The artist Juan Manuel Delgado (b. 1987, San José, Costa Rica) began his artistic education under the guidance of his mentor, Peter Schwartzman, a Canadian architect and visual artist of Russian origin. Under Schwartzman’s mentorship, Juan Manuel was introduced to a wide range of techniques, beginning with pencil drawing, charcoal, watercolor, and pastel, and eventually progressing to oil painting. Fueled by a deep fascination with drawing and a strong sense of imagination, Juan Manuel pursued a degree in Architecture at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where he graduated with Distinction in 2010.

Following his graduation, Juan Manuel returned to Costa Rica to dedicate himself fully to a career in the arts. There, he continued to refine his skills under the tutelage of the renowned Costa Rican portraitist Gonzalo Morales Sáurez.

Juan Manuel has earned international recognition for his portraiture, drawing inspiration from classical masters such as Rembrandt and Diego Velázquez. His natural command of color and exceptional technical precision allow him to portray subtle nuances that might otherwise go unnoticed. His compositions—often featuring life-sized figures—are carefully constructed to create visual harmony and invite a contemplative dialogue between the viewer and the work. His mastery of light and shadow lends a tactile, almost sculptural quality to his paintings.

Over the years, Juan Manuel has built an impressive international reputation and a thriving collection of achievements, including a large number of published articles (interviewed around the world on major radio and television programs, newspapers and magazines), with numerous solo and group exhibitions and the highest academic achievements. Juan Manuel's paintings can be found in collections in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia.