Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaac Bencid
Hi Isaac, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career 21 years ago in Venezuela with Fénix Media, a production company I co-founded with my friends, which has grown to be one of the main producers of corporate videos in the country. We started with local clients such as Empresas Polar and their brands, Heinz, Subway, and Cargill. Over time, we expanded to Latin America and the United States, working with international clients like HBO Latin America and PepsiCo. This journey gave me invaluable experience, especially as we gained clients from around the world.
In parallel, I dedicated myself to documenting and preserving Venezuela’s cultural heritage through film, focusing on the lives and legacies of Venezuelan artists. Around 2012, I directed my first documentary on the renowned artist Ángel Hurtado, sparking a path that led to working with artists like Alirio Rodríguez, José Antonio Dávila, Régulo Pérez, Carlos Medina, and others, as well as gallery owners such as Magda Arria of GraphicArt and Rosamelia Herrera of Okyo. More recently, I have continued documenting contemporary artists like Starsky Brines, José Vívenes, and Jonidel Mendoza, capturing key moments of their careers alongside mine. This work has been my way of giving back to Venezuela, helping to preserve the culture that chavismo has eroded and contributing in the way I can to my country.
Additionally, I co-directed a documentary on Spanish artist Miquel Salom and the Dorcam, a project that earned multiple Telly Awards. Most recently, I directed a documentary on Jorge Salas, a Venezuelan artist living in the United States, which I completed less than a year ago.
After moving to the United States in 2017, I continued with Fénix Media, working with major clients like Sony Music, Univision, Telemundo, Brivo, KFC, and Ripple Images. Through these collaborations—especially with Univision, Sony Music, and Ripple Images—we have won several Telly and Communicator Awards.
Alongside this, I continued developing my personal artistic vision. Influenced by years of working with abstract and geometric artists, I began to explore a style that combines geometric abstraction with elements of informalism, reflecting the paradigm shift we’re living through. My work seeks to capture the chaotic, transformative energy of this shift, representing the transition from one stage to another. Today, I feel privileged to create work that reflects my experiences, background, and my journey through these turbulent changes.
My work has been exhibited at notable venues, including MIFA (Miami International Fine Arts), the MVA Art Gallery in Pennsylvania, The Bright Foundation in New York, Museo de la Estampa y del Diseño Carlos Cruz Diez in Caracas, and LMNT Gallery in Miami.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve come to understand that things in life aren’t necessarily difficult or easy; it’s often how we frame them in our minds. If we decide something is hard, our brains will find ways to make it seem hard. I believe things simply take time, and nearly everything we set out to achieve is possible if we approach it with the right mindset.
For example, I chose to focus on my career in audiovisual work rather than starting my artistic journey at 18 or 17, when I could have. That decision led me to a fulfilling career of 21 years as a director in film and video production. Now, I’m channeling that experience into developing my visual art. I see any struggle or challenge as part of the learning process that’s essential for growth.
Of course, challenges can bring frustrations and discomfort, but I view them as steps toward improvement. Now, with a clear focus on my artistic career, I know that success comes from dedication, building connections, and sharing my work with others. The “magic” unfolds naturally when you approach life with love and discipline, whether it’s your art, your work, or your relationships. It’s really as simple as that—life is as straightforward as you choose to see it. Dont force things.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my audiovisual work, what sets me apart is my deep dedication to documenting and understanding artists, particularly masters in their fields. Over the years, I spent countless weekends with them in their studios, filming, observing, and learning from their creative processes and philosophies. These weren’t just acquaintances; these were people often 50 years my senior, who shared their stories of living in places like Paris and Italy, struggling to survive in the early stages of their artistic journeys. This unique access to their insights about both art and life places me in a privileged position, giving me a profound understanding of the artistic journey.
In my own art, I’m developing a distinctive approach, especially with my collages and my work with metal mesh. Recently, a curator mentioned that my approach felt fresh and unique, unlike anything she had seen. The way I manipulate metal mesh to create volumes in space that shift and change as you view them is something I’m continually refining. While there’s an element of optical art and even kinetic influence, my goal isn’t purely to create kinetic or optical pieces. Instead, I aim to build compositions that appear different with every angle, every shadow, and every light source, giving the viewer a dynamic experience.
I feel that, at 47, I’m still in the search, actively developing my voice and language in art. This search isn’t just about finding a final form but about discovering, questioning, and evolving continuously. Each discovery adds layers to my vision, and this constant adaptation is what defines my journey. This understanding—the idea that art is an ongoing journey of exploration and reinvention—sets me apart, and it’s something I’ve already seen in my successful career as a director.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe the quality that has most contributed to my success is my understanding of patience. I’ve learned to embrace patience as a superpower—the ability to avoid anxiety, live in the moment, and trust that waiting often brings the answers. This mindset has helped me in every area of my life, as I’ve come to realize that success will come in its own time. If you push too hard or rush to achieve it, you can end up burning out and missing out on the richness of the journey itself.
For me, the only real obligation we have in life is to enjoy the path, the day-to-day, because that’s all we truly possess. When I set my sights on a goal, I trust that I’ll get there eventually. The difference is, some people become so anxious to reach their destination that they miss out on the experiences, growth, and learning along the way. By embracing the journey, I know that when I reach my goals, I’ll be able to look back and feel that I truly lived, learned, and appreciated every step.
This approach has also helped me in critical moments, allowing me to stay calm and avoid unnecessary stress. In tense situations, I’ve found that by staying grounded, I can project calm leadership to those around me. People begin to feel that the situation is under control, and the team naturally steadies itself. This, I believe, is my superpower. While I haven’t mastered it completely, it’s the mindset I strive to bring to every situation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.isaacbencid.com
- Instagram: @isaacbencid.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsaacBencid
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@isaacbencid
- Other: https://www.fenixmedia.tv
Image Credits
Alex Pineco, Alejandra Pombo,
