Ramirez grew up in Chicago where he currently lives. Before, and after, attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago he spent time in North Carolina and also Vermont. He prides himself on being mostly self-taught when it comes to representational painting. Biggest inspiration is the portraiture of John Singer Sargent, whose work and life Juan has studied intensely. Juan teaches workshops based on his method (with obeisance to Sargent) all over America. He says: ‘when I set out to paint a portrait I try to live in the mind of the sitter, to capture a true thought or moment of humanity.’ Ramirez takes commissions and has just completed a major full length work of Willie Park Jnr for the Olympic Fields GC in Chicago.

Muti currently holds two music directorships, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and at the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini.