Joset Medina’s talent has been showcased in South America, Europe, and the United States. Craft is his passion. Born in Venezuela, Medina has lived in Panama, Spain, and currently resides in San Francisco. In each place he’s lived, he’s pursued a career as an architect while building a following as an artist. He has worked on both commercial and residential projects as an architect and creates designs, paintings, and murals as an artist.
In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Medina stated, “I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I used to draw cartoons of my home as a child, especially since I was raised around people, who were my first subjects. I began using my art to address their sexual identity.”
Medina recalls being a shy child. High school wasn’t easy for him. When some of his classmates bullied him, he responded by creating humorous cartoons of them and exaggerating their features to manage and protect himself.
“Painting and drawing are therapeutic for me,” he said. “I enjoy incorporating my own experiences into my craft. It’s a way to grow and learn from society’s challenges. I draw inspiration from nature, my walks, and particularly the strong women in my life. Although, since getting married, and my relationship with my father, I’ve started incorporating more mature themes into my work.”
Bay Area Independence
Medina worked for a global infrastructure company based in Southern California while living in Panama. San Francisco was always high on his list of places to visit, and he frequently traveled for work. When he finally arrived, he instantly fell in love with the area. After witnessing men kissing and holding hands on the street, he was enchanted by the sense of freedom that surrounded him. It was a welcome change from Panama and Venezuela, where there is still a great deal of discrimination against LGBTQ individuals.
He soon struck up a conversation with an interior designer while in San Francisco. They agreed to collaborate, although that had to be put on hold while he worked towards obtaining an O1 (extraordinary abilities) visa. Once approved, he returned to San Francisco and has lived there ever since.
He’s kept busy. Last year, he painted a mural in the garden of a gay couple in Oakland called “Sunset Caress” to enhance the neighborhood. They planned to have a painting on their history wall as the main featured art piece. Medina mentioned that he couldn’t disclose the clients’ identities as they prefer to remain anonymous.
He said, “What I wanted to convey was largely based on conversations with the clients.” “They expressed a desire for me to incorporate elements from my previous artworks into the style, such as the feminine subject, vibrant colors, and the flowing, organic shapes of my line work, all tied to their landscape design.”
Medina spent approximately 16 days completing the mural.
He said, “I worked during my vacation because my architecture work keeps me busy during the weekdays,” so it took me eight days in total. “My husband Robert (Wiesner) was a huge help during this time. When he’s not working, he often assists me in painting my murals. Additionally, my friend Alex also provided some help with painting for a few days. When I hire an assistant, I typically ask them to help me prepare the mural and paint the large flat areas so that I can focus on the detailed line work, which usually takes longer.”
Designing Perspective
Medina’s latest project is a mural for a child’s room in San Francisco, commissioned by the family. For this project, he is collaborating with the family’s interior designer.
They wanted a mural that they could enjoy for many years, not just during their children’s early years, he said. “I would say they were looking for something timeless, lively, dynamic, with natural shapes that relate to natural elements or a landscape.”
His approach to this project is multifaceted and aligned with the parents’ wishes.
Because the mural design was coordinated with the elements the client’s interior design team had already implemented, he said, “I’ve approached this project with both an artist and an interior designer mindset.” “The millwork elements, line work, and colors are integrated with the mural. I can’t provide more details until the project is completed.”
Since moving to San Francisco, Medina has formed strong connections with the LGBTQ community. However, as an architect and an artist, he maintains a vision that extends beyond any one specific community.
“I believe that by stepping out of my comfort zone, working with different people, communities, and even businesses, I can continue to grow and learn.”
