7x7x7 Series: Jesús G. Pino Aguilar
Photographer Jesús Pino Aguilar is the third featured artist in our sixth 7x7x7 Series, which asks 7 questions to 7 Charlottesville artists and is published once a week for 7 weeks. Artist interviews and studio visits were conducted by our summer intern, Kalista Diamantopoulos. Photos were taken by Benita Mayo.
This summer's series is presented by The Seven Society and features artists affiliated with the University of Virginia.
Photo Credit: Benita Mayo
Intro written by Kalista Diamantopoulos. Published August 22, 2022.
It goes without saying that as a photographer, Jesús Pino Aguilar’s studio is wherever he is out taking photos. First, his studio was his hometown of Cordoba, Spain where he first started his career as a self-taught, lifestyle portrait photographer, capturing the city’s life and culture. Fast-forward to about 9 years ago, his studio was New York City, New York where he worked as an event photographer at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute. Today, his studio is Charlottesville, Virginia and has been since 2013.
During his time in Charlottesville he has had the opportunity to photograph for a variety of clients including Second Street Gallery as well as for the University of Virginia’s magazine — not to mention continuing his education and graduating in 2019 from the University of Virginia’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
Lately, most of his projects have been commercial work — working with businesses to brainstorm, shoot, and edit a number of advertising campaigns. Although there are obvious artistic parameters when it comes to commercial work, Jesús enjoys the creative side that comes with creating and brainstorming visuals for advertisements and exploring the different artistic possibilities that push a photograph from just a stock photo to art.
In addition to commercial work and portrait photography, Jesus takes his camera along with him on his travels — capturing the nature, architecture, and life in busy cities that surround him, often experimenting with multiple exposure photography.
For this 7x7x7 project, however, Jesus found himself in front of the camera for a change — framed by a cloudy, quiet brick lined side-street off the Downtown Mall, just minutes before a downpour. While he prefers his usual place behind the camera, while he is in front of the camera, he is reminded of the directions he usually tells his portrait subjects.
1. Describe what you are currently working on?
I would love to say that I was working on a purely artistic project at the moment, but for now I am working on commercial work. That said, I like to approach my commercial work from an artistic perspective, that way I can provide with the most beautiful work that I can create. And that is something that makes me happy and fulfills my artistic side.
2. What is your ideal creative environment?
What I like to do the most, is photographing chaotic cities in my travels. I always travel light, but always like to bring a camera body and a 35 or 50mm lens with me. I feel comfortable traveling on a train and photographing through the window, or walking slowly photographing people rushing to work in a city like Hong Kong or Madrid.
Photo credit: Benita Mayo
3. How has Charlottesville impacted your artistic work and life as an artist?
I moved to Charlottesville from NYC about 9 years ago and my biggest concern was not to have an artistic scene. Since I arrived I was bombarded by exhibits, concerts, museums and meeting all sorts of artists who welcomed and introduced me to the immense artistic scene in this town. I loved how easy it was to access all the people involved in the community and how much I have grown as an artist and as a person.
4. What frustrates you as an artist?
I love creating art and creating an art show. I would love to have more time to do it.
5. How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist?
I recently became a father, so everything has been harder lately in terms of managing time. Fortunately, I do my job full time so I don’t have to be doing something else other than photography. Most importantly, I have a very supportive wife who is always there for me.
6. Describe your favorite creative work by another Charlottesville artist?
I have always loved Sarah Boyts Yoder’s work and since I met her at her studio and photographed her work discovering what made her paint the way she does, I like it even more.
7. How do your other interests influence your art?
Probably traveling and how much I like interacting with other people make me interested in portraying the places and the people I discover.
My name is Jesús G. Pino Aguilar. I started my career in photography as a self-learner, driven by a sincere
interest in this art form. I consider myself a lifestyle, portraiture photographer. I spend my time working as a commercial photographer. However, where I experiment with a more artistic side of photography is when I
travel. I love photographing busy cities and capturing the chaos of the streets using long and multiple exposures. I worked in several fields that were not specifically related to photography, before taking a job in an art gallery in my hometown, Córdoba Spain. After two years of working with various artists and exhibits, I was selected as the manager of the bar and gallery. In 2007, I co-founded an advertising company, 16 por 16 (Cordoba, Spain), which published a monthly lifestyle magazine. I worked as a director and photographer with 16 por 16 until I moved to New York City in the fall of 2011. Starting in November 2011, I worked at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute (NYC). both in their gallery and as an event photographer. In the summer of 2013, I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where I graduated in 2019 from UVa with a degree in Visual Arts. Since coming to Charlottesville I have had the honor of working with amazing photographers and clients which have taught me a great deal in this art form.
The opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the artist and do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of NCAI.
This summer's series is presented by The Seven Society and features artists affiliated with the University of Virginia.
