BIOGRAPHY
José Antonio Ochoa (Mexico City, 1990) is a visual artist specializing in painting and sculpture. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Seville and completed his training at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in Artistic Practice. He has also taught at the same institution. Additionally, he studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he attended courses with renowned artists such as Antonio López, Juan F. Lacomba, José Saborit, Chema López, and Javier Chapa, among others.
His work has been exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, including the National Portrait Gallery in London, the MEAM in Barcelona, the Hoki Museum and the Saga Museum in Japan, and the Museo de Arte de Querétaro in Mexico. He has participated in both solo and group exhibitions in cities such as Mexico City, Querétaro, Chicago, London, Helsinki, Seville, Valencia, Zaragoza, Logroño, and Madrid.
Throughout his career, Ochoa has received numerous accolades, including the Fundación Mainel Painting Prize (2018)and the Vila de Paterna Painting Biennial Prize (2020). He has also been selected for prestigious painting competitions such as the BP Portrait Award, the BMW Painting Prize, and the IberCaja Youth Painting Prize, among others.
Rooted in figuration, his work seeks to confront the visual exhaustion caused by the voracious consumption of images from the mass media, creating a silent painting capable of stimulating contemplation and recovering the intimacy of the gaze. He often finds his source of inspiration in pre-existing images; his most recent projects have their origins in cinema. Through decontextualisation, he presents enigmatic images that raise questions but do not provide answers. Whether landscape or portrait, his art seeks a space of serene reflection, works capable of providing the peace and tranquillity so longed for in our frenetic world.
CV.
José Antonio Ochoa
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
- 2017: Master’s Degree in Artistic Production, Polytechnic University of Valencia.
- 2015: Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Polytechnic University of Valencia (Years 1-2 at the University of Seville).
- 2010: American Academy of Art (Chicago, USA).
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
- 2016: Painting Workshop “Masters of Figuration”, Antonio López, Museum of the University of Navarra.
- 2013: Creative Workshop “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue?”, Juan Fernández Lacomba, Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art (Seville).
GALLERIES
- My Name’s Lolita Art Gallery (Madrid)
- Vangar Gallery (Valencia)
- Aldama Fine Art Gallery (Mexico City)
- Eclectic Gallery (London)
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
2023
- Selected, XXVIII Painting Contest Ciudad de Algemesí.
2022
- Honorary Mention, Ibercaja Young Painting Prize (Zaragoza).
- Selected, XXXVII BMW Painting Prize.
- Selected, III María Isabel Comenge Biennial.
- Selected, XXXII Ciudad de Álora Painting and Sculpture Contest.
2021
- Selected, XXVII Ciutat d’Algemesí Painting Prize.
- Selected, XVII National Contemporary Painting Contest Casimiro Baragaña.
2020
- First Prize, XXVII Vila de Paterna Biennial (Valencia).
- Selected, XVI Casimiro Baragaña Contemporary Painting Contest (Asturias).
- Selected, XXXVI Young Art Exhibition in La Rioja.
- Selected, XXI National Painting Prize, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos (Valencia).
- Selected, VI Dcoop Plastic Arts Contest (Cordoba).
2019
- Selected, IberCaja Young Painting Prize (Zaragoza).
- Selected, Fundación Cañada Blanch Prize (Valencia).
- Selected, 10th National Painting Contest, Parliament of La Rioja (Logroño).
- Selected, XXI National Painting Prize, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos (Valencia).
2018
- Selected, XLIX Ateneo Mercantil Painting Prize (Valencia).
- Winner, XXI Mainel Foundation Painting Prize (Valencia).
- Selected, XLII National Painting Contest Villa de Pego (Alicante).
- Selected, XXXIX Minipaintings Contest, Huestes del Cadi (Alicante).
2017
- Acquisition of 10 works: Kaluz Museum (Mexico City).
- Selected, BP Portrait Award, National Gallery (London).
- Honorary Mention, IberCaja Young Painting Prize (Zaragoza).
- Accésit, XX Mainel Foundation Painting Prize (Valencia).
- Acquisition of work: European Museum of Modern Art (Barcelona).
- Selected, TransportArte, PAM17 and EMT (Valencia).
- Selected, 10th National Painting Contest, Parliament of La Rioja (Logroño).
2015-2010
- Scholarship, Mexican Art Foundation for Promotion and Excellence (Mexico City).
2015
- Honorary Mention, XVIII Mainel Foundation Painting Prize (Valencia).
- Selected, 30th BMW Painting Prize (Madrid).
- Selected, XXXIX National Painting Contest Villa de Pego (Alicante).
2014
- Selected, XXXVI Minipaintings Contest, Huestes del Cadi (Alicante).
- Selected, XXXIV Painting Prize S. Soria, Villa de Benissa (Alicante).
- Acquisition of sculpture for public square, Sumarcarcer Town Hall (Valencia, Spain).
- SICUE Scholarship, University of Seville.
- Acquisition of graphic work: University of Seville Collection.
PUBLICATIONS
- 2022: El Instante Decisivo, José Antonio Ochoa, Aldama Fine Art (Mexico City).
- 2019: Ut Pictura Kinesis, José Antonio Ochoa, Querétaro Art Museum and Kaluz Cultural Foundation (Mexico City).
- 2018: Kaluz Collection, Kaluz Cultural Foundation (Mexico City).
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2023: La Acción del Silencio, Vangar Gallery (Valencia).
- 2023: El Instante Decisivo, Aldama Fine Art Gallery (Mexico City).
- 2023: La Pintura al Servicio de las Nubes, Vangar Gallery (Valencia).
- 2019: Mirar el Tiempo, My Name’s Lolita Art Gallery (Madrid).
- 2018: Tiempo Sostenido, Thema Gallery (Valencia).
- 2018: Ut Pictura Kinesis, Querétaro Art Museum (Querétaro, Mexico).
- 2017: Reverse Shots, Hanken School of Economics (Helsinki).
- 2016: Herois, La Societat Cultural Space (Sumarcarcer, Valencia).
- 2011: Trapos, Legislative Palace San Lázaro (Mexico City).
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
(Selection from 2024-2013)
- 2024: Stories Told by Two Voices, Eclectic Gallery (London).
- 2023: The Meaning of Beauty, Eclectic Gallery (London).
- 2022: Tiempo Redimido, Vangar Gallery (Valencia).
- 2021: Pop-Up Exhibition, Eclectic Gallery (London).
- 2020: Mixing Styles, Eclectic Gallery (London).
- 2018: 11th National Painting Contest, Parliament of La Rioja (Logroño).
- 2013: Bienal Russafart: Other Views of Russafa, Platform per Russafa (Valencia).
- 2012: Alter Ego, Casa Jaime Sabines (Mexico City).
- 2009: Foundations, Bill L. Parks Gallery (Chicago, USA).