Juan Carlos Morales

Juan Carlos Morales Agudelo is a Colombian painter from Monguí, Boyacá. A true maestro of his craft, Juan Carlos paints breathtakingly realistic portraits that often explore themes of magical realism, nature, and consumerism. At the age of four, Juan Carlos first showed an interest in painting, drawing from his own experiences from life on the farm. Growing up in Monguí, a town of only five thousand residents, Juan Carlos would spend hours at a time studying the church and the religious paintings inside. This inspired his use of symbolism where he places objects in startling, unnatural settings that often comment on social, political, and philosophical concerns and ideas. Juan Carlos’s artistic style creates a tension between elements that would normally not belong together, but also allows the stark contrast of images to have its own space in the scene. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout Colombia and internationally, cementing his place as one of Boyacá's most notable contemporary artists.

I have had the privilege of knowing Juan Carlos since 2017. Whenever I am in Monguí, I knock on the door of his studio with two polas (beers) in hand and watch him paint. His space is always welcoming, and I continue to be fascinated by his artistic process. He prefers his life in Mongui rather than living in the capital of Bogota, where most of his domestic exhibitions are held. The commercial side of painting is something Juan Carlos knows too well. Some of his paintings stretch entire walls! This presents unique challenges for both selling and display his work. But Juan Carlos does not compromise his passion for painting to be more marketable. It is one of many things I admire about him. With interest around the world to display his work, the cost of shipping his paintings from Colombia is a financial burden that often leaves Juan Carlos unable to attend his own showing. In the future, he aspires to establish his own art gallery in Monguí. Prints with Purpose is designed to support artists like Juan Carlos - to continue their craft without compromise. Every print allows artists to focus on what is important to them, and continue to create the art they are passionate about.