Smoke and Mirrors Painting

JUAN DIAZ B. 1981, Bogota, Colombia Juan Diaz was born in 1981 in Bogota, Colombia. His father graduated from Colombia's National University with an emphasis in fine art and recognized his son's natural creative intelligence and artistic gifts by age 5. After graduating high school in 1999, Diaz studied art history, materials, and techniques independently. Jonathan Green Studios granted a three-year Artist Residency (2006-2009), to mentored Diaz in administrative-management methods, and more recently, artist Marcus Jansen provides international affairs art advisory. Since the late 1990s, Diaz has used painting and drawing to explore the human condition. He added performing art and installations in 2010 to investigate the relationship between life and death. His work reflects a constant search to express his understanding of the human experience and shows a desire to break out of his own comfort zone. Diaz’ work has been included at the Baker Museum of Art/Artis-Naples, The Naples Depot Museum, Florida Gulf Coast University and Art Basel Miami Beach. Commissions include the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida and The Naples Art Association. Diaz was the recipient of Southwest Florida 2013 FACE Award for Culture & Arts awarded by Gulfshore Life Business Magazine and the 1999 Porter Goss Award. His style, mastery of drawing and use of oils has earned him a range of awards, including Best in Show and various scholarships.