
Jose Cifuentes
Jose Cifuentes statement
Creating artwork provides an alternative means by which I’m able to experience and express life. Painting is my passion, while the figure is my muse. .
About Jose Cifuentes
CIFUENTES is a thirty-six-year-old mixed media abstract artist from Medellin, Colombia.
CIFUENTES moved his life and practice to Toronto, Canada, to find inspiration for his current chapter of creation.
Artist since early age, CIFUENTES enrolled in art academies since five years old and did poorly in any subject that did not involve creativity. Moved to the U.S as a teen where he attended Weehawken High School and received the Class Artist Award his Senior year, only to be a proud recipient of a full ride scholarship to study Fine Arts at Bergen Community College in New Jersey. Upon graduation and receiving a citation by the State of New Jersey and an artistic award by Panasonic, CIFUENTES begins his professional art career by having his works featured and exhibited numerous times throughout NJ and NYC.
Due to a complex immigration story, CIFUENTES left the States and moved back to Medellin, Colombia, where, due to a poor art scene at the time, he used his art to start a clothing brand called beFREE Clothing and to his misfortune, their award-winning business enterprise caught the wrong attention and
they suffered extortion and were forced to shut down.
Two years later CIFUENTES decided to move to Canada and start a life in a safe place where he didn't have to fear for his life and his art could flourish.
Since December 2016 actions have spoken louder than words. CIFUENTES is here to contribute to the cultural fabric of Toronto and Canada.
In 2019 he was the proud recipient of the Refugee and Newcomer Mentorship Grant by Toronto Arts Council and had valuable opportunities to exhibit his work at various galleries and venues in Toronto while gaining local and international recognition in the form of features in printed, digital and social media, as well as
commissioned work and collaborations.
On Exhibit Now
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