Johnny Castillo (b. 1995, Oratorio, Santa Rosa, Guatemala) immigrated to Los Angeles at the age of seven. His artwork navigates the complexities of living between two cultures, focusing on themes of displacement, identity, and the impermanence inherent in the immigrant experience. Working primarily in oil painting, Castillo incorporates both traditional and contemporary techniques to engage with personal and collective histories.

 

In 2023, Castillo earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from California State University, Long Beach after completing an Associate of Arts in Studio Arts from Santa Monica College in 2019. His work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions, including solo and group shows at venues such as Avenue 50 Studio, Rod Briggs Gallery, The Experimentally Structured Museum of Art (ESMoA), Munzon Gallery, and Stay Gallery. He was also featured in the "Artists in Solidarity" online auction for migrant families and participated in exhibitions such as Entre Nos at Visible Records Gallery in Charlottesville, VA.

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His work has been recognized in publications including Canvas Rebel Magazine, Voyage LA Magazine, and the LA Department of Cultural Affairs’ Latino Heritage Month & Cultural Guide. He has received several accolades, including the Orval Dillingham Memorial Scholarship and recognition as a Top 40 Finalist in the AXA Art Prize. In 2021, he was selected for the Summer Undergraduate Residency Program at the New York Academy of Art.