Jose Aurelio Baez – Contemporary Mixed Media and Collage Artist

Jose Aurelio Baez is a contemporary mixed media artist based in New York City who specializes in the intersection of painting and collage. Born in 1986 in the Bronx, his work is heavily influenced by his identity as a New Yorker and the vibrant, often chaotic energy of the urban environment. Jose Aurelio Baez received his traditional training at Carnegie Mellon University, which he blends with a self-taught approach to create art that feels both grounded and exploratory. His creative process involves the deconstruction and reinterpretation of familiar images using a diverse range of materials, including wallpaper, graffiti inks, spray paint, oil sticks, and found advertisements. Central to the artistic philosophy of Jose Aurelio Baez is the idea that human lives are inherently layered, with our full histories carried forward into every present moment. He translates this concept onto the canvas by building up and stripping back layers, ensuring that the physical presence of the work and the mark of the artist's hand are always visible. This tactile quality invites viewers to engage with the work on a physical and emotional level, recognizing the beauty in mistakes, failures, and the raw honesty of the creative process. Beyond traditional gallery works like Dried Flowers and Winter Bouquet, Jose Aurelio Baez is known for his large-scale murals and community-based art projects, such as the Sing for Hope Pianos. His art serves as a living archive, capturing the people, culture, and environments that surround him. By creating an intimate conversation between the subject and the viewer, Jose Aurelio Baez offers a unique perspective on the fragility and complexity of life through his distinct mixed media lens.