Jesús Villarreal is a Venezuelan artist with an ample trajectory in the world of the arts. He has graduated from the Julio Arraga School of Arts and from the University of Zulia with a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Literature. Besides being a painter, Villarreal is also a musician (drum set player). This has driven him to fusion these two disciplines in his exhibitions by presenting what he has called “Synesthesia”; that is, “to see music and listen to color”. He has presented this performance with great success in Venezuela, Spain, Austria, and the United States of America.
He has received various awards in his birth-country, as well as many other international recognitions such as: the Great Award City of Maracaibo from the III Biennial of Visual Arts in 1988, Special Mention from the International Biennial of Watercolor in Miami-USA in the year 2000, and the 5th Remo Brindisi Trophy in Rome-Italy in the year 2002. In 2009, he was nominated in a project to select the world’s 100 best Latin-American artists in the United States.
Since the year 1987 he has been doing individual exhibitions in Spain, Mexico, Austria, the United Status of America, and in different cities of Venezuela; as well as group exhibitions in countries such as Germany, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
He has also have an international presence by presenting his work in art fairs such as: ARTBO 2005 in Bogotá, Colombia; FIAAM 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009 in Maracaibo, Venezuela: FIA XIII 2004 in Caracas, Venezuela; the Latin American Artists Auction from the MoIAA Museum 2003 and 2005 in California, USA; the International Fair of Palm Springs 2000 and 2004; ART MIAMI 2000-2002 and 2003; Hall of Art WIZO 1989-1991 and 2001; ART AMERICA 96; and the ART BASEL 96 in Switzerland among many others.
His work is represented in private collections such as the Government of the State of Zulia in Venezuela; and in museums like the Center for the Arts Lía Bermúdez of Maracaibo; the Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia; the Municipal Gallery of Art of Maracay in Venezuela; the Latin American Museum of Art in Miami; the Boca Ratón Museum of Art; and the Miami Dade College Gallery in Florida.
Villarreal is the artist who has been selected to paint all of the monumental murals for the walls of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church. These murals represent biblical scenarios of the Old and New Testament and are part of an epic ecumenical project, the FLORIDA COLONIAL, CULTURAL, AND CONVENTION CENTER (FLACC), which is certain to become a historical focus point for the arts of the Americas. Some of the sketches for the murals are already displayed at the church today.
He currently resides in the city of Miami since the year 1996, where he dedicates himself to working in his studio and to privately teach art.
