John Velo (b. 1992) is a Springfield Missouri-based contemporary artist who works primarily in watercolor, ink, charcoal, and graphite. His work is a timeless interplay of light and shadows to capture the beauty of the male form. Taking inspiration from figurative masters such as Rodin and Michelangelo to modern and contemporary artists like Egon Schiele and Andy Warhol, John’s classical compositions and renderings of the male physique are sensual yet sophisticated, occasionally straddling the line between figuration and abstraction.
Born to a family of medical practitioners in a predominantly Catholic country — the Philippines — John taught himself to make art as a way to express his authentic self. He started sketching women at a young age and only explored drawing male subjects when he openly came out. His work can be found in private collections across the United States and the Philippines.
