Joey Cruz Margarejo — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Joey Cruz Margarejo is a self-taught artist, Canadian Filipino now base in Alberta, Canada, highly influenced by his best friend an artist too, Joey mostly works on abstract acrylic on canvas, Joey's first painting was sold on the first exhibition that he joined almost 25 yrs. ago, in Manila, his artworks has been featured at art exhibitions in Montreal, Quebec and recently Vancouver BC, some of his works are featured in books and magazines that distributed all over the world, upcoming shows ArtExpo NYC, Monaco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tokyo, Manila etc.

Artist Statement

I may not be a good artist but I have a heart, emotions, soul, spirit. putting all that together in my canvas only used two brushes speaks a thousand words, creates a thousand emotions, touches a thousand souls and feel a thousand hearts.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

At a very young age , I know that I already appreciate arts .specially paintings and sculpture of European and some local artists, although I didnt know how do i call them, I saw Monal Liza or the name MichelAngelo,Leonardo da Vinci in an old books and magazines but don't understand who and what are they?the only thing I knew I loved them.I came from an ordinary poor family fron a little laid back (at that time but its very progressive now} town in the Phillipines called Bagumbayan (newtown in Enlglish) and none of the member of my family knew about arts,until I reached Grade 5 when my teacher Ms.Norma Magtalas she's one of my earliest influences, introduced us this world ARTS,Ill never pursue my desired until I met my best friend in college Mike Austria and his father Tam Austria both famous artists in the Philippine thyre both too kind and generous helping me, even allowed me to use their paintss, brushes and canvas they inculded me in one of their exhibitions and surprise my first paintings were sold on my first group show, from that time I already knew I was born to be an artist.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

I always said that I maybe not be a good artist, I have no formal training or studies, but I have a a heart and soul these are my tools to creates my arts, I'm a free spirited artist, always beleive that an artist you must be open to all criticism negative or positive,I see myself with an open minded attitude , an artist who's not afraid and proud of what I achievd, an artist with a heart and soul who touched my audience heart and mind.

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

I said this before and said it again, I love it when people take a deep look at my works and asking is this Art? when I make my audience thhinking and nalayzing my works that's for me is the best compliment, it means I touched their hearts, souls and minds.every colors and every brush strokes has meaning , I want them to know that all of these are coming straight my heart every drops of my paints even the tiniest or smallest one has significant and importance.

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

This is one of my favourite parts I normally using 2 brushes , presently the 2 that I've been using right now is with me for the last 5 yrs.love using old brushes, have no initial plan for my works, facing my canvas for a few minutes ,before starting, using my left hand on the left side, right hand on the right side ,

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

Dropping tons and unlimited paints in my canvas is my favourite part. Im very generous with my materials specially my paints, touched and retouched gives me more energy and desired, when my red bacame orange, blue became lavender , green became yellow, white and black became grey, its gives me more inpiration, it feels like bring me to a higher dimension of my life as an artist.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

For now I am now starting to reminiscning the good old days of my youth and past life. I am now creating new series and name it to all the people who really touched my life it might be a relatives or friends , this is my ultimate tribute to all of them , life is too short and too precious I'd rather give tribute to this people who help me and inspired me through out my journey.

Website joeycruzmargarejo.com

Instagram Only2brushes and iamjomari