John Velo (b. 1992) is a Springfield Missouri-based contemporary artist who works primarily in watercolor, ink, charcoal, and graphite. His work is a timeless interplay of light and shadows to capture the beauty of the male form. Taking inspiration from figurative masters such as Rodin and Michelangelo to modern and contemporary artists like Egon Schiele and Andy Warhol, John’s classical compositions and renderings of the male physique are sensual yet sophisticated, occasionally straddling the line between figuration and abstraction.
Born to a family of medical practitioners in a predominantly Catholic country — the Philippines — John taught himself to make art as a way to express his authentic self. He started sketching women at a young age and only explored drawing male subjects when he openly came out. His work can be found in private collections across the United States and the Philippines.
Statement
“I always knew I'm a round peg in a square whole. I did not fit in with the boys in my class and I felt like the body I was in did not reflect who I truly am. To say that it was challenging to grow up as a gay man in a predominantly Catholic country is a gross understatement. As I got older, I came to realize that I have the power not to let society dictate who I want to be. It has been a long journey, but this masculine body I once thought to be repulsive and ugly, I now see as an epitome of beauty. My art is an homage to all that and more. It has been a preoccupation, this ceaseless attempt to tastefully depict the male physique beyond its erotic, stimulating facets. Through watercolor, ink, charcoal, and graphite, I try to capture the complexities of the male physique, emphasizing the curves, crevices, and textures that make each form unique, simply honoring its raw magnificence the way I celebrate my own body."
Copyright 2020-2023 John Velo