Adrián Arguedas Ruano

Adrián Arguedas Ruano was born in Barrio del Carmen on March 18, 1968, although he grew up and lived in Barva de Heredia, where his family has resided for many generations. His experiences with his great uncle, who crafted traditional folk masks, had a major influence on him and ultimately led to Ruano choosing a career in art. In 1985, he entered the Universidad Nacional, where he graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, specializing in Printmaking. From that point on, he began participating in group exhibitions and won First Prize at the “Francisco Amighetti” National Salon in Printmaking in 1991 and 1993.

In 1993, he met the French artist Remmy Buchialli, who invited him to work with him in France. Arguedas collaborated with him for two and a half months and completed a one-year specialization in Printmaking at the Municipal School of Fine Arts in Lorient. He returned to Costa Rica in 1994 and exhibited the work produced during his time in France, for which he received the Aquileo J. Echeverría National Award in Printmaking.

Between 1994 and 1998, he worked and organized exhibitions in Costa Rica, throughout Central America, and in the Dominican Republic. In 1996, he received a scholarship to study in the United States and carried out an extensive visit to museums and artistic institutions. Two years later, he applied for a scholarship at the University of Miami and completed a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. His travels to France and Miami allowed him to appreciate his own environment from a distance and to encounter new cultures that enriched his artistic perspective.

Since 1990, he has taught at the Universidad Nacional, where he has personally mentored many emerging artists of Costa Rica. He has also taught at the Universidad de Costa Rica for brief periods. His works have been exhibited in Ecuador, Spain, China, the United States, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, among other countries.