José Yaruro

Overview
José Yaruro
Born in 1979 in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and raised in Abejales, Venezuela, José Yaruro is a contemporary painter renowned for his association with hyperrealism. At just seven, he expressed a desire to become a painter, and by eight, his parents enrolled him in a brief painting course, where his natural talent for artistic expression quickly shone through.
Yaruro chose to nurture his painting talent as a self-taught artist, honing his skills throughout his youth. When he turned seventeen, he felt the urge to share his art with others. He began displaying his paintings in the streets of Abejales, captivating passersby with their beauty. One day, a professional painter noticed his work and was so impressed by Yaruro's skill that he offered him the opportunity to work on more complex commissioned pieces.
This marked the start of a flourishing artistic period for Yaruro, during which he painted various portraits and costumbrista works, including commissions from notable figures such as the Venezuelan president.
Yaruro's success soared further in 2005, following a significant encounter with engineer and art enthusiast Francisco Blasini, who introduced him to art connoisseurs and enthusiasts. This led to a lasting friendship and a rapid expansion of Yaruro's fame, with some of his works exhibited in prominent locations, including the National Pantheon of Venezuela, where his portrait of Bolívar was displayed.
These achievements prompted Yaruro to reflect on his past and the inner strength that enabled him to realize his dreams despite adversity. He came to recognize the importance of infusing a more spiritual connotation into the concept of "prosperity" in life, shedding light on the prevalent materialism in society. He criticized the prevailing notion that wealth equates to comfort and the mere accumulation of money.
From 2019 onwards, Yaruro has resided in Pietrasanta, Italy, the marble craftsmanship capital, where he embarked on a journey to master the "art of sculpting." He began as an apprentice in a sculptor's studio and worked as an assistant sculptor. This experience marked the onset of a new artistic phase for Yaruro: the phase of Greco-Roman sculptures painted with oil on canvas. In these works, he combines hyperrealism techniques with subjects from the ancient past.
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Works
Exhibitions