Maquiamelo is a Colombian artist who began his career sculpting in mixed media. He trained in fine arts under a scholarship granted by the visionary chancellor Santiago Gangotena of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, whose early support helped shape his artistic trajectory. Working primarily with heads as his artistic motif, he transitioned to painting in 2020, experimenting with vivid color and new techniques on a larger scale.
While experiencing the masks and distancing of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maquiamelo quickly understood that the eyes had become the only conduit for expressing emotion. He began a series of masks painted on oversized, anime-inspired heads with a focus on the eyes. With a bright Fauvist-meets-Dayglo palate, he hand mixes Italian pigments in his studio to create striking color fields on each canvas. When mask requirements were lifted in life they were also lifted in his art. The paintings may be seen as documenting the artist’s personal journey, but the work is only fully realized when the viewer interacts with the work directly. Maquiamelo’s intent with his painting style is to impart of message of hope and light through a time of uncertainty.
Maquiamelo’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at important international museums. He has also participated in six international biennials as well as important art fairs such as ARTBO in Colombia, ZONAMACO in Mexico, and the LA Art Show, Art New York, Art Wynwood and Art Miami in the United States.
