JEFF ABBEY MALDONADO “Mr. Maldonado is a Now artist. He lives in the present moment, the moment which encapsulates the future and the past, all at once.” He is a “master of his art” and a “cultural conductor.” ~ Artist Mario Castillo Jeff Abbey Maldonado studied under Mario Castillo at Columbia College Chicago in the early 1990’s. After his studies, Maldonado acquired a studio at the APO Building, four months after the opening of the Cafe Jumping Bean across the street. Maldonado’s first major exposure was his installation for the Day of the Dead at the National Museum of Mexican Art (previously the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum) in 1996. Maldonado was included as one of six Pilsen muralists chosen for the Pilsen/Little Village Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum in 1997. The same year Maldonado was commissioned by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to paint a series of portable murals, which were rededicated in 2019. In 2000 Maldonado received a solo exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art for six months. He is the recipient of three Governor’s International Artist Exchange Grants. These grants provided for him to exhibit in Istanbul, Turkey where he traveled twice to complete a series of 33 etchings with the assistance of Mexican printmaker Nicolas de Jesus. Maldonado is one of the founding members of the 18th Street Pilsen Open Studios. He was also a part of Chicago Artist Month held every October and on the Advisory Committee representing Pilsen Artists. In 2009 Jeff Maldonado Junior, aka JDEF, was shot in broad daylight on 18th Street. JDEF was a lyricist, writer, and was on his way for his first public appearance. In response Maldonado Sr. initiated a non profit community based organization called the JDEF PEACE PROJECT. This endeavor has grown into working with over 200 teens in six communities in need. The mission of the JDEF PEACE PROJECT is to impact the life skills and mentality of teens through the art making process. In 2020 Maldonado received The Purple Star award for his innovation and dedication in working with Chicago youth. Maldonado created a documentary titled 19 and a Day: The Life and Times of J-Def to honor his son and to bring a message of peace to schools in the Chicago area. The film was selected for the 29th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival, raising awareness to a wider audience. Maldonado has been commissioned by Universal Studios to paint a mural for the film 47 Ronin and was commissioned by Warner Bros. Studio to paint a canvas for the film Mad Max: Fury Road. Currently, Maldonado is working on a graphic novel entitled City of Lotus.