Juan Manuel Perez Salazar
Born in 1975, Juan Manuel Perez Salazar exhibited an early affinity for art, spending his childhood playing with mud, rocks, and nature in his native Jiquilpan, Michoacan, Mexico. At age 11, his family immigrated to California, where he pursued education and eventually attended Allan Hancock College before earning a BFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute.
In 2015, a transformative journey to south India exposed him to the living tradition of mandalas, sparking a profound interest in various artistic subjects. Returning to Mexico, he continued his nonformal education, exploring alternative ways to cultivate wisdom. Transitioning from artist to artisan, Juan Manuel now utilizes painting, sculpture, photography, gardening, and cooking as healing practices.
Juan Manuel’s recent work, including the series “Open Color Fields,” delves into geometric color compositions, blurring boundaries between painting, sculpture, and collage. Departing from personal narratives, his pieces evoke collective memories through symbolic associations, embracing imperfections and inviting viewers to engage in dialogue with color and form. Inspired by Bauhaus principles and artists like Joseph Albers and Piet Mondrian, his art transcends traditional boundaries, guiding viewers through a visual journey of exploration and introspection.
For business inquiries please email: artjmp@gmail.com
CV
Juan Manuel Pérez Salazar, artjmp@gmail.com
Born, 1975 Jiquilpan de Juárez Michoacán, México.
Works, Santa Maria CA
Education
San Francisco Art Institute, BFA Painting Program 2001
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Let’s Play Mural collaboration Lee Roy Park
2020 Poppies Metal Cut Out Santa Maria county department of social services
2019 Botanical Histories San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
2016 Materia Blanda entre manos, Exconvento Jesuita, Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico
2013 JMPS Flowers/Abstracts, Kitkitdissi Art gallery, Nevada City, California
2010 After Flowers After, Sheppard Hall Gallery Santa Maria Public Library, California.
2009 (re-hacer/ des- hechos), Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Guadalupe, California.
2008 Dialogo entre la pintura y el collage, C Libertador Miguel Hidalgo, Jiquilpan Mich, México.
2005 Entre Naturaleza la Architectura, C.C Libertador Miguel Hidalgo, Jiquilpan Mich, México.
2005 Landscape Abstractions, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, CA
2004 Ink dreams, Café Huanimban, Jiquilpan Mich, México
2001 Most Recent Abstractions, Cafe Solar, San Francisco, CA
Selected Exhibitions
2013 One Night Stand art ecology, Gallery 27, Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara California.
2018 text/textural an examination of tectile and verse
2016 dimensions in abstraction north and south counties two sites santa Bárbara Artist
2013 Anything goes 2013, Art Center Ojai, California.
2011 Experiential Abstractions in Automatism, Sheppard hall Gallery, Santa Maria California.
2010-11 Under skin/ Understand, The C Gallery, Los Alamos California.
2010 IAM, International Exhibition ,S Kumar Art Gallery, Mamalupuram South India .
2008 Are You building an Ark? Paintings and collage Guamsonic Alternative Space, Guadalupe.
2007 Notas y Trosos, Music and art Larry Delenger and Juan Manuel Perez Santa Maria CA,
2006 15/15 Back and Forth, Museo Lazaro Cardenas, U.A.E.R, Jiquilpan Mich, Mexico
2006 Large works, Assemblage, paintings, Installations masonic Alternative Space, Guadalupe
2005 Mostly California Collage, Guamasonic Alternative Space, Guadalupe CA
Inkdreams y dibujos de lodo C.C Libertador Miguel Hidalgo, Jiquilpan Mich
Reflections in Poverty, Faulkner Gallery Santa Barbara
2004 Artist, Guamasonic Alternative space, Guadalupe CA
2003 Objects of desire, Monlleo Gallery, Santa Barbara CA,
Sex revelations, Monlleo Gallery, Santa Barbara CA,
2002 Annual Small Images competition, Atkinson Gallery, Santa Barbara College, CA
Most recent abstractions JMP, Monlleo Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA,
2001 Spring Show class 01, Walter mc Beam Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute,
2001 Forum, Irvine Fine Art Center, Irvine, CA,
2001 Mes de la juventud, San Francisco Cultural Center, Ca,
2001 Carnaval, Balazo Gallery, San Francisco, Ca,
1999 Alternatives, Arternative Gallery International Competición, San Luis Obispo, Ca
1998 Small Images 1998, Atkinson Gallery, Santa Barbara City College,
Awards
2001 Spring show Best San Francisco art Institute painting program Award
1998 Sculpture Award #1 award
1998 David Sanchez Art Scholarship
1999 Los Padres Guild Grant
Juan Manuel Perez Salazar 