Biographical Note

Juan Muguruza was born in Guecho, Spain in 1945.

He studied Liberal Arts at Navarra University where he made his first contact with the world of photography.

After this period he went on to do work experience in the design and advertising department at Formica Española SA.

Following his curiosity for photography, he began to look for a way to make a profession of it and in 1971 travelled to England where he continued his studies at Harrow College of Technology and Art (School of Photography). In 1974 he completed his studies in Visual Communication, technological and scientific photography, applied photography and commercial and industrial photography.

Over the course of these years, he collaborated as assistant with some of the most famous professionals of the time. He presented his doctoral thesis: “Scotch Whisky”; a work which covered an exhibition of the different Johnny Walker distilleries such as Cardhu and Kilmarnock showing their history and the various methods of production whilst managing to shine light on the more human side of industrial photography and the studio techniques of advertising photography.

It was from this time that he was accepted at the Institute of Incorporated Photographers, IIP London, as a professional photographer.

He returned to Spain to begin his professional career, establishing his own commercial and advertising studio which covered various areas and sectors including: furniture, food and catering, museums, fashion press and decoration, banking, industry, architectural studies, artists and advertising agencies.

In 2000 he created his first bull-fighting poster using photo-montage, commemorating the 700 anniversary of the Fundación de la Villa of Bilbao.

Naturally curious, creative, inquiring and thoughtful, at 64 he sets out on a new adventure to exhibit his most private and intimate Pieles in a space of seclusion and contemplation; the Royal Botanical Gardens of Madrid.