Today we’d like to introduce you to Leonardo Montoya.
Hi Leonardo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Some forty-odd years ago in Medellin, Colombia, it was a time at the height of the cartels when violence raged across the country and permeated the families and the entire society. No one was spared. As a sensitive child growing up in this violence and also being bullied, art became my escape. Despite the tremendous chaos, I grew to conquer my fears, and obstacles to appreciate the beauty of my people.
Those early years showed me that we all dealt with physical, emotional, or psychological pain but that the resilience of the human spirit prevailed. In the community where I grew up, I was surrounded by a loving group of strong, supportive women who provided me with an important perspective on the notion of family. My respect and admiration for women developed from this support and remain strongly anchored and reflected in my work as an artist.
The process of becoming an artist was very organic for me. As a young dreamer, I developed a fascination for the human form, superheroes, and Greek mythology. Subconsciously, I have pushed forward to relentlessly pursue my career. Being born with an innate artistic talent has allowed me to conquer the emotional and economic adversities I faced throughout my life. After immigrating to the United States from Colombia, I was compelled to become a passionate ambassador for my people and culture.
Common themes represented in my art are cultural diversity, gender equality, migration, and women’s empowerment. I can offer my unique perspective on these subjects that remain close to my heart. Portraying the uniqueness and strength of the individual allows me to speak to the sameness of our humanity in parallel to the beauty of our cultural differences. I do this with a deep sense of respect and admiration for what we share and what makes us different.
I believe that the universal language of the arts can break through cultural and personal barriers bringing us closer together as human beings. My art is my voice and my connection to the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Learning to navigate the art world is not an easy challenge.
I always advise emerging artists never to stop pursuing their dreams and carers; nevertheless, they should expect a bumpy ride, it’s only through resilience they may achieve success.
Real artists never stop looking for new ways to express their emotions and to develop their voices, against all odds.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I believe the universal language of the arts can break through cultural and personal barriers bringing us closer together as human beings.
I was raised by a strong and loving community of women. They have been a big influence throughout my life. Common themes represented in my work are cultural diversity, gender equality, race, and women’s empowerment. I offer my perspective about the characters that I portray that remain close to my heart.
Portraying the uniqueness and strength of the individual allows me to speak to the sameness of our humanity in parallel to the beauty of our cultural differences. I do this with a deep sense of respect and admiration for the characters I choose to portray.
As a Latino living in the US for half of my life, creating my own identity has become one of the many challenges in my artworks. Things like education, family, money, politics, religion, and sex had a big influence on my life and career. All those topics help to define who I am; but, our nature is complex and should not be a label for the social need to look for acceptance. I think we all are multi-dimensional.
I always admired beauty, but not only in the obvious stereotype. I always find beauty in the oddest of subjects. Color, lines, composition, and style are important things to consider when I choose an image or character to portray.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family has played an important role from the very beginning, especially my mom, her inner strength it’s inspiring.
After that, I have to thank the gay community and organizations like Tampa Hispanic Heritage, The Al Qasimi Foundation in the UAE, Pompano Beach Arts, and The Broward Cultural Division from whom I was awarded a grant recently.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leonardomontoyart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orlemoon/
