Cosmic Horror and Other Nightmares | Jesús Santillanes

October 4 – 27, 2024 | FOCUS GALLERY

OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, FROM 5:30 – 7:30 P.M., WELCOME AND ARTIST INTRODUCTIONS AT 6:00 P.M.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My art dives deep into the creepy and unsettling, drawing from a mix of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. Growing up in the 1980s, I was captivated by the iconic horror movies and fantastical comics of the time—films like The Thing and Alien, and the wild, imaginative worlds of 80s comics. These influences have really shaped the way I approach my art.

The cosmic horror of H. P. Lovecraft’s stories has also had a huge impact on me. His chilling tales of ancient, unknowable entities and the idea that we’re just tiny specks in a vast, indifferent universe really resonate with me. I’m fascinated by how these themes of dread and existential terror can be translated into art.

I work with colored pencils, acrylics, and mixed media to create pieces that aim to unsettle and provoke. By combining these materials, I build layered, textured images that are meant to push boundaries and make you feel something deep and raw. Each piece is a chance for me to explore how fear and discomfort can be captured visually and how these emotions can make powerful, thought-provoking art.

For me, art is a continuous journey of discovery. Every time I pick up my tools, I learn something new about how fear and beauty can intersect. I want my work to make you think about the darker, more mysterious sides of our world and our place in it, drawing on the eerie vibes of 80s horror and Lovecraftian cosmic dread to create something that sticks with you.

Biography

Jesús Santillanes was born in Mexicali, Baja California, a border city in the heart of the desert. He and his family moved to the US, just across the border, when he was in the 11th grade. Jesús completed high school and went on to college, where he earned a degree in mathematics and eventually became a high school math teacher. He taught mathematics for approximately 16 years before transitioning to teaching art.

Jesús began drawing at an early age, trying to replicate Spider-Man comics, and continued to draw throughout his life. He started experimenting with acrylics in his late teens and took some drawing and painting courses during college, though this was not his main focus. As a child of the 1980s, movies like The Thing and Alien had a significant influence on his taste in subject matter. Initially terrified of horror movies, Jesús eventually grew to appreciate them as a fascinating visual medium.

Like any well-rounded nerd, Jesús also enjoys fantasy, science fiction, video games, and comics, all of which greatly influence his art. He currently lives and teaches in Salem, Oregon, with his wife, son, three cats, and one dog, where he continues to create art in his free time.