Juan Villegas

Juan Carlos Villegas is a Colombian-American artist whose surreal, visionary paintings serve as portals into realms of transformation, duality, and ancestral wisdom. Born in Cali, Colombia in 1987, Juan earned his BFA in Studio Art from Sam Houston State University in 2010. Inspired by esoteric traditions, Jungian psychology, and the symbolic teachings of thinkers like Manly P. Hall, his work invites viewers to explore themes of mystery, myth, and the deeper layers of the human experience.

Drawing influence from the surreal landscapes of Magritte and Dali, as well as the psychedelic symbolism of Alejandro Jodorowsky, Juan's paintings explore the threshold between the seen and unseen. Each piece reflects a deep reverence for nature and consciousness, often serving as a bridge between the ancient and the modern, the personal and the cosmic.

Juan co-runs ArtUs Co, a nonprofit artist collective in Austin, Texas, alongside his wife and creative partner, Rosemary. Since taking the reins in 2023, he has curated a series of thought-provoking, mind-expanding group exhibitions that have helped shape ArtUs Co into a hub for visionary art, an evolving social sculpture devoted to creativity, community, and the cultivation of deeper meaning.

Outside the studio, Juan can often be found on a trail, guitar in hand or book in lap, always seeking new ways to tune into the symbolic rhythm of the world around him.

Artist Statement

My work is an ongoing exploration of the unseen, an invitation to remember what the rational world often forgets. Through the language of symbols, surreal landscapes, and mythic forms, I seek to uncover the mystical architecture that connects nature, psyche, and spirit.

Rooted in philosophy and esoteric teachings, my paintings are visual meditations on transformation, duality, and ancestral memory. Each piece is a portal, designed not just to be viewed, but to be entered. I aim to create images that stir something ancient within us, asking not only what we see, but what we feel, what we remember.

Nature is my primary teacher. In its cycles and chaos, I find metaphors for growth, dissolution, and rebirth. By reimagining the natural world through a visionary lens, I hope to reconnect us with something sacred, something we may have lost, but never truly left behind.

Ultimately, my art is an offering: a space to reflect, expand, and realign with a deeper sense of self and purpose in an ever-evolving universe.

