Bio
Juan de la Rica (Bilbao, 1979) is a Spanish painter. In 2007 he received his BFA from the University of the Basque Country. Since then he has shown his work in numerous national and international exhibitions.
His painting is characterized by flat, saturated colors and clean, synthetic lines. The subjects that he deals with are varied, including still life, portraiture, mythological and religious scenes.
He generally approaches these issues from irony and humor, but always looking for an open narrative, where there is room for free interpretation.
Where are you from? Did you grow up in a creative environment?
I am from Bilbao (Spain). My uncle is a painter, and since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the world of creation. As a child you see it as something natural but, seen with perspective, I think that it could have been key in my development as an artist.
Who or what has prompted and/or encouraged you to create your art?
I think it is an inner drive. I am not a man of many words and my art may be a way of expressing myself, of communicating ideas that cannot be expressed with words.
What is the key topic or issue that your work addresses?
There is no specific subject that interests me, every subject is valid for my painting to develop. I think that, in that sense, the key issue that my work addresses could be painting itself.
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
That keeps changing over time. At this moment, where I find most inspiration is in the History of Art in general, and specifically in the painting of the Italian Quattrocento. Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca, Giotto...I feel them as great contemporaries. Painting has not changed so much since then.
If you weren't creating art, what would you be doing?
I don’t know, probably any job where I could be my own boss.
