IVAN MONTOYA
Ivan Montoya (b. 1995, Chihuahua, Mexico) is a Detroit-based painter and muralist. As a first-generation immigrant, he creates paintings that express themes of connection and belonging through folkloric symbolism. Montoya uses bold color, dynamic lighting, and old world visual motifs to turn allegorical figures into representations of immigrants and their experiences. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Art from the College for Creative Studies in 2017 and received the Imre J. Molnar Artistic Achievement Award, appointing him as merit-based valedictorian. He is a recipient of the 2022 Emerging Artist Fellowship supported by the Knight Foundation. Ivan has partnered with clients including Coca-Cola, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Rocket Central, Mckinsey & Co, 1x Run, and City of Detroit.
