Juan Sebastián celebrates 10th anniversary with a solo exhibition Veils, Shadows, and Spaces of the Self at SCOPE

In celebration of his decade–long career as an art photographer, Colombian artist Juan Sebastián announced his forthcoming solo exhibition, "Veils, Shadows, and Spaces of the Self", which will be presented by Galería Subtítulo at SCOPE Miami Beach during Miami Art Week this December. This exhibition reflects Sebastián’s long–term commitment to exploring unseen aspects of life, offering a visual look at how identity is both shaped and changed.

Each image in this collection conveys Sebastián’s strong connection to his Colombian heritage and the rich symbolism of ritual, performance and myth. They provide a retrospective view of Sebastián's evolving relationship with identity, culture and form, revealing the invisible narratives that shape who we are and how, through concealment, new truths emerge. Sebastián's work traces a journey from hidden, veiled figures in rural landscapes to pieces that blend story, fantasy and ritual.

At the heart of Veils, Shadows, and Spaces of the Self, the veiled figure is a central motif in Sebastian’s exploration of identity. Through the use of subtle interplay of light, fabric and gesture, Sebastián’s work captures the ongoing negotiation of identity. The duality of concealing and unveiling the figures, allows viewers to move between presence and absence, reality and fantasy. As both a symbol and a tool, the veil acts as a bridge between the hidden and the visible, enabling the artist to explore the tension between personal expression and societal expectations.

Sebastián’s use of time as a recurring theme, expresses the idea that identity is constantly shifting and evolving. The veiled figures are caught in moments of temporal suspension and act as temporal agents, negotiating between past, present and future.

At the age of 17, Sebastián immigrated to Miami, where he currently works and resides. Inspired by the magical realism in the works by Gabriel Garcia Márquez and Isabel Allende, Sebastián seamlessly blends dreams with reality. Through his unique lens, Sebastián’s photographic creations use the combination of light and dark to reveal a dreamlike essence of both dreams and the subconscious.

Veils, Shadows, and Spaces of the Self marks a pivotal moment in Sebastián’s career and invites viewers to explore the layers of their own identities, blurring the line between who we are and who we might become.