Juan Esteban Bolivar Barrera

Juan Esteban Bolívar Barrera
In my oil paintings on canvas, I create allegorical scenes where time seems suspended, merging the human figure with fragments drawn from art history, religious iconography, and contemporary life.
My technique explores the versatility of oil paint, ranging from subtle glazes to expressive impasto. I work with diverse palettes—sometimes muted and dominated by chiaroscuro, other times employing bold, symbolic color combinations—always aiming to build evocative atmospheres. These environments, often dreamlike, melancholic, or enigmatic, rely fundamentally on the interplay of light, texture, and color.
Drawing inspiration from both Baroque masters and contemporary painters like Neo Rauch and Justin Mortimer, my work delves into universal themes of homecoming, mortality, and contemplation. Ultimately, I seek to offer a counterpoint to the accelerating pace of the modern world, inviting viewers into a space of 'slow looking' where past and present coexist on a rich, layered pictorial surface.

National University of Colombia

Feria del Millón 2023
Nómada 2025