Resident artist Feature: Juan Villegas
Behind the Canvas
Rich and symbolic oil & acrylic paintings.
How long have you been making art?
"I've been making and exhibiting art for about 20 years."
How did you get your start?
"I grew up in Cali, Colombia, and from an early age drawing became a way for me to express myself. Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be an artist.
After graduating high school, I had the opportunity to move to the United States, and in 2005 I relocated to Texas to pursue art professionally. I attended art school and earned a BFA in Studio Art from Sam Houston State University in 2010. During that time, I immersed myself in the art community by working at art supply stores like Texas Art Supply in Houston, serving briefly as the Collections and Exhibitions Manager at Mexic-Arte Museum, and volunteering with galleries and alternative art spaces such as Watson Galleries in Houston and Cherry Cola Dog in Austin. Alongside this, I consistently exhibited my work and organized shows, building momentum until 2018, when I was able to transition into being a full-time artist.
In 2022, my wife and creative partner, Rosemary Villegas, and I officially established our studio practice as Surreal Nature LLC and moved into a studio at ArtUs Co, which at the time was led by founder Josh Green. In 2023, after helping reactivate the space through our experience and community network, Rosemary and I were invited to step into the leadership roles within the organization. Since then, I have dedicated part of my practice to building the social sculpture that is ArtUs Co, supporting artists through affordable studio spaces, exhibitions, education, and meaningful networking opportunities. My goal has been to create a solid platform for visionary art in Austin, something that previously existed mostly on the fringes through parties and festivals.
As an artist whose work was often overlooked by traditional galleries due to its spiritual and transcendental nature, it has been deeply fulfilling to help create opportunities for others who share this mission. Being able to offer a gallery setting for artists exploring consciousness, symbolism, and inner transformation has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey, and I am excited to see how both my personal practice and this larger creative ecosystem continue to unfold."
What's a fun fact about you as an artist?
“I taught myself how to play guitar at age 13 and became passionate about music as well. I formed a few rock bands and played many shows in my hometown, and later on around Texas before calling it quits in my late twenties. Music still holds a special place in my heart, but visual art always had a stronger pull for me.”
Juan’s art practice:
“I approach my work as an ongoing exploration of the unseen forces that shape human experience. Through symbolic imagery, surreal terrains, and mythic forms, my paintings examine the relationship between nature, psyche, and spirit.
Influenced by philosophy and esoteric traditions, the work reflects on themes of transformation, duality, and ancestral memory. Symbols function as open forms rather than fixed meanings, allowing each piece to unfold through personal reflection and intuitive response.
Nature serves as my primary teacher. Within its cycles and unpredictability, I find metaphors for growth, dissolution, and rebirth. By reimagining the natural world through a visionary lens, the paintings seek to reconnect viewers with a sense of the sacred that exists beneath ordinary perception.
Ultimately, the work invites reflection on what unifies us, offering space to move beyond the world’s self-imposed limitations during a time of shared existential uncertainty.”
Any big projects coming up?
"I am looking ahead to a full and meaningful 2026, continuing to build and deepen my work with ArtUs Co, while also developing upcoming projects with the Truth and Justice League, two organizations I am deeply committed to. Alongside all of this, Rosemary and I just welcomed our baby girl into this world, which feels like the most profound project of all!"
Where can we find your work?
“You can find my work at ArtUs Co, AWKN Ranch, The Sanctuary ATX, Earthworks Apothecary, Something Cool Studios, The Pub ATX, The Courtyard ATX, ATX Organics, and of course, online.”
Want to see more? Check out his work at www.surrealnature.art or @VillegasArtist on Instagram.
