Juana Céspedes is inspired by the contagious joy of dance. She imagines the convergence of souls in her hometown of Barcelona as city squares flood with dancers who are celebrating the return of warmer days. Watercolor allows the artist to depict human flow and unique folds in her handmade paper give dimension and allude to the urban spaces which inspire Céspedes.
As a self-taught artist, Céspedes’ work is an inspiring example of outsider art. Her life is a story of resilience. The artist was orphaned at thirteen and Céspedes was left to contend with life as the eldest of a family of seven in rural Andalucía. Her pursuit of art brought a meditative calm to her life but with no connection to the art world, Céspedes did not show her work as she developed her unique style.
Céspedes decided to infiltrate the artistic circle of Barcelona after years of solo creation. She joined the Agrupacion de Acuarelistas de Catalunya where masters helped her see the liberating power of abstract watercolor, with its ebbs and flows. In 2004, a trip to Venice would forever change her conception of light and composition and led to the idea of folding paper to transform the canvas into a three-dimensional object. As the folds catch the light, her artwork changes over the course of a day.
The artists’ journey spans 21 years during which Céspedes has developed a unique style always revolving around two major themes: urban space and human bodies. “Dance inspires me. I love its contagious joy. I’m often carried away by the image of swing dancers on an endless journey, from partner to partner—a journey that started in Harlem and found its way across the world.”
EXHIBITIONS
2022 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY
The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
Finalist in the 8th edition of the Premio de Pintura Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Solo exhibition at Casa Usher Llibreters, Barcelona, Spain
Work selected at LV edition of the Ynglada-Guillot Prize at Fundacion Vila Casas, Museo Can Framis, Barcelona, Spain
2017 Collective exhibition as part of Mini Print Internacional, Cadaqués, Spain
Selected work at 15è Premi BBVA de Pintura Ricard Camí, Terrassa
Selected work at LIV edition of the Ynglada-Guillot Prize at Vila Casas Barcelona, Spain
Selected work at IV Bienal Internacional de nuevas técnicas en acuarela Caudete, Spain
Finalist work at VIII Premio Fundación Barcelona Olímpica, Barcelona, Spain
RESIDENCIES
Agrupació Aquarel.listes de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Cercle Artistic Sant Lluc, Barcelona, Spain
Escola Massana, Barcelona, Spain
Escola d'Arts i Oficis de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Academy of Art, Barcelona, Spain
Scuola internazionale Di Grafica, Venice, Italy
Bottega del Tintoretto, Venice, Italy
Arts Students League of New York, NYC, New York
Juana Céspedes is inspired by the contagious joy of dance. She imagines the convergence of souls in her hometown of Barcelona as city squares flood with dancers who are celebrating the return of warmer days. Watercolor allows the artist to depict human flow and unique folds in her handmade paper give dimension and allude to the urban spaces which inspire Céspedes.
As a self-taught artist, Céspedes’ work is an inspiring example of outsider art. Her life is a story of resilience. The artist was orphaned at thirteen and Céspedes was left to contend with life as the eldest of a family of seven in rural Andalucía. Her pursuit of art brought a meditative calm to her life but with no connection to the art world, Céspedes did not show her work as she developed her unique style.
Céspedes decided to infiltrate the artistic circle of Barcelona after years of solo creation. She joined the Agrupacion de Acuarelistas de Catalunya where masters helped her see the liberating power of abstract watercolor, with its ebbs and flows. In 2004, a trip to Venice would forever change her conception of light and composition and led to the idea of folding paper to transform the canvas into a three-dimensional object. As the folds catch the light, her artwork changes over the course of a day.
The artists’ journey spans 21 years during which Céspedes has developed a unique style always revolving around two major themes: urban space and human bodies. “Dance inspires me. I love its contagious joy. I’m often carried away by the image of swing dancers on an endless journey, from partner to partner—a journey that started in Harlem and found its way across the world.”
EXHIBITIONS
2022 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY
The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
Finalist in the 8th edition of the Premio de Pintura Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Solo exhibition at Casa Usher Llibreters, Barcelona, Spain
Work selected at LV edition of the Ynglada-Guillot Prize at Fundacion Vila Casas, Museo Can Framis, Barcelona, Spain
2017 Collective exhibition as part of Mini Print Internacional, Cadaqués, Spain
Selected work at 15è Premi BBVA de Pintura Ricard Camí, Terrassa
Selected work at LIV edition of the Ynglada-Guillot Prize at Vila Casas Barcelona, Spain
Selected work at IV Bienal Internacional de nuevas técnicas en acuarela Caudete, Spain
Finalist work at VIII Premio Fundación Barcelona Olímpica, Barcelona, Spain
RESIDENCIES
Agrupació Aquarel.listes de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Cercle Artistic Sant Lluc, Barcelona, Spain
Escola Massana, Barcelona, Spain
Escola d'Arts i Oficis de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Academy of Art, Barcelona, Spain
Scuola internazionale Di Grafica, Venice, Italy
Bottega del Tintoretto, Venice, Italy
Arts Students League of New York, NYC, New York
