Joan Belmar

Chilean born artist Joan Belmar came to Washington, D.C. in 1999, and was granted permanent residency in the U.S. based on extraordinary artistic merit in 2003, and became a citizen in 2010. He was a Mayor's Award Finalist in 2007 as an outstanding emerging artist in Washington, D.C. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities awarded him an artist fellowship grant in 2009, and in 2011, the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County gave him an Individual Artist Grant. The Maryland Arts Council awarded Belmar Individual Artist grants in Visual Arts: Painting, in 2010 and 2013. Additionally, he was one of eight finalists for the 2013 Bethesda Painting Awards and his work has been reviewed and exhibited in the United States and abroad. His series of paintings Tierra del Fuego, Territories y CHORDS have all been acclaimed by artists, critics and curators. These series reference imaginary maps and geographical locations where color plays and important role. He also creates unique 3-D paintings by using strips of Mylar and acetate to build up a space inside the painting. The sheer quality of the Mylar captures and reflects light and encourages an up close viewing of the work to reveal the different layers within. A W A R D S A N D C O L L E C T I O N S 2016 University of Maine Museum of Art. Permanent Collection. Maine. USA 2015 Permanent Collection. Fidelity Investment Art Collection. Boston. USA 2014 Permanent Collection of the US Embassy in Manila, the Philippines 2013 Maryland State Art Council Award. Painting 2012 Stevenson University. Permanent collection 2011 Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC). Individual Artist Grant. 2010 Maryland State art Council Award. Painting 2009     Fellowship artist. DC Commissions on the Arts and Humanities. Washington, DC 2007     Finalist, Mayor’s Award, Outstanding Emerging Artist. DC Commission on the Arts and             Humanities.  Washington, DC 2006     The John Wilson Building.  Heart of DC, City Hall Permanent Art Collection. Washington, DC                                                2004     Olympic Games Athens 2004. “Artiade.”  Athens, Greece.                           2000     First Prize, Collage, National Artists’ Association. ACEA.  Barcelona, Spain B I B L I O G R A F I A - The Washington Post. Getting ‘Personal’ at King Street. By Mark Jenkins. Nov 13,2015 - The Studio Visit Moments and Observations in Joan Belmar’s Studio. Yayo Tavolara September 28, 2015 DC Metro Arts. By Maggie Gurlay April 2015 The Washington Post. With wires and beads, exhibits dangle intrigue in front of visitor’s eyes By Mark Jenkins. February 20, 2015 - Sun Gazzete. Subtle spheres, shapes take center stage at McLean Project for Arts. By Brian Trompeter -The Washington Post. CHORDS Liberto. By Mark Jenkins. Oct 3, 2014 -Artsy Editorial. Harmony and Dissonance Imagined in the Abstractions of Joan Belmar. June 7, 2014. By Emily Nathan Artsy editorial. New York, NY -Modern/Luxury Magazine. Fairs to remember By Max Fishko -American Art Collector."Art Fair Preview: Contemporary Showcase. July , 2014 -Blouin Artinfo. 3 Hamptons Fairs Bring Art to the Beach. By Ashton Cooper. July 07, 2014 -Color Redivivus: Abstract Music From Washington by Donald Kuspit. March 03, 2014 -Open Studio Magazine. Curated by Barbara O'Brien of Kemper Museum. Dec, 2014 -The Washington Post. Bethesda Painting Awards By Mark Jenkins. Jun 14, 2013 -The Washington Post.‘Sigil’ art exhibition at Addison Ripley By Michael O’Sullivan. Jun 6, 2013 -The Washington Post. Joan Belmar arrives to America. By Mark Jenkins. Nov 1, 2012 -L'Artiste magazine. Take me to the River. France. Jan, 2012 -The Examiner. Artist profile: Joan Belmar by Stephen Mack. August 1, 2011 -The Washington Post. Restore: Japan. By Stephanie Merry. March 30, 2011 -American Contemporary Magazine. New Art to the Nation's Capital. By Lenny Campello. April/May, 2010           -Washington Hispanic. Family Place Exhibe Sin Fronteras- Art without Frontiers. Nov 14, 2008                      -Washington Post. Migration: Universal Truths. By Michael O’Sullivan. Jan 4, 2008                                      -The News Leader. Inspired by Duchamp artist aims to disorient. By Maria Longley. July 10, 2008                       -The Examiner. Seeing way beyond, deep, within.. or a reflection? By Robin Tierney.May 26, 2007                    -Carroll County times.Nuances of Life. By  Pam Zappardino.June 04, 2007 -Washington Post/Express. Game of Illusions. By Robin Tierney. May 26, 2008                                                                     -Fall Church news Northern Virginia. Art Beat. By Kevin Mellema. Dec 11, 2008                                        -Washington Blade. Chile’s artistic ambassador.By Joe Howley. Sept 12,  2004                                             -El Tiempo Latino. Arte lo lleva a las olimpiadas de Atenas. By Milagros M. Vela. August 6, 2004                        -El Mercurio. Joan Belmar en olimpiadas. By Perdro Gandolfo. August 1, 2004                                             -La Tercera. Dos Chilenos. By Rodrigo Miranda. Nov 08, 2004                                                                 -La Ultima hora Ibiza. Joan Belmar: Mi carrera comenzo en Ibiza. By TCR                           -El Tiempo Latino. Artista chileno expone en DC. By Milagros M. Vela. August 07, 2004 -El Tiempo Latino. Talento hispano en Londres. By Milagros M. Vela. Nov 14, 2003                                    -Washington Blade. The Atmosphere of Glass. By Greg Varner. Jan 12, 2001                                                -Diario de Ibiza. Joan Belmar. Del dise?o al arte en libertad. By Julio Herranz. -Diario de Ibiza. Azul. By Jose Manuel Pi?a. -Ultima Hora Ibiza.  Elementos figuarivos tras la abstraccion. Vicenç Fenollosa. -El Mundo. El Arte Moderno Aterriza En La Ciudad Eternal. Arteroma 97. By R. Montoya. Nov 29, 1997