Meet Jon Hormachea

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Hormachea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It felt inevitable. I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. From drawing and painting to making music and shooting photos, the act of taking something abstract and bringing it into the physical world has always fascinated me.

I spent about fifteen years working as a corporate designer before stepping back to refocus on my fine art practice over the past few years. I’ve been fortunate to find success in both spaces, but the truth is I’d be making something creative either way. Whether it was paying the bills or not, creativity has always been part of how I understand the world and my place in it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been creating lowbrow pop surrealist work under the name ‘Blood & Gold’ since late 2019. My work draws heavily from pop culture, nostalgia, and graphic design, using familiar imagery to explore themes like identity, power, and lost innocence. I’m interested in making work that feels immediately accessible, but carries a deeper emotional or conceptual weight beneath the surface.

Professionally, my path into fine art grew alongside a fifteen-year career as a corporate creative. That background shaped how I think about visual communication, symbolism, and intention, and it’s what allows me to bridge fine art and design without sacrificing either. Since committing more seriously to my practice, I’ve exhibited in group shows and galleries across the country, and this past summer I was able to present a two-month solo exhibition in my hometown of Buffalo, New York, titled ‘AMERICAN POPAGANDA’, which was an important milestone and full-circle moment for me.

It hasn’t been easy balancing both worlds. I’ve had to make deliberate sacrifices and turn down opportunities to protect my time and creative focus. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that consistency and integrity matter more than momentum. What I want people to know about my work is that it’s rooted in honesty. I use my sense of humor to reflect the world as I see it through my art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When friends visit, I try to give them a real sense of Denver’s creative culture. If they’re here during the warmer months, I always start with First Fridays on Santa Fe, which is one of the best ways to experience the city’s art scene and meet the artists behind the work. I was fortunate to be a featured artist at Abstract Denver in August of 2021, and that stretch of Santa Fe still feels like the heartbeat of the local art community to me every time I find myself down there walking the event.

I’d also recommend making a stop into Mutiny Comics & Coffee on South Broadway to grab a coffee, flip through comics, and catch an event if one’s happening. It’s one of those places that perfectly captures Denver’s creative, DIY spirit.

Downtown is worth exploring as well. 16th Street has been going through a revitalization, and I like taking visitors to walk from there to Union Station, grabbing dinner or drinks along the way and getting a feel for the city’s core.

Denver also has a great music scene. There’s always something happening, whether it’s a local band or a national act passing through. Popping into a venue for a show is one of the best ways to end a night and experience the city at its most alive.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a lot of people believe in me and champion my growth along the way. Metropolitan State University of Denver played a pivotal role in shaping my career as a creative professional. After earning my Bachelor of Arts at Colorado State University, I worked as a part-time designer for MSU Denver’s Alumni Association, and nearly a decade later returned as an Affiliate Instructor in the Communication Design program for three and a half years. Being able to come full circle there was incredibly meaningful.

I also owe a great deal to Shannel Ryan, who gave me the opportunity to join the team at LIV Sotheby’s International Realty early in my corporate career. That role is where I really cut my teeth as a designer and learned how to communicate within a luxury market. The lessons I took from that experience have carried through every creative role I’ve held since. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those opportunities and the people who trusted me with them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodxgold

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonhormachea