Studio Lenca creates vibrant works that challenge dominant narratives about identity, migration and belonging. The name Studio Lenca reflects both the importance of a studio as a communal, creative space and a tribute to the Lenca, an Indigenous people of eastern El Salvador. Displaced by the Salvadoran Civil War, the artist’s work draws from personal experiences of undocumented migration. Sharply dressed figures in colourful outfits and hats populate his paintings, reclaiming space with pride and confidence. These portraits navigate borders – both physical and symbolic – shaped by colonisation, war and displacement.

Combining personal reflections, folkloric iconography and biographical anecdotes, Studio Lenca’s art reclaims autonomy over fragmented histories. His use of bold colours and playful symbolism celebrates joy and resilience, offering a counter-narrative to Western discourses on migration. Working across painting, performance, video and sculpture, Studio Lenca creates art rooted in belonging, identity and visibility.

Artist portrait. Photo: Ed Phillips

Studio Lenca (b. 1986, La Paz, El Salvador; lives and works in Margate, UK) Studio Lenca is the working name of artist Jose Campos. The artist’s work is held in significant collections, including The Pérez Art Museum Miami; Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, New York; Colección Adriana Cisneros Griffin; Elie Khouri Art Foundation, Dubai; MER Foundation, Segovia; Poma Collection, Miami; Mario Cader-Frech Collection, Miami; The Rubell Museum, Miami and Washington D.C; and The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, New York.
- Provenance
  Donated by the artist and Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate