Studio Lenca

Studio Lenca is the professional alias of Jose Campos, an artist whose work spans performance, video, painting, and sculpture. The name "Studio" represents his approach to art as an experimental space, while "Lenca" honors his ancestral heritage from El Salvador.

Jose Campos was born in La Paz, El Salvador, and was compelled to flee to the United States during the violent civil war in the late 1980s. His journey with his mother was fraught with the challenges of undocumented immigration. Growing up under a conservative U.S. administration, Campos experienced life as an undocumented immigrant, or as termed, an 'illegal alien,' which deeply influenced his artistic and social perspectives.

Now based in the UK, Studio Lenca's art is underpinned by themes of difference, visibility, and knowledge, often informed by personal memories and a strong commitment to social activism. His works notably explore the narratives of identity, migration, and the impacts of colonization and conflict, vividly represented through autobiographical stories. His paintings often feature figures adorned in vibrant colors and hats, a proud and noble defiance against Western migration discourse.

Studio Lenca has received his education from prestigious institutions; he completed an MA in Arts & Learning at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2019, an Art & Design PGCE in 2015, and an MA in Contemporary Dance at London Contemporary Dance School in 2013. He became a British Citizen in 2007, marking a new chapter in his life and career.

His artwork has been featured in solo exhibitions globally, including in Miami, London, Beirut, and Seoul, and is held in significant collections such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Parrish Art Museum, and Colección Adriana Cisneros Griffin, among others. Through his vibrant and poignant works, Studio Lenca continues to challenge and enrich the contemporary art scene, drawing from his rich cultural heritage and complex personal journey.