Leonardo Montoya was born in Medellin Colombia, in 1972. Since his childhood, he has expressed a deep interest in art and the human figure. At eleven y/o, he began his formal studies of drawing and painting. He entered the Eladio Vélez School of Fine Art in Medellin in 1985, where he learned different art techniques.
Montoya returned to Eladio Velez School of Fine Arts in 1994 to study advertising and photography for four years. From 1995 to 1996, he taught art at the National Academy of Arts in Medellin and was an illustrator of medical books for the University of Antioquia.
He immigrated to the United States in 1998, chasing the American dream. Despite the economic hardship and instability, he never lost his interest in art. He worked with interior designers and participated in numerous art exhibits.
In 2015 Montoya began a series of exhibitions with his Diva collection. This work highlights the character of the female figure and features vibrant colors and three-dimensional effects, based on experimental and mixed-media art.
A great year for Leonardo came in 2018 when he had the opportunity to be part of an international exhibition in the United Arab Emirates at the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, where he was awarded the title of Artist of the Year.
He won his first residence period with the Al Qasimi Foundation in the UAE in 2020, taking place in Jan- Apr 2021.
Leonardo got his second residence at Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano Beach 2022- 2023; where he has the opportunity to share his journey and knowledge in art with the community.
I believe that the universal language of the arts can break through cultural and personal barriers bringing us closer together as human beings.
I was raised by a strong and loving community of women. They have been a big influence throughout my life. Common themes represented in my work are cultural diversity, gender equality, race, and the empowerment of women. I offer my perspective about the characters that I portray that remain close to my heart. Portraying the uniqueness and strength of the individual allows me to speak to the sameness of our humanity in parallel to the beauty of our cultural differences. I do this with deep respect and admiration for what we share and what makes us different. My art is my voice and my connection to the world.
Iris Apfel is famous for her eclectic style. She pairs layers of bright colors and oversized glasses and jewelry together with such flair that she was the subject of an exhibit at The Costume Institute in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
An American original in the truest sense, Iris Apfel is one of the most vivacious personalities in the worlds of fashion, and interior design, and over the past 40 years, she has cultivated a personal style that is both witty and exuberantly idiosyncratic.
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation but is also active in painting, performance, film, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts. Her work is based in conceptual art and shows some attributes of feminism, minimalism, surrealism, Art Brut, pop art, and abstract expressionism, and is infused with autobiographical, psychological, and sexual content. She has been acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan.
Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) was an Austrian-American actress and inventor who pioneered the technology that would one day form the basis for today’s WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth communication systems. As a natural beauty seen widely on the big screen in films like Samson and Delilah and White Cargo, society has long ignored her inventive genius. Lamarr’s beauty was simultaneously classic and exotic, making her the perfect model for Disney’s Snow White. Lamarr was also the inspiration for Catwoman in the original Batman comics.
Lupita Amondi Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. She had her first feature film role as Patsey in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which she received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Nyong’o’s career progressed with her role as Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Black Panther (2018)
In addition to acting, Nyong’o supports historic preservation. She is vocal about preventing sexual harassment and working for women’s rights and animal rights. Nyong’o was named among Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women in 2020.
This is a smaller reproduction of “Audrey Hepburn with a Bullet Hat” from 2018. Audrey Hepburn (born May 4, 1929, in Belgium—died January 20, 1993, in Switzerland)The Belgian-born British actress known for her radiant beauty and style, her ability to project an air of sophistication tempered by a charming innocence, and her tireless efforts to aid children in need throughout her life.
“Iris Apfel”
“Yayoi Kusama”
“Hedi Lamarr”
“Lupita”
“Audrey red”
