Juan Luís Jardí

Spain

Juan Luís Jardí’s representational work masterfully depicts the unobserved though inherent contradictions of the quotidian. The eye grasps but renders doubts and questions of the human experience in his magically real, or sur-really magical scenes.

There is a duality at play in Juan Luís’ work: it is both disquieting and inviting; hauntingly whimsical. The unique atmospheres, rendered with intimacy in an expansive space, populated both with the enigmatic presence and absence of figures. His characters, often depicted in contemplation, are spectators of a reality Juan Luís portrays—capturing moments of quietude, the vastness of space, and the mysteries of the unknown.

Jardí’s work is designed to stir emotions—nostalgia, melancholy, loneliness, and unease, as well as euphoria and calm. His pieces offer a vintage perspective, inviting viewers on a journey into the past, while standing firmly in the present.

WORKS

Cafetería Caracas

2024
Oil on canvas, 28″ x 28″

Madreselva

2021
Oil on canvas, 29″ x 29″

Una Mañana Cualquiera en Miami

2024
Oil on canvas, 32″ x 26″

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Juan Luís Jardí

Spain

My artistic training began at the Drawing and Painting Academy Tárrega in Barcelona, Spain, where I studied for a year and a half, starting at the age of 15. Following that, I enrolled in the School of Applied Arts and Artistic Crafts La Llotja in Barcelona, where I graduated after six years, specializing in Mural Painting and Pictorial Techniques. I also spent two additional years studying Fashion Design at the same school.

I have never really considered myself an artist, nor do I know if I am one. I simply dedicate myself to painting and leave it to others to decide what art is and who qualifies as an artist. My mother used to paint when she was young, and I often watched her, which inspired me to make my first brushstrokes on one of her paintings. From a young age, I felt drawn to painting.

Regarding my pictorial style, some art critics have described my work as belonging to Magical Realism or Pop Art. My friend, the renowned psychologist Antonio Bolinches, refers to me as a master of psychological painting.

While I don’t like to define my style, I can acknowledge the influence of certain painters I admire, such as Salvador Dalí, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Diego Velázquez, Miquel Barceló, and Antonio López. The teachers I had during my studies likely influenced me as well, though I prefer not to describe my style myself and let others do so instead.

In my creative process, I don’t focus on any specific theme. I am drawn to anything that conveys beauty and speaks to me, whether it evokes memories, sensations, feelings, or concerns. I typically work with oil on canvas, though I also use other techniques when I feel they are appropriate. Over time, I have explored other media and disciplines, including sculpture, installations, set decorations, and painting magic boxes.

Currently, and in the future, I plan to continue painting what I want to paint, always seeking good themes and ideas and striving to capture them as best as I can. My goal is to keep improving.

I consider all the exhibitions I have participated in to be important. My work has been featured in several museums, including the Museum of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne; Switzerland; in Melilla, Ciudad Real, Albacete, Barcelona (Spain); and the José Martí Museum in Havana, Cuba. My works are also part of private collections belonging to figures such as the late Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro, and currently FC Barcelona. All awards I have received are equally meaningful to me.