Tokyo

"Ecuador in Focus" (OFID) & Art Résilience

6th Beijing International Art Biennale

Asian Itinerancy: Beijing, Nanjing, Seoul & Tokyo

"Transparencias del país de la mitad"

Bern, NYLAAT Triennial & "Cosmogonías"

"Según la dirección del viento" & Meninas Madrid

Bogotá, Madrid & Vienna

"Ciudades Infinitas", Rome & "Palingenesia"

AD LIBITUM

Miguel Betancourt’s Art in the World

Work in Collections

Awards & Honours

Miguel Betancourt in Publications