mixed media/sculpture:
With a focus on up-cycling of materials, in a manner in which Tomás Ybarra-Frausto refers to as ‘Rasquachismo’; Villanueva uses the media he has at hand to express his personal search for identity. Typical materials used include wood, steel, plaster, resin, readymade elements, acrylic and botanicals. Juan M. Villanueva’s sculptures are as varied as the themes they explore, but almost always come back to the exploration of identity & the narrative of living as a Chicano in our modern day society.
Separado.
As a piece dedicated to the children separated from their families at our nations borders. The piece evolved during the transition of power that led to the January 6th Insurrection. The process was documented and shared via Villanueva's Instagram account.
I|I
2 panel commissioned piece.
14” x 54” x 2”
acrylic, plaster on linen, aluminum & lighting
2023
'Patchwork: Tal Vez' 36” x 28” x 2” resin, plaster, linen, acrylic on iron 2022
'Ingrained Rumination' 19” x 36” x 5” trampled linen, wood, brass 2022
'Confront' 21” x 53” x 6” acrylic, plaster, wood, brass on linen with T8 light fixture 2022
Untitled (Despues: Cloche)
'Whitewashed' 31” x 10” x 6.5” and 18” x 18” acrylic, plaster, linen & wood 2022
'Mezcla' 11.5” x 11.5” x 5.5” plaster, soil, graphite, wood, iron 2022
'Seperado' 54” x 48” acrylic, plaster on linen, terrazzo, resin, rope, iron 2021
'You’re a Pill' 10” x 5” pumice, resin 2021
'Parche Pared' 32” x 36” acrylic and plaster 2021
'untitled (black square)' 5” x 5” acrylic, graphite, charcoal, resin, brass 2021
'MEH' 5” x 5” acrylic, plaster, resin, brass 2021
'8 monks: Aims: Satori (detail)' 5” x 5” acrylic, resin, brass 2021
'Cruz' 11” x 8” acrylic, resin, wax on butcher block, iron 2020
'(-) Menos' 60” x 18” x 4” acrylic, plaster, resin, charcoal, graphite, iron on blue foam 2020
'Gilded Virgen: Sacred Leaf' 7.5” x 9” x 3” resin, spray paint, banana leaf, brass 2020
'Fuck Architecture' 17” x 17” x 10” acrylic, resin, mono-filament, wire, wood 2019
'Un Abuelo, Una Abuela' hammer, spade, resin 2019
'Ofrenda for 28th St. Flower Market' 3‘ x 3’ x 2’ up-cycled materials, metro rack, pillars, florals, framed print 2019