ABOUT

Hi, I'm Juan Camilo Cadena, an oil painter focused on capturing the natural world and the quiet beauty found in everyday surroundings. I draw inspiration from painting en plein air, observing natural light, and art history.

I earned my BFA in Visual Development from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Currently based in Miami, Florida. 


Photo of a man in a blue suit standing in a room full of artworks painted by him, Juan Cadena. There are portraits, still lives, landscapes all taking up all the wall space.



EXHIBITIONS

• Group Exhibition: Miramar Traffic Light Boxes Mural Contest. Miramar, FL | 2026

• Group Exhibition: Miamibiance Art & Literature Magazine. Kendall, FL | 2012

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Daily Paintings - 100 Days of Painting Nature

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“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” - Henry David Thoreau, Walden. Sitting on an empty cooler, frustrated with myself, I found myself staring at the setting sun shining through a tree behind my house. It gave me the inspiration to begin capturing snapshots of nature with acrylic paint. This series began as a personal commitment: one painting a day 100 days became a quiet ritual of observation, reflection, and presence—anchored in nature. Each painting in this series centers on the forms, colors, and quiet life of plants. From fallen leaves to blooming branches, the plants around me and my current day. These daily sessions were more than acts of art-making—they were meditations. A chance to slow down, notice, and connect. Some days were filled with clarity and flow. Others were still, even resistant. But each session offered its own wisdom through the process of showing up, observing, and responding with honesty. Acrylic on Canvas Board 4 x 6.  
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Home to the Oils

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  There’s nothing quite like painting with oil paint. And this painting there is supposed to be a fence But at the time I didn’t feel like putting more Barriers. In this moment I only wanted to capture just nature and nothing as industrial as a metal fence. I painted this during the pandemic and with everything going on, I just wanted freedom. Thank God I have a picture of this painting, because I gave it away to a loved one shortly after I painted it. 
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Medieval Family Items

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Medieval Family Items - Acrylic on Canvas Boards - Series of 23 -  8x10 inches. Medieval items are paths to different lives in a world of magic. These items represent family and our connections in our different paths. How far will we venture down the road towards our goals? Face down dragons, demons, and armies if you have to and know that we all have your back. Our party may be separate but our will carries our spirit for success.  Family is that bond in that world and our own. In my case they inspire funny characters that fight for each other despite quarrels amongst themselves. Everyone has their job and they are happy to fill their role for their family. Some are caretakers while others are sharp warriors facing a turbulent future of uncertainty. 
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