About the artist...

JUAN ANDRÉS VIDELA (1958 - ) was born in the city of Longschamps, Buenos Aires. He started his art studies as a teenager with artist Pablo Bobbio. After a few years under his guidance he enrolled in the National School of Fine Arts Prilidiano Pueyrredón, of which he graduated in 1981. His first solo show took place, with much success, at the renowned Galeria Lirolay of Buenos Aires in 1981. But from that experience Juan Andrés emerged with a strange decision: not to exhibit his work. During the next decade he kept from showing and worked in the graphic media, as a cartoon designer he received important prizes from recognized argentine artists such as Caloi and Guinzburg. In 1991 he was invited by Thom Andriola of the New Gallery of Houston to carry out an individual show. This event inaugurated a new decade of regular exhibitions around the United States. After this, he was awarded a commission to realize over a six months period the artwork of Santa Maria Church in Cagaggio in Tuscany together with architect Italo Castore. In 2001, he inaugurated the show Homme in the Centro Cultural Recoleta of Buenos Aires and was invited to participate in the Triennial one of Delhi. Together with Teresa Anchorena his exhibitions in Buenos Aires became regular and in the last years he has been awarded the country’s top art prizes: • Premio Trabucco (2008) • Salón de Artes Plásticas Manuel Belgrano (2009) and Salón Nacional de Pintura • Premio Banco Nación (2010) • "Gran Premio de Honor Dibujo (Pensión vitalicia.)", 103 edición Salon Nac. de Artes Visuales 2014 • 64° Salón de Artes Plásticas Manuel Belgrano 2021, “1er Premio de Pintura”. (Pensión vitalicia.) among many other prizes. The diversity of his work includes performances, caricatures, monocopies, engravings, objects, drawings, and oil paintings. His graphite on formica “drawing” technique has been evolving since his trip in Ireland in 2003 where he was the winner of the residence for artists of the Cill Riallaig Project. This technique has nourished his work with a beautiful eeriness and delight.