JUAN CARLOS COLLADA: Ubiquitous Beauty J U LY 2 1 – A U G U S T 1 3 , 2 0 2 2
FRONT COVER
T H E ROAD TO S AB YI N YO BACK COVER
A RE B IRTH I N R WAN D A
JUAN CARLOS COLLADA: Ubiquitous Beauty J U LY 2 1 – A U G U S T 1 3 , 2 0 2 2
INTRODUCTION In this exhibition, the title “Ubiquitous Beauty” refers to the inspiration that Juan
This book provides an avenue to share some of Collada’s experiences
Carlos Collada finds in all things – nature, culture, travel, family, and even
and inspirations with collectors. Each piece is associated with one or more
the most mundane moments. In his recent trip to Africa, Collada found that
images that directly helped formulate the palette and composition of the
the sounds, scents, sights and tastes evoked a depth of wonder unparalleled
final work. These moments capture the artistic process in motion and give an
in his previous travels.
added experiential depth of meaning to the collection. Created in Collada’s signature style, his lyrical compositions are made up of hand-cut, dyed and painted feathers housed in plexi-glass cases. This highly unique medium blends the artist’s interest in fashion and design
As an artist, one constantly thirsts for experiences like this, but Africa satisfied this desire in a way previously unbeknownst to me. It is truly a wondrous place and I long to return.
In addition to the sensory experiences that Collada had in Kenya and Rwanda, he was impacted by the warmth, compassion and friendly nature of those he encountered on his journey. “Though it was a world so different from my own, I was comfortable in this foreign land from the moment I stepped off the plane,” Collada writes. “It was impossible to come back home and not create.” This depth of connection to a place so far from home is at the core of his newest body of work. His sentiments are made visually evident in the vibrant pieces that seem to carry with them an energetic essence that reflects their African origins.
with his formal art school training to create dynamic yet approachable works. When asked what he hopes his clients find in his work, Collada responded, “Just joy. I hope the energy I put forward when creating them is felt through the art; I feel joy in making them and I would like the viewer to feel that as well.”
JUAN CARLOS COLLADA Juan Carlos Collada is a multi-media artist with creativity in his DNA. A Miami native, he studied Painting and Printmaking at Miami Dade College. He firmly believes that artists should experience and experiment with various mediums. He has lived and worked as a textile designer in Milan, a furniture designer in San Francisco, a decorative lighting designer in North Carolina and as a fashion stylist in Miami. Inspired by nature, Collada is best known for his butterfly themed works, ethereal and graceful pieces that climb the walls and take on a life of their own. “When I see a butterfly, I always think it’s going to be a good day,” he said. When he was 6 or 7 years old, his mother embroidered an enormous butterfly on his favorite denim jacket. “It was the most beautiful thing. Unfortunately I don’t have it anymore but I can see it so clearly in my mind.” As a child, Collada spent time in the Florida Keys enjoying a connection with the outdoors. He was heavily influenced by his surroundings, fostering a life-long love of nature. For him, “home” is the intersection of art, nature, and strong family ties.
My art feels like the culmination of all the things I’ve done and all the places I’ve been.
Collada’s art brings together his love of design and the natural world to create a stunning and unique effect. He currently divides his time between Toronto, Canada and Naples, Florida.
F LIG HT OVER N AI R OB I Mixed media, hand painted feathers 36” x 36”
IN T HE G AR D ENS OF S AB YINY O Mixed media, hand painted feathers 60” x 40” (diptych)
T H E ROAD TO S AB YI N YO Mixed media, hand painted feathers 36” x 36”
S U N S E T F LU TTER Mixed media, hand painted feathers 18” x 36”
T H E RU S H Mixed media, hand painted feathers 40” x 60” (triptych)
A RE B IRTH I N R WAN D A Mixed media, hand painted feathers 36” x 72” (diptych)
S U N RI S E I N S AM B U R U Mixed media, hand painted feathers 48” x 48”
S U N S E T ON TH E M AAS AI MA RA Mixed media, hand painted feathers 48” x 48” (polyptych)
T H IS M ORTAL C OI L Mixed media, hand painted feathers 36” x 36”
I N S P I R AT I O N
FLIGHT OVER NAIROBI
IN THE GARDENS OF SABYINYO
THE ROAD TO SABYINYO
SUNSET FLUTTER
THE RUSH
A REBIRTH IN RWANDA
SUNRISE IN SAMBURU
SUNSET ON THE MAASAI MARA
THIS MORTAL COIL
C U R R I C U L U M V I TA E SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2022
Ubiquitous Beauty, Diehl Gallery, Jackson WY
2021
Bright & Beautiful, Diehl Gallery, Jackson WY Shades of Abstractions, Mixx Gallery, Telluride, CO Art Wynwood, Onessimo Gallery, Palm Beach, FL Colourful Art, Whistler Contemporary Gallery, Whistler, BC, Canada
2020
Visual Poetry, Gardner Colby Gallery, Naples, FL Fresh Air, Mixx Gallery, Telluride, CO
2019
Labour of Love, Bee Street, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
2018
Summer Fest, Gardner Colby Gallery, Naples, FL Color and Motion, Gardner Colby Gallery, Naples, FL
2017
Form, Art Basel, Onessimo Gallery, Miami, FL La Belle Mariposa, Gardner Colby Gallery, Naples, FL
SELECTED COLLECTIONS Boston Children’s Hospital, BOSTON, MA Golisano Children’s Hospital, Fort Myers, FL Lee Health Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, FL Ronald McDonald House, Fort Myers, FL PRESS/PUBLICATIONS American Art Collector, “Beauty Everywhere” July 2022 Artsy, “A Conversation with Juan Carlos Collada,” Diehl Gallery, February 2022 Gulf Shore Business, February 2022 Gulf Shore Business, February 2021 SW Spotlight, Novemeber 2017 American Art Collector, January 2017 PAST POSITIONS Director, Gallery Mitchell Wolfson, Miami, FL 1987-1990 Director, Gallery Francis Wolfson, Miami, FL 1987-1990 Textile Designer, Melvin Anderson Studios, Milan, Italy, 1991-1996 Notable designers who worked with the designs are Paloma Picasso and Ellen Tracy EDUCATION Miami Dade College, New World School of Arts, Miami, FL, Painting and Printmaking 1984-1987
Photo by Ursula Gibbons
Copyright 2022 by Diehl Gallery. All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any form
or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing by the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. published by
Diehl Gallery
155 W. Broadway Jackson, Wyoming 83001 P: 307 733 0905
•
E: info@diehlgallery.com
W: diehlgallery.com
PO BOX 4860
•
P: 307 733 0905
1 5 5 W. B R O A D WAY
•
JACKSON, WY 83001
E: info@diehlgaller y.com
W: diehlgaller y.com