Painting the Pope: Juan Bastos ’81 Takes Artistic Excellence to New Heights

Painting has always been a lifestyle for artist Juan Bastos ’81. Growing up in Bolivia, his passion for painting sparked at the age of twelve when he posed for a portrait by an aunt. Surrounded by artists in his family, including Bolivian artist Yolanda de Aguirre, he decided at age 15 to follow their example. He began intense study of European artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Paul Cézanne. He then enrolled at the University of San Andrés in La Paz to study fine arts and architecture.

Today, hundreds of Bastos’ oil paintings and pastel drawings adorn the walls of private homes, corporate offices, educational institutions, and public buildings around the world. He has traveled across four continents to paint on demand. Most recently, he had the opportunity to paint a portrait commission of Pope Leo XIV for the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C.; the completed painting of the first American Pope was publicly unveiled in January 2026. 

While Bastos was determined to be a great artist from a young age, there were no shortcuts. It took years of experience for him to reach the heights of his career. After years of study in La Paz, he came to the United States, enrolled at Georgetown University in 1979, and then enrolled at Montgomery College a year later. He went on to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, cum laude, and a master of fine arts from Towson University. 

At Montgomery College, Bastos fully immersed himself in campus life. He took advantage of resources such as the Rockville Campus Library and the Music Department facilities, where he practiced piano during his free time. He worked in the Art Department and volunteered to organize free modeling meetings on Saturday mornings at the Rockville Campus. He also illustrated the editorial page of the campus newspaper, The Spur, for two years. He still has his press clips today, after more than four decades.

In the classroom, he excelled in his art courses, leaning into graphic design, illustration, photography, and sculpture—while also pursuing general education courses that helped him explore broader subjects relating to and outside of art.

“The illustration and graphic design courses were very beneficial,” Bastos says. “Even though I became an artist, if I need to design a brochure or an art book, I can do it. I still utilize all the knowledge that I acquired at MC.”

In 1999, Bastos was profiled by The New York Times in an article about the reemergence of high-end portraiture, which helped elevate his stature as an artist from that point forward. As he later recalled, the article gave him something tangible to point to when clients questioned the value of his work: “The minute The New York Times mentions you, people take you more seriously. Whenever I had a copy of the article handy, people stopped asking me why I’m charging this much.” 

In a world where making a living as a full-time artist can be challenging, Bastos’ story is an inspiring example of what is possible. According to him, only 3% to 5% of students who pursue careers as artists are able to earn a sustainable living from their work. He remains committed to sharing his experience with students and showing them that a career in the arts can be both viable and fulfilling. 

Bastos frequently mentors alumni from the Maryland Institute College of Art and Towson University who live in Los Angeles, where he currently resides. In the past, he worked closely with his former MC Art Professor Ed Ahlstrom, providing mentorship and guidance to students seeking to establish their careers. In one instance, he served as a private teacher to an MC student.

“This particular student was extremely talented, but she took forever to paint a portrait, taking more than three months,” Bastos says. “She wanted to learn from me how to paint more loosely. In the end, she was very happy with my teachings and wrote an article about this experience.” 

According to department chair Tendai Johnson, the involvement of successful alumni such as Bastos is invaluable to the success of the Art Department at MC. 

Bastos continues to be recognized for his accomplishments. To connect and learn more about his work, visit his website new window.