ABOUT

Julio Galvez was born in Guatemala.  His formative years were filled with contrasting influences. He lived between customs and traditions of a colonized region while attending a Waldorf Austrian school.  During these years he showed great interest in the plastic arts, earning some recognition in inter-school competitions.

Like many families, he was encouraged to excel and eventually obtain a degree that would allow him to live comfortably.  Living around poverty, it made sense to pursue a predictable future.   Dentistry.  After twenty five years of practice, in a radical move to redirect his life and pursue his passions, he started art school.

His experiences in the dental field provided structure, work ethic and attention to detail, but it was the hand skills that came to play an important role in his practice.   Art on the other hand was grounds for freedom and adventure,  an opportunity to question life differently.  Soon he discovered that art brought him to a latent state between divergence and convergence, fueling his thoughts and emotions.  It was through art that he found ground to evolve into a new reality, reframing the context of success and happiness.   

Galvez’s works are  based on automatic drawing and, through free association, he brings consciousness to reflect on moments that have created a deep emotional impact in his life.  He explores themes such as identity, diaspora, post-colonialism, gay issues, social rights and mindfulness in a diversity of mediums, primarily sculpture and installation.