CONTEMPORARY ARTIST JUANO DIAZ

INSPIRATION + VIVID COLOR INTERVIEW WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTIST JUANO DIAZ

CELEBRATING THE LEGEND AND LIFE OF JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT

By Kate Shields

Artist Juano Diaz’s artistic practice is executed by private commission and can be found in many high-profile international private and corporate collections around the globe. At the same time, this contemporary artist engages across multiple mediums, including photography, painting, and film (most often found with great splashes of vivid color!) and often found collaborating with some of the top creatives in their fields. Diaz›s practice of digital collage and painting are now appearing in multiple forms, including limited edition prints, major album covers and even unique limited series jigsaw puzzles. Art collectors are now inquiring about the latest private commissions just before significant announcements of the latest international projects hit the wires and drop for the world to see!

Diaz’s international artistic subjects come to life each year which include noted celebrities and friends of the artist, such as Madonna, Grace Jones, Pharrell Williams and many more. Mingling among the glitterati of art, fashion, entertainment and photography, Diaz has his mind set on new visions of the future. The critical launch of the international album cover

"I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT ART; IT’S CONNECTED TO MY CORE."

- JUANO DIAZ

will bear his latest commissioned artwork, a new personal memoir, and the drop of his bespoke limited-edition art prints this month has him certainly on the way to reaching new heights. He sits down to discuss his latest inspirations and creative practice.

What inspires you?

Music, Color, Reading. I’m so inspired by art and mostly, I look to the past; I love the work of Gustave Dore, who was born in 1832. He illustrated the bible so beautifully. His etchings and illustrations can seem quite dark, depicting hellish beings yet, also full of stunning angels with rays of light around them. I was exposed to his work very early in my life by a nun who cared for me in a children’s home in Glasgow when I was six years old.

Can you tell us about your career in art and what advice you would provide to your younger self?

I have worked as an artist even without making a penny doing it. I have put everything I have earned in day jobs back into my art to purchase canvas, paints, and digital software. I can't live without art; it’s connected to my core. I just keep going and pushing myself to master my craft; if one person gets it, I’m happy, but ultimately, I’m doing it because I need to. If I could advise my younger self, I would say keep going, keep giving, and learn the business, lol.

You mentioned that “you want to bring out the soul” of your subjects. Can you tell us a little about your inspiration for your artwork ‹I Want to Be A Star, Not a Gallery Mascot’ 2021, presenting Jean Michel Basquiat?

I love old black and white historical images. Sam Bolton, who originally shot the black and white photograph of Jean Michel Basquiat, is such a brilliant photographer. Sam has documented some of the most incredible historical figures in art. I wanted to make the image look like it was taken “now.” I wanted to show Jean Michel Basquiat as a young, cheeky, genius spirit. 86 25A Magazine | metmagny.com There was no better way than having him bursting through his own work, glowing with talent and wisdom. I love the quote that has been added to his hat and, in the end, made the image’s title. It says so much about the art world and rings so true more today than ever.

Your artwork has been transformed into new special limited-edition art prints. Can you tell us more about this collaboration?

Rachel Vancelette was introduced to me by the amazing Robert Dupont (Warhol Factory Boy), who has generously championed my work. Rachel is just so inspirational with the setup of her company Art X Puzzles. The platform is a genius way to support artists during this horrible pandemic and the world changes we are going through by promoting art and making limited edition high-end art puzzles. It is such a brilliant idea. I am so over the moon to be up there in the company with artists like Kenny Scharf. I’m honored that Rachel has asked me to be the first limited edition run of art prints with my Basquiat image.

ARTIST JUANO DIAZ

Can you tell us about your relationships and friendships with top performers, celebrities and international photographers, from which your subjects predominantly derive?

I first started out with my art viewed and seen by French artists Pierre et Gilles in Paris. Before I knew it, I modeled for them in 2007 in three of their iconic images, which went from there. I modeled for Thierry Mugler and other iconic figures in art and fashion, and once you get into that world, it’s easy to access and meet well-known faces.

However, I simply reach out via the internet and ask the person I’m making an image of to take a photo of themselves on an iPhone or license vintage images directly from a photographer and re-imagine them. It would be fantastic to own a big studio and build a set, but I simply don’t need it; everything is done remotely and with computers and paint. It is actually a quiet process which is bliss. But I’m honored to have been trusted with the images of some of these artists. For example, the amazing David LaChapelle recently collaborated with me for an artwork. I made an incredible image of him and think it is one of my favorite image I have made.

When did you first create art and who is your inspiration?

I was adopted from a children’s home in Glasgow back in 1983. During my time there, from about age four to six, I would draw my mother’s face over and over. A nun who looked after me shared bibles, for which one was illustrated by Gustave Dore. It sparked my love for illustration and art. When I was a kid, I would photograph myself and draw over the photo with paints to change the way I looked and sometimes I would dress up as James Dean or Boy George, or an angel. I was so inspired to create. I think being put into care and being adopted gave me an obsession with my identity. ‘Who was I?’ This obsession developed into a love for portraiture and storytelling through images. I like to explore this in my work, ‹who are these people in the images?› I also like and enjoy giving clues within each piece.

"I THINK BEING PUT INTO CARE AND BEING ADOPTED GAVE ME AN OBSESSION WITH MY IDENTITY. ‘WHO WAS I?’ "

- JUANO DIAZ

Speaking to the last years of many changes due to the pandemic, has this changed your artistic practice?

Yes, it has made me look inward. I have just signed up with a prominent literary agent and have been writing my memoir about my life, including the stories of my adoption and art journey. Being in lock-down gave me that time to reflect on why I do this art. I also found myself during the pandemic reaching out to other artists more, just to simply talk art.

What are your future goals and hopes for 2022?

The goal is to have a solo show here in the UK and one in NYC. It’s one thing having art online, but art has to be seen and one really has to see my work in person to appreciate it; that’s the same for all art, really. That is the genius about owning original prints and editions; one gets to have art on your walls to appreciate in your home and in-person.

I have my new book coming out very soon and a film by the fantastic Sophie Fiennes. I’m also working with some major talents on album art, I can’t say much about that, but you will all know when it arrives; it is pretty huge for me! I just want to keep making art and collaborate with unique talents to tell visual stories through art.