Juan Vélez was born in Brownsville and raised in Spain. He returned to his hometown in 2015. Vélez is an architect, building engineer, and Master of Arts in Education (Technology) by trade. Academia Artium and the Watercolor Society in Madrid developed his skills as an artist. Juan Vélez loves watercolor and water ink due the difficulty to control water, “and nothing as challenge oneself with an almost impossible target. The technique is a challenge, but the artwork a relief”.
Vélez has individually exhibited his collections in many cities. Espacio Holmes and Espacio Montecarmelo in Madrid; Fuerte Casamata and Festival Internacional de Tamaulipas (Teatro de la Reforma) in Matamoros, Tamaulipas; and the Heritage Museum (Vezzetti Room) in Brownsville. He also exhibited in curated exhibitions at Palacio de Comunicaciones and at Casa del Reloj in Madrid.
“The traditional academic artistic representation has been buried with modern computer software applications. There is preciseness without mistakes, but no longer artistic surprises. The Mexican philosopher José Gaos said that “if a [real] proposal is perceived as real, it will be true.” Hand drawings allow me to show how I interpret the reality. If the viewer recognizes my work and those models and situations that inspired me, the artwork will be a truth completed with the imagination of the viewer.”
Interviews
History Detective: Juan Velez preserves architecture in his hometown
Olè Decor Interview - JUAN VELEZ: ENCOUNTERING A RENAISSANCE MAN AT CITY HALL