ABOUT

Bolivian-born visual artist David Banegas began his artistic journey at an early age. At just eleven years old, he held his first gallery exhibition in Campo Grande, Brazil, where he focused primarily on self-portraits and realistic imagery. By age twelve, he had painted a portrait of Bolivian President Hugo Banzer. Impressed by his talent, Banzer arranged for David to study privately with Masaiko Fujita, a master art instructor from Japan. During this two-year apprenticeship, David refined his technique and developed skill in landscapes, florals, and architectural subjects using distinctive brushwork. At fifteen, David moved to Carthage, Illinois, as an exchange student. There, he learned English with his host family and attended art classes at the University of Illinois in Macomb. He later relocated to Miami to continue his studies at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Miami proved to be a formative environment where his artistic voice and technical ability grew significantly. “My technique happens in the moment—it flows. I can’t fully explain it. Sometimes it comes quickly, sometimes slowly, but it exists only in that instant. It feels like a gift from God, and it’s an incredible feeling.” Beyond his studio practice, David is committed to supporting women’s and children’s charities across Africa, the United States, and South America. As he says, “They are our future.” He describes both his art and his humanitarian efforts as part of a lifelong pursuit of happiness.