Jose Quinonez

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio but raised in Guatemala City. I had the opportunity to grow up among indigenous artists who reflected the colors and patterns of every day Guatemala. Trained as an environmental engineer and indigenous sociologist, I had the opportunity to work with many indigenous communities -- around Guatemala as well as in many other countries in Latin America. Professionally, I worked over 40 years in international humanitarian relief and development with emphasis in poverty alleviation programs. This gave me the opportunity to travel the world and explore the colors and patterns of many other indigenous communities.  

With no formal training in art, I started my creations as a therapy to recover from an accident that required eleven surgeries to rebuild my left jawbone.  I found that getting immersed in these creations kept my mind free of the pain and gave joy to continue my journey. I only use acrylic as my medium for expressing my creations. I often paint on stretched canvas, but from time to time, I've been known to upcycle abandoned materials as "canvases" for new creations -- from abandoned pieces of plywood to an old butcher's board (and even my wife's old metal filing cabinet!)   I paint for myself and for those who enjoy my creations. 

I paint to give expression to the joys, rhythms, and meaning I find in life, in community, and in nature. I weave in the colors, patterns, textures, and symbols of Latin American indigenous communities to honor their experiences of joy and of horror, of connection and of fragmentation, of exploitation and of belonging.

Instagram @JOSE.RETRATOS