Originally from Bolivia, Felipe is a senior double majoring in Communications and Art and Design, with a minor in Digital and Media Arts. He will be graduating in Spring 2026. He talked with the Web Communications team about his experience as an artist, his passion for photography in all its nuances, and what studying art at JCU really means.
Tell us about your background. How did you end up at JCU? I was born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia. I also lived in Peru for three years during middle school, then I moved back home to finish my studies. I ended up attending university in Italy because I have dual citizenship through my grandmother. She always insisted that I study in Italy. I visited Rome when I was 15, and I really loved it, so I started looking for universities with courses taught in English in Rome. That’s how I found JCU.
How did you get into art? I have always been drawn to art classes in school and have long dabbled in art, especially photography – that’s been my main medium. At first, Art and Design was my minor. I was never one to paint or draw, and I found I could mold the program to match my interests. I still tried to experience everything the program had to offer. For example, I took some experimental drawing and graphic design classes, which were very interesting.
The photography classes have been very impactful for me. They reactivated the love and passion I had for photography. But over these past years, I’ve been doing so many other things with my classes. I became really intrigued with everything I could do.
Felipe Sanchez De Lozada
What is something that you have learned about yourself that you didn’t know before studying at JCU? I learned to consider myself an artist. I don’t think I ever did that before. In my classes at JCU, I was taught to think of myself as an artist, solidify my practice, and understand what I was doing subconsciously. I always thought that whatever I was doing was completely random and that my interests were purely aesthetic. I could never find a connecting thread. But now, thanks to my professors, I can see the common thread between all my works – be it a painting, a photo, or a video.
Was there a particular professor who had an impact on you? Professor Rä di Martino’s Experimental Film class really opened my mind to the idea that I could make a film in my own way. She is so knowledgeable, and I learned a lot from her. I also had Professor James Gardner for a printmaking class. That was something I was not used to, but I found I really liked it. I am very messy and quick when I’m working, and in printmaking, you need to be very patient, clean, and organized.
I also had Professor Ilaria Ortensi for Photography in the Expanded Field, which was my favorite class at JCU. She took the concept of photography to a whole new level. She sees photographs as three-dimensional and taught us the process from start to finish. It became a kind of mixed-media class. It went from photography and painting to performance photography and sculpture. It taught me to think outside the box.
What would you say to a prospective student who might be worried about studying abroad? It’s always great to put yourself out there, even if it’s uncomfortable. Coming here is obviously a big step for a lot of people. But I think JCU is a great place to make friends since it's such a tight-knit community. Everybody’s very nice and open to meeting new people.
I think you should always try to learn the language. If you come here not knowing Italian, learning it here is completely fine. Now that I am graduating, looking back, I had a great time here.
I also advise not to be limited in your studies. You should try to take different classes. I didn’t know when I started that I would add my Art and Design major, but I discovered that it's something I’m deeply interested in.
What are your plans after graduation? I have a six-month internship lined up with Professor di Martino, which I am excited about. I’m going to be helping with her art installations. I still don’t know what I want to do, so I think this internship will help me figure that out. I used to have a vague idea, but now that I have studied in all these different fields, I have so many other ideas. I hope one of them will shine a light on my path towards something. And then maybe I will start looking for master’s programs. We’ll see.
