Leonardo Montoya

I believe that the universal language of the arts can break through cultural and personal barriers bringing us closer together as human beings.
I was raised by a strong and loving community of women. They have been a big influence throughout my life. Common themes represented in my work are cultural diversity, gender equality, race and the empowerment of women. I offer my perspective about the characters that I portray that remain close to my heart.
Portraying the uniqueness and strength of the individual allows me to speak to the sameness of our humanity in parallel to the beauty of our cultural differences. I do this with a deep sense of respect and admiration for the characters I choose to portray. As a Latino living in the US half of my life creating my own identity has become one of the many challenges in my artworks. Things like education, family, money, politics, religion, and sex; all these topics have affected my life and career. All those things help to define who we are; But, our nature is complex and should not be a label for the social need to look for acceptance. I think we all are multi-dimensional.
I always admired beauty, but not only in the obvious stereotype. I always find beauty in the oddest of subjects. Col...

•Art, publicity & photography. School of fine art Eladio Velez. From 1995 to1998 Itagui, Antioquia. Colombia
• Figure drawing with Jon de Martin. Grand Central Academy of Art. 2010 NYC, NY
•Portrait drawing & painting atelier with Joshua La Rock & Scott Waddell.
Grand Central Academy of Art. 2010 NYC, NY
•Art workshop. School of fine art Eladio Velez. From1986 to1989 Itagui, Antioquia. Colombia
•Kids workshop art lessons EEPP.1984 Medellin, Antioquia. Colombia

•TO’clock with Rei Giraldo. March 2022 Miami, FL
•RAKFAF 2022 exhibition. Feb. 04- Mar. 31, 2022 UAE

•Art is Life! Miami. Art Basel week. Dec. 01-08 Miami, FL
•Laguna art Gallery. Icons virtual exhibition. Sep. 1-30 Laguna Beach. CA
•Happiness virtual exhibition. Sep. 2021
•Al Qasimi Foundation Art Studio Apr-May 2021 UAE
•RAK Fine Art Festival Feb- Apr. 2021 UAE
•Gallery 500 exhibition July- August, 2020 Daytona Beach. FL
•Men Painting women July-August, 2020 Orlando. FL
•RAK Fine Art Festival Feb.-Mar.2020 UAE

•53rd Founders Juried Awards Exhibition. Dec 6 - Jan 9, 2020 Naples, FL
•Permanence. Valencia Coverings. Dec 04-Dec. 08 2019 Miami, FL
•Art in Unusual Places. Bailey Memorial. Nov.14- Dec 14 2019 Tamarac, FL
•Tin RX pharmacy Featured artist. Sep 28, 2019 San Francisco, CA
•Colombian Consulate exhibition. Sep 16- Oct 30 Miami, FL
•Heroine collection exhibition. Claudia Castillo’s art studio. Aug. 3- Sep.6 Wilton Manors, FL
•Diva Collection solo exhibition. Spanish River Library Aug.1- Sep. 9, 2019 Boca Raton, FL
•Ted Art works 5 year anniversary, Mar 10 - Apr 15, 2019
•Ras Al Khaimah fine art festival, Feb. 14 - Apr. 20, 2019
•Art Fort Lauderdale Jan. 24 - 27 2019

•Unusual Frida Dec 07, 2018 O...