Studio Lenca / Jose Campos
Born 1986 / El Salvador
Lives and works in Margate / UK
Studio Lenca is the working name of artist Jose Campos – ‘Studio’ referring to a space for experimentation and constantly shifting place; ‘Lenca’ referring to the name of the artists ancestors from El Salvador.
Jose Campos was born in La Paz, El Salvador and like many had to flee the country during its violent civil war during the late 1980s. He travelled to the US by land, illegally with his mother and grew up in the gaze of a strictly conservative administration – an ‘illegal alien’. Studio Lenca is focused on ideas surrounding difference, knowledge and visibility. He works with performance, video, painting and sculpture.
Studio Lenca’s process starts with personal memories and is underpinned by social activism and different forms of praxis. Studio Lenca paintings tell an autobiographical story which navigates borders and identities destroyed, redrawn and erased through colonisation and war. The portraits depict the artist and his community proudly wearing hats and vibrant colours in noble defiance of the ‘western’ discourse around migration.
Selected Works
Studio Lenca
Monument 3 (2024)
Paper and found materials
42 x 55 x 41 cm (16.5 x 21.5 x 16 in)
Monument 3 (2024)
Paper and found materials
42 x 55 x 41 cm (16.5 x 21.5 x 16 in)
Studio Lenca
Monument 3 (2024)
Paper and found materials
42 x 55 x 41 cm (16.5 x 21.5 x 16 in)
Studio Lenca
Monument 4 (2024)
Paper, blankets and found materials
95 x 71 x 48 cm (37.5 x 28 x 19 in)
Monument 4 (2024)
Paper, blankets and found materials
95 x 71 x 48 cm (37.5 x 28 x 19 in)
Studio Lenca
Monument 4 (2024)
Paper, blankets and found materials
95 x 71 x 48 cm (37.5 x 28 x 19 in)
Studio Lenca
Where is America (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Where is America (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Where is America (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Rutas (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Rutas (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Rutas (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Rojo (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with blanket frame
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Rojo (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with blanket frame
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Rojo (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with blanket frame
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Maricón (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Maricón (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Maricón (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
160 x 190 cm (63 x 75 in)
Studio Lenca
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Studio Lenca
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Studio Lenca
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
Studio Lenca
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
Studio Lenca
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
Studio Lenca
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
Studio Lenca
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Studio Lenca
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Studio Lenca
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Studio Lenca
Luz (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
190 x 160 cm (75 x 63 in)
Studio Lenca
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
Studio Lenca
El Volcan verde (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
120 x 150 cm (47 x 59 in)
Studio Lenca
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Guadalupe (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm (39.5 x 39.5 in)
Studio Lenca
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
Studio Lenca
País (2024)
Oil and acrylic on board with antique frame
49 x 43 x 8 cm (19.5 x 17 x 3 in)
Studio Lenca
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Gabriel (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Cántaro (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
A break in the journey 2 (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Quinceañera (2024)
Oil and acrylic and ribbon on canvas
225 x 195 cm (88.5 x 77 in)
Studio Lenca
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Historiantes (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Ponte las pilas (come on lets go) (2024)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
195 x 225 cm (77 x 88.5 in)
Studio Lenca
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Aves (2023)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm (59 x 47 in)
Studio Lenca
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Studio Lenca
Back of the truck (2022)
Oil and acrylic on canvas
130 x 135 cm (51 x 53 in)
Exhibitions
Leave To Remain
14th April – 16th June 2024
Selected Press
Giorgia Massari
Studio Lenca paints a story of resilience
Collater.al / September 2023
Emily Steer
Studio Lenca nods to Salvadorian heritage with riot of colour in Margate
Wallpaper / April 2024
Nasri Atallah
Artist Studio Lenca taps into Dubai’s soul
Esquire Middle East / September 2022
Fiona McKenzie Johnston
Studio Tour
House and Garden / November 2023