Fernando Villena (Bilbao 1974) graduated in Fine Arts by the University of the Basque Country in 2001, later furthering his training at the School of Visual Arts, New York, in 2002, and studying a Master in Professional Painting at the University of the Basque Country in 2016.
He has exhibited his work internationally in solo exhibitions and group shows among which solo shows at Espacio Reunión (Puerto Rico 2025), The Ballinglen Arts Foundation (Ireland 2023), CIEC Foundation, International Center of Contemporary Printing (Betanzos 2023), El Cuadrado Gris (Puerto Rico 2022/16), Lisi Hammerle Gallery, N 47º30.042’ E 009º44.922’ Fernando Villena & Pau Figueres (Austria 2018), The Situation Room (USA 2016), Centro Cultural Estacion Indianilla (Mexico D.F. 2014), Área Lugar de Proyectos (Puerto Rico 2014), Windsor Kulturgintza Gallery (Bilbao 2013/10/07/05), Sala Rekalde (Bilbao 2013), The Central Utah Art Center (USA 2011) and the San Juan Museum (Puerto Rico 2008) supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain (Aecid) and group exhibitions at the Ninth international Triennial of Graphic Arts, Sophia, (Bulgaria 2023), Sa Nostra Foundation (Palma de Mallorca 2020), Bilbao Arte Foundation (Bilbao 2019), FIG Bilbao (2024/23/18/15/14), ARCO (Madrid 2009/08/07/06/05) and at the School of Visual Arts (NY 2002) among others.
He has also been recipient of the County Council of Bizkaia´s Visual Arts Grant, Artist in residency at Addaya Centre D’Art Contemporani (Mallorca), Área Lugar de Proyectos (Puerto Rico) Ballinglen Arts Foundation (Ireland), Bregenz Kunsthaus (Austria), Espacio Reunión (Puerto Rico), Rogaland Kunstsenter (Norway), The Birch Creek Residency (Utah), and Bilbao Arte.
He has given several lectures in Es Baluard, Museum of Contemporary Art, Mallorca, The Kennedy Center for International Studies, BYU, and. Bilbao Arte.
His work is part of the collections in different institutions such as Coca Cola Foundation, Spain, Ballinglen Arts Museum, Ireland, The County Council of Bizkaia, Addaya Centre D’Art Contemporani,Elkarkidetza EPSV, Bilbao Arte, … And diverse private collections.