Growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia, Fernando Molinares enjoyed drawing comic books at a very young age. After discovering a love for painting, he never abandoned his passion for creating characters and telling stories.
His figurative work represents images developed out of traditions from his homeland, the world, and his personal life. With his paintings, drawings and illustration in both digital and traditional mediums he brings attention to the issues that matter for him the most, such as cultural and gender identity, war, religion and the struggle between good and evil.
" A contrast between vivid colors wrapped in ominous darkness evoques the battle between good and evil, virtue and sin, humor and tragedy. Such are my ambiguous figures: balancing, dancing, contorting. At times practicing yoga, sometimes devouring each other, while telling stories about the incessant drama of outsurviving in a world where nothing is certain but death and desire". FERNANDO MOLINARES.
Education and Credentials:
Master in Fine Arts (MFA) Savannah College of Art and Design- SCAD, Savannah Georgia.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Computer Graphics and Digital illustration. Eastern College. Melbourne, Florida
Figure Drawing. Universidad Nacional. Bogotá colombia.
Advertising and Graphic Design. Universidad del Litoral. Barranquilla, Colombia.
Fine Arts. Facultad de Bellas Artes. Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia.
Internships:
Savannah College of Art and Design. Drawing, Composition and Media. Online Teacher Assistant.
Orange County Regional History Center, Graduate Collections Intern, Orlando, Florida.
Work Experience:
Valencia College. Part-time Faculty. Art Professor
Walt Disney World. Show Finisher. Lake Buena vista, Florida.
Ana G Mendez University. Arts and and Humanities facilitator.
Universal Orlando Resort. Figure Finish Lead Artist.
Disney Hollywood Studios. Scenic Artist. Orlando, Florida.
Rubio Arts. Portrait and Caricature Artist. Orlando, Florida.
National School Of Cartooning. Caricature and figure tutor. Bogotá, Colombia.
Myriam Nieto Advertising Agency. Copy Creative and Designer. Barranquilla, Colombia.
Exhibitions:
2023. "Edgard Allan Poe". CityArts. Orlando Florida.
2023. "Mi Vida en Rosa y Otras Tonalidades" Universidad del Atlantico, Barranquilla, Colombia.
2023. "UCF Eclectic Knights 2023". Orlando Museum of Art.
2023. "Arte Sin Fronteras / Art Without Borders" . Osceola Arts.
2023 "Life and Death". Gallerium. Online exhibition. Canada.
2023 "Unusual Frida 2023". Leu Gardens. Orlando Florida.
2022. "Heritage". Osceola Center for the Arts. Kissimmee, Florida
2022. "Whimsical Circus". Spotlight Gallery. CityArts
2022 "Unusual Frida 2022". Leu Gardens. Orlando, Florida
2021 "Univision, Artist of the month", Orlando, Florida
2021 "Diversia People 2021: Faces, Figures, Poses and Acts, Online Exhibition, Toronto
2021 "Hindsight 2020", CityArts, Orlando Florida
2021 "My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy". CityArts, Orlando, Florida
2020 MFA Show, " The Demonized other" Savannah College of Arts and Design, Artsteps.com
2020 Bliss Arts. Orlando, Florida
2020 Nude Nite Orlando, Florida
2019 Unusual Frida. Orlando Public Library. Orlando, Florida
2019 Alive II. CityArts. Orlando, Florida
2018 Unusual Friday. McCrae Art Studios, Orlando Florida.
2018 Hispanic Artists. Osceola Art Center. Kissimmee, Florida
2018 Alive. City Arts Factory. Orlando, Florida
2014 O'Blue Gallery @ FAVO, Faith Art Villa. Orlando. Florida
2013 Equilibrium. City Arts Factory Orlando Florida.
2012 FAVO. Faith Art Villa, Orlando Florida.
2011 Neu America Fine Art Festival, Orlando Florida
2011 United nations of Art. 17 92 Gallery. Orlando Florida
2010 UCF Eclectic knights.Show. Orlando Museum of Art. Orlando, Florida
2010 New America Art Gallery. Orlando, Florida
2008 BFA Show. University of Central Florida. Orlando, Florida
2001 First Solo Opening, The GLBT Center, Orlando, Florida.
2001, Vision, Henegar Center, Melbourne, Florida
2000 Chapinero Art Festival, Ganadero Bank Hall, Bogotá, Colombia.
1999 Comiciudad. National School of Caricature. Botogá, Colombia.
1998 Jesuits Exposed, Xavier University, Bogotá. Colombia
1995 How is your process going? Amira de la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia
1994 Chamber of Commerce annual exhibit. Amira de la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia
1993 Processes IV. Amira de la la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia.
Education and Credentials:
Master in Fine Arts (MFA) Savannah College of Art and Design- SCAD, Savannah Georgia.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Computer Graphics and Digital illustration. Eastern College. Melbourne, Florida
Figure Drawing. Universidad Nacional. Bogotá colombia.
Advertising and Graphic Design. Universidad del Litoral. Barranquilla, Colombia.
Fine Arts. Facultad de Bellas Artes. Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia.
Internships:
Savannah College of Art and Design. Drawing, Composition and Media. Online Teacher Assistant.
Orange County Regional History Center, Graduate Collections Intern, Orlando, Florida.
Work Experience:
Valencia College. Part-time Faculty. Art Professor
Walt Disney World. Show Finisher. Lake Buena vista, Florida.
Ana G Mendez University. Arts and and Humanities facilitator.
Universal Orlando Resort. Figure Finish Lead Artist.
Disney Hollywood Studios. Scenic Artist. Orlando, Florida.
Rubio Arts. Portrait and Caricature Artist. Orlando, Florida.
National School Of Cartooning. Caricature and figure tutor. Bogotá, Colombia.
Myriam Nieto Advertising Agency. Copy Creative and Designer. Barranquilla, Colombia.
Exhibitions:
2023. "Edgard Allan Poe". CityArts. Orlando Florida.
2023. "Mi Vida en Rosa y Otras Tonalidades" Universidad del Atlantico, Barranquilla, Colombia.
2023. "UCF Eclectic Knights 2023". Orlando Museum of Art.
2023. "Arte Sin Fronteras / Art Without Borders" . Osceola Arts.
2023 "Life and Death". Gallerium. Online exhibition. Canada.
2023 "Unusual Frida 2023". Leu Gardens. Orlando Florida.
2022. "Heritage". Osceola Center for the Arts. Kissimmee, Florida
2022. "Whimsical Circus". Spotlight Gallery. CityArts
2022 "Unusual Frida 2022". Leu Gardens. Orlando, Florida
2021 "Univision, Artist of the month", Orlando, Florida
2021 "Diversia People 2021: Faces, Figures, Poses and Acts, Online Exhibition, Toronto
2021 "Hindsight 2020", CityArts, Orlando Florida
2021 "My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy". CityArts, Orlando, Florida
2020 MFA Show, " The Demonized other" Savannah College of Arts and Design, Artsteps.com
2020 Bliss Arts. Orlando, Florida
2020 Nude Nite Orlando, Florida
2019 Unusual Frida. Orlando Public Library. Orlando, Florida
2019 Alive II. CityArts. Orlando, Florida
2018 Unusual Friday. McCrae Art Studios, Orlando Florida.
2018 Hispanic Artists. Osceola Art Center. Kissimmee, Florida
2018 Alive. City Arts Factory. Orlando, Florida
2014 O'Blue Gallery @ FAVO, Faith Art Villa. Orlando. Florida
2013 Equilibrium. City Arts Factory Orlando Florida.
2012 FAVO. Faith Art Villa, Orlando Florida.
2011 Neu America Fine Art Festival, Orlando Florida
2011 United nations of Art. 17 92 Gallery. Orlando Florida
2010 UCF Eclectic knights.Show. Orlando Museum of Art. Orlando, Florida
2010 New America Art Gallery. Orlando, Florida
2008 BFA Show. University of Central Florida. Orlando, Florida
2001 First Solo Opening, The GLBT Center, Orlando, Florida.
2001, Vision, Henegar Center, Melbourne, Florida
2000 Chapinero Art Festival, Ganadero Bank Hall, Bogotá, Colombia.
1999 Comiciudad. National School of Caricature. Botogá, Colombia.
1998 Jesuits Exposed, Xavier University, Bogotá. Colombia
1995 How is your process going? Amira de la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia
1994 Chamber of Commerce annual exhibit. Amira de la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia
1993 Processes IV. Amira de la la Rosa Theater. Barranquilla. Colombia.