Juan Manuel Rodríguez excavates the foundations of painting, drawing, and sculpture in his quest to subvert the traditional norms of art production. Born in San José, Uruguay in 1980, his work is deeply rooted in his personal experiences and the intersection of public and private spaces. Rodríguez specializes in painting and installation, merging traditional techniques with contemporary elements to explore themes such as identity, memory, and nature. His work has been exhibited in various galleries and museums across South America, Europe, and Asia, distinguished by his ability to engage diverse audiences through his visual art.

Rodríguez challenges the notion of art as a fixed entity, instead embracing the fluidity and adaptability of artistic mediums. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, and installations blur the boundaries between formats, redefining the role of the artist and the institution in the creation of art. By excavating the roots of art history, Rodríguez forges a new path forward, one that is both personal and universally relatable.

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Manuel Rodríguez completed his formal education at the National School of Fine Arts, where he honed his artistic skills through participation in the workshops of esteemed artists Hector Laborde and Carlos Capelan. As a member of the Contemporary Art Foundation collective. His artistic endeavors were recognized through several notable awards, including the Artist Residence Program Grant in Zurich, awarded in 2008, and the 3rd Prize MEC Acquisition Award at the 53rd Hugo Nantes National Prize for Visual Arts. Furthermore, Rodríguez's outstanding work earned him the 1st MEC Acquisition Prize at the 55th Wifredo Díaz Valdéz National Visual Arts Prize in 2012.