Artist CV

Education 2010 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Sam Houston State University Current / Upcoming Exhibitions and Events 2025 -Mythos, group show, ArtUs Co. Feb 7 - April 12, 2025. Austin, TX -ACT 3 - Waves of Perception, Bathe Austin. March 8, 2025. Austin, TX -Visual Trip, group show, ArtUs Co. April 18 - June 15, 2025. Austin, TX. -Third Annual Realms of Fungi, group show, ArtUs Co. Aug 15 - Sept 27, 2025. Austin, TX -Hall of Mysteries, two person show with Rosemary Villegas. ArtUs Co. Dec 5, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026. Austin, TX Past Exhibitions and Events 2024 -The Collective Show, group show, ArtUs Co. Austin Studio Tour. Nov 8, 2024 - Feb 1, 2025. Austin, TX -Second Annual Realms of Fungi, group show, ArtUs Co. Aug 16 - Sept 28, 2024. Austin, TX -Visions Unbound, group show, ArtUs Co. Feb 9 - March 16, 2024. Austin, TX 2023 -Dream State, group show, ArtUs Co. Dec 9 - Jan 28, 2023. Austin, TX -ArtUs Co - The Collective Show, ArtUs Co. Feb 24 - March 19. Austin, TX -Mix N Mash - Alimento Para El Alma, Mexic-Arte Museum. March 3 - 31. Austin, TX -Earth Day Art Exhibit, ArtUs Co. April 22 - May 14. Austin, TX -Art of Consciousness, NOM-MOC-NI Art Gallery. April 22. San Antonio, TX -Realms of Fungi, ArtUs Co. August 18 - Sept 16. Austin, TX -Mystic Mirrors: Transcending the Veil, ArtUs Co. Sept 29 - Oct 28. Austin, TX -Austin Studio Tour WEST, ArtUs Co. Nov 4 - 12. Austin, TX 2022 - Uncensored, group show, SoCo Modern. Feb 12 - 28, 2022. Austin, TX - Prismatic Visions, group show, PSA Gallery. Feb 19 -27, 2022. Austin, TX - Smoke And Mirrors, group show. Almost Real Things HQ, April 23/24, 2022. Austin, TX -2022 People's Gallery Exhibition, group show. The People's Gallery @ City Hall, Opening Reception June 3, 2022. Austin, TX -Art Of Austin Collective group show, The Clever Tiger Gallery, June 11 - July 9, 2022. Elgin, TX -Bodies of Work group show, Something Cool Studios, July 2 - 31, 2022. Austin, TX -Abundance group show, Art for the People Gallery, July 16 - Aug 26, 2022. Austin, TX -Orb Recording Studios group show by Luxe Art Agency, July 30 - Aug 27, 2022. Austin, TX -Latino Art WKND 2022: SOMOS LIBRES group show, Distribution Hall, Sept 16-18, 2022. Austin, TX -Utopia Festival, Oct 14-15, 2022, Reveille Peak Ranch. Burnet, TX -Astronox Festival, Oct 20-24, 2022. Apache Pass near Austin, TX -Austin Studio Tour, WEST @ ArtUsCo Gallery. Nov 5-6, 2022. Austin, TX -Life of H2O, group show, Treegarden. Nov 12, 2022. Austin, TX -MAS Cultura Fest, KMFA Classical 89.5. Nov 18-20, 2022. Austin, TX -Looking Up Mural Fest, Nov 11-20, 2022. Austin, TX 2021 - FLOURISH group show, Art For The People gallery, Oct 16 , 2021- Jan 23, 2022. Austin, TX - 10 Year Reunion Show, Watson Huff Gallery, Dec 18, 2021. Houston, TX - We Speak For The Trees group show and EAST studio tour, Treegarden. Nov 13 - Dec 11, 2021. Austin, TX -Wyld, Wyrd, & Wonderous group show, Private Stock Art gallery. Oct 9 - 29, 2021. Austin, TX - Surreal Nature, Two Person Show with Rosemary Allen. Cherrywood Coffeehouse, July 12 - Aug 23, 2021. Austin, TX -It Takes A Forest. Treegarden, March 13 - May 15, 2021. Austin, TX -Art Of Celebration. Art For The People Gallery, Jan 30 - April 14, 2021. Austin, TX 2020 -For the Love of Art, Austin Art Space, Feb. 14 – March 14, 2020. Austin, TX -The Ancient Ones, two person show. The Clever Tiger, Sept 5 - Oct 3, 2020. Elgin, TX -Austin Art + Love = Home. Art for The People Gallery, Sept 28, 2020 - Jan 23, 2021. Austin, TX -Hope is the Thing with Wings. Treegarden, Oct 25 - Dec 31, 2020. Austin, TX -Austin Studio Tour. Nov 14 - 22, 2020. Austin, TX 2019 -Unveiling Vision, Gallery Lucid, Feb 2 - Feb 28 Austin, TX -Spring Equinox Celebration, CoSM, March 23 Wappingers Falls, NY -Celebration, Art For The People Gallery, Feb 8 - April 27 Austin, TX -Divine Nature, Art Campout, May 25 - 26, Smithville, TX -Allies of Ascension, The Clever Tiger, Aug 3 - Sept 7 Elgin, TX -Fruits of Gaia, Austin Creative Alliance, Aug 15 - Oct 15 Austin, TX -MAPS Psychedelic Science Summit, Fair Market. Nov 1-3 Austin, TX -EAST group show, Pershing. Nov 15-Nov 24 Austin, TX -Art of Healing, 3rd Eye Lounge. Nov 30-Dec 14 Austin, TX 2018 - Almost Real Things magazine "Dream State" Issue 9 Celebration Show, Volcom Garden, Feb 23 Austin, TX. -Two person exhibition at Bouldin Creek Cafe, Feb 27 - April 3 Austin, TX. -Art of Celebration, Art For The People Gallery, Feb 9 - April 28 Austin, TX. -Messengers of the Wind, Russian House, June 29 - July 16 Austin, TX. -One Night Show at J-Squared Studios, Sept 20th Austin, TX. -Merging Perspectives, Collaborative Show. Gallery Lucid, Sept 8 - Oct 14 Austin, TX. -Wet, Wild, & A Wee Bit of Whimsy, Art For The People Gallery, July 13 - October 20 Austin, TX. -Dream, Sly Cat Gallery, August 4 - October 20 Cedar Hill, TX. -Miradas Profundas, Gallery Lucid, October 20 - November 10 Austin, TX. -Honoring Ancestral Presence, Austin Film School, Dec 11 - 13 Austin, TX 2017 -Mural Mashup, Cherry Cola Dog, May 27 Austin, TX. -Art Will Save Us Presents: #1. Cherry Cola Dog, July 8 Austin TX. -Glowed Up, Cherry Cola Dog, July 22 Austin, TX. -Vuelo de Musas, Cherry Cola Dog, Oct 10 - 13 Austin, TX. 2016 -Transformations, Bender Bar Solo Show, Feb 7 - 25 Austin, TX 2014 -Viva La Vida Festival, Nov 10-12 Austin, TX -Mix N' Mash, Mexic-Arte Museum Dec 5 - 30 Austin, TX 2012 -SJC North Art Alumni Invitational No.1, Sept 13 - Oct 15 Houston, TX 2011 -Art Crawl, Nance Street Studios, Nov 23 - 24 Houston, TX -Watson Galleries monthly Group Show Houston / Kingwood, TX. 2010 -Art Crawl, Erie Iron City Works, Nov 23 - 24 Houston, TX -Gaddis Gesslin Gallery Senior Show, Dec 14 - 30 Huntsville, TX