Jovan Karlo Villalba (b. Quito, Ecuador, 1977) was raised in Miami, Florida. There, he studied art at the acclaimed New World School of the Arts magnet program. Upon graduation, he was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to continue studying fine art at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. While attending Cooper Union, Villalba was presented with merit-based grants and was invited to exhibit his work at The New York Design Center. In 1999, Villalba graduated from The Cooper Union (BFA) and acquired an art studio in the Chelsea Art District in New York. Since then, Villalba has exhibited his work at dozens of art venues and galleries across the United States. Recently, his work was featured in biennial exhibitions at Exit Art and the Queens Museum of Art in New York City. Villalba presently lives and works in Miami, Florida.