Juan Bastos ’84 (General Fine Arts BFA), a Bolivian-born painter whose luminous portraits and figurative works have been exhibited internationally, understands that becoming an artist requires more than mastering technique.
After studying architecture in Bolivia and attending Georgetown University and Montgomery College, Bastos discovered MICA during a portfolio review at the Corcoran Museum. Encouraged by a faculty mentor, he visited campus and immediately felt a connection.
“When I arrived here and saw the building, I thought, ‘I don’t need to go to Italy anymore. I feel that I’m in Florence,’” he recalled. “It was love at first sight.”
At MICA, Bastos found himself surrounded by ambitious artists who challenged him creatively. Though he explored graphic design, illustration, photography, sculpture, and architecture, painting and portraiture became his focus. A pivotal lesson came in a portraiture class with faculty member Peter Collier, whose advice to “squint” at the model trans-formed Bastos’ understanding of tone and composition.
“Nobody had ever told me that before,” Bastos said. “It was magic.”
While still a student, Bastos pursued portrait and illustration commissions, developing entrepreneurial instincts that would sustain his career. His senior exhibition earned praise from The Evening Sun, which compared his work to Matisse and Degas.
Over his career, Bastos has received numerous high-profile portrait commissions, including one to paint Pope Francis, reflecting both his technical mastery and ability to capture the humanity of his subjects.
Today, Bastos credits MICA with giving him the artistic rigor and practical foundation to build a lasting career as a working artist.
