Story & Lesson Highlights with Juan Carlos Duron Martinez of Wilson

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Juan Carlos Duron Martinez. Check out our conversation below.

Juan Carlos, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Currently it’s been working on myself and my photography. In combination with music. I think music informs my work and when I’m dialed into a specific style, rhythm, and emotion I feel I’m able to reach a meditative state in which Im able to create and envision the work I’m meant to be making. My love for music and my passion for photography often intersect and recently a partial focus has been in low-light environmental action portraiture.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Juan Carlos Duron Martinez. Im a Mexican visual artist based in Wilson, NC. I work in a range of mediums. including: painting, murals, merchandizing, digital illustrations, and graphic design. Recently, I’ve shifted my focus into photography. Currently my practice is in environmental portraiture, low-light environmental action portraiture, documentary and street photography. The work I create tends to be bright, and vibid or dark and emotional. I jump back and forth between color and black&white photography as well as digital and film. I believe the broadness and range of themes in my work and how my own personal lived experiences inform it and me is what makes it special. I like to describe my practice as a powerful journey of self-discovery and healing.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Although I am self taught in a lot of what I do. I would credit the people around me who support me and encouraged me to continue creating. In respect to photography I would say Jerome De Perlinghi is someone who has had a large impact and influence in my career. Being able to work with him and serving on the board of directors for Eyes on Main Street taught me a lot and allowed me to build connections with other photographers. I would also credit Bieke Depoorter and Lua Ribeira who’s workshop I was able to take back in 2021. Their instruction completely changed my perspective of the medium and really helped me see the work and myself in a different light.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Every day, when Im feeling overwhelmed by the work and by daily life. That’s the beautiful thing about creating. It allows us to look deeper into ourselves and gives us purpose. I spoke to a friend recently who mentioned they wished they were more artistic. I spoke to them about how many people have artistic qualities within them and really all it takes is for them to figure out in which medium to express it. I also mentioned the importance of the process over the end product. I think many are afraid of starting. I believe there is much that can be gained from failure. So, it’s completely okay to have those feelings of wanting to give up, as long as you don’t give up on yourself.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I don’t believe in any singular version of a person being perceived by everyone. So, No. Because to my mother I am a version of myself to my friends I am another, and to my coworkers and peers I am another. I think there are a lot of aspects of a person that intersect and there are aspects of ourselves we do not share. Therefore I don’t believe in a singular “real” version of a person. I think we are what we are perceived to be and many time what we allow others to perceive.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Leaching back to the previous question. Regardless of what people perceived my existence to have been, I would like to leave behind a tangible body of work that depicts my experiences, and relationships. I would hope my passion and desire to find the answers to life and myself are reflected in it. But I understand I ultimately have no control over it. People’s interpretations are often influenced by their own personal lived experiences and I think that is beautiful as well. So regardless of the story that people tell when I’m gone. I would hope they see themselves or aspects of themselves reflected in the work I was able to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jcdmart.com
• Instagram: @jcdmart

Image Credits
Portrait of Juan Carlos by Bo Baines