Who is José Belén
Born in Manhattan, New York of 100% Puerto Rican decent (Yauco, PR) José Belén can be described as a versatile and freestyle thinker, who grew into an artist organically without realizing he had a hidden talent. A man who once looked at his hands with disdain, for they were once instruments of war. Upon creating his first artistic piece, José realized the healing possibilities
of art in the color red. On the battlefield José bore witness to the blood of his own best friend and brothers in arms and upon that moment, he was never able to move away from the thought of how the color red appeared to him. In painting his first red stripe, he found a healing that he had never felt before. José’s creative flow and process are inspired by the music he listens to as he builds and paints his pieces the same way he’d listen to music prior to and during his missions in combat. José is self taught and driven by a passion to create pieces of healing, love and unity. The Utilization of his hands that were once used for war, are now used to create memorable pieces of art. From this, José Belén was reborn as an artist. He was able to heal, he was able to grow. It provided light at the end of the tunnel. A combat vet save by art. José can be described by these three words. Versatile , Real and Limitless... These core elements ensured José’s survival on the battlefield even while facing certain death. Now José aims to keep the realness here at home, battling PTSD using his God given talent that took his hands from instruments of war, to instruments of love and unity. He Hopes to illuminate the path for all veteran's, all human beings that have felt they could have been the next suicide statistic and to realize that they too, have a purpose and it’s in helping one another heal...A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle….
