Deemed “The Picasso of Gen Z,” by Univision’s Despierta América, Juan Salcedo, known professionally as Salcedo, is a twenty year-old multi-faceted artist, whose talents span diverse creative mediums, such as visual art, fashion design, and poetry. His works aim to reflect the boundless creativity and refracted perspectives of society's youth. His goal is not to attain so-called "perfection," or to work inside of the established notion of aesthetics. Instead, it is to demonstrate how he sees world, encapsulating all of the beauty and wretchedness within it.
“Outcast” is a term far too familiar to Salcedo. Growing up as an only child, of Colombian descent, inherently came with many differences to what everyone else seemed to be living throughout his childhood. Imposed limitations and hindered experiences served the same purpose cocoons seem to do for caterpillars. The struggle and desire to escape has crafted the beauty that is the diverse perspectives and ambiguity Salcedo portrays within his artistry. Years of observation, analysis, and day-dreaming, of unknown experiences were the key to enabling his unique vision and ability to create. He is the epitome of strategic risk-taking and self belief.
Salcedo is characterized by what seems to be an innate fire and sense of rebellion that can be seen by many, through his passion and dedication towards his career as an artist. Confidence and integrity are sometimes misinterpreted as arrogance and egotism, but they are the keys to his success. Completely self-taught, and fully immersed within his “autodidact life,” he has attracted the attention of names like Lil Yachty and Olaolu Slawn, amongst an abundance of celebrity names and art collectors across the world. At his young age he has worked alongside galleries such as Aura Copeland Gallery, Colour Senses Project, and White’s Art Gallery, as well as garnered recognition from prestigious media outlets such as, Art E$tate Magazine, El Tiempo, W radio, and El Espectador.
The concept of failure is nonexistent in his mind. In his own words, “you can’t fear outcomes you don’t accept as possibilities—and me personally, I don’t give a f**k to risk my entire existence on success. I rather die trying to live than live wondering what it’s like to die without doing so.” The artist is currently based out of Miami where he continues to produce innovative work that consistently drives him up to be amongst today’s top emerging artists.
