It has taken me some time to process the tumultuous reality of what we have been seeing and experiencing around us in The United States and subsequently around the world as of late. This current unprecedented moment in history is filled with fear, uncertainty, pain and revolt against broken systems, and most importantly the long withstanding prejudices and racism that have lingered for centuries in the shadows and in broad day light. As an immigrant to this country and a citizen of both Colombia and Spain I have had the privilege to live for many consecutive years in all three of these great and unique countries. Sometimes being different for the color of my skin or my sexuality has been a challenge for me, but I have never been one to stand down or stay quiet in the face of adversity or in the presence of unjust behavior.

During my years in Spain, America, and Colombia I have seen racism, and often experienced it first hand. As a young actor in the film industry I would show up well rehearsed, excited, and fresh faced for countless auditions only to be told that I wasn’t the right fit for the role because of my accent, race, or skin color. As a young art aficionado living in Europe I always questioned the lack of representation of people of color in high art. I would pass by countless beautiful grand depictions of glamorous white women and men in the galleries of all the great Museums of Europe, and while at the time I made excuses for this constant occurrence it shook me internally and had a lasting impression as I grew and evolved as a young man. When I eventually turned my sights to my true calling as a full time visual artist, I realized that my duty was to break this cycle of white faces in white galleries. It was my responsibility to be and make the change that I desperately wanted to see in the art world. I decided to do what I had really been doing since painting and sketching as a child, which was to portray the strong cultures and ethos of the communities that surrounded me. In particular this meant representing the people of color in my home country of Colombia.

I started off on my first extensive documentation project in 2016 to the small off the beaten path Colombian island of Providencia. I had spent many months over the years enjoying the immense natural beauty of this gem of an island, but what really set it apart for me was the warm, authentic culture and inviting community present on this tiny seven mile stretch of paradise. The 5,000 inhabitants of Providencia are all AfroCaribbean Colombians, proud of every aspect of their identity, many speak at least three languages including Spanish, Padua, and English and all identify proudly as Colombians. Here in Providencia I sought to connect with strong female figures in the community, ranging from 15 years old to over 90. I met and photographed over 30 different women ranging from strong matriarchs, to nurses, a pilot, the sanitation manager, young school girls dreaming of starting their own businesses, athletes, performers, and community leaders. All the while I was welcomed into their homes, fed by their families and told their stories.

It was an exceptionally special experience for me to have this opportunity and gain so much insight into the lives of this small community. I was frequently asked by my subjects why I would want to paint such large and “fancy” portraits of people like them. What was it that made them special and why did they deserve to be potentially viewed and discussed by thousands of people at international art fairs around the world? I explained to them that my goal as an artist was to represent all the people of Colombia, the diverse ethnicities that made this country special to me and particularly those of minority races or communities who were so often overlooked and rarely visible in politics, the arts, and business.

After leaving the Island I spent the next two years painting these strong black women and children that had inspired me so much. Eventually I went on to debut 10 of these portraits during Art Basel Miami in 2018 in a solo show entitled “Mujeres de Providencia.” For me the success of the show was not measured in its sales, but by how the presence of these 10 large scale portraits of real black women made a lasting impression and impact on the audiences who were viewing them. I took immense delight in speaking with groups of young women of color who felt identified seeing people like them in a high end gallery setting, or viewers who “recognized” the essence of an aunt, a sister, a mother or a daughter when browsing my exhibition. This had always been the goal and seeing it come to fruition was extremely rewarding. This first step towards disrupting representation in art was an addictive feeling and I was soon ready to get back to documenting other communities of color and lending my skills to strengthening their voices and presence in the world.

During this elevated time of unrest I have thought deeply about how to help fight the injustices that plague the communities of color and especially black lives in the United States and around the world. I have been listening, reading, crying, arguing, and getting angered a lot lately and although I have donated and protested I believe my biggest contribution is to continue showcasing these communities of color and lifting their stories and visibility in the world through art. This fight to end racism is going to be a daily battle and everyone needs to contribute in their own way. This isn’t an easy fight, but it is happening, things are changing and will change further if we continue to unite, focus our efforts and support this goal for justice and reform.

Over the next couple weeks I will be posting stories and images from my time documenting “Mujeres de Providencia” This will include stories about the individual women, as well as photos of the process and images of the pieces themselves. Stay tuned as I will be raffling off a newly crafted oil painting in the coming days, 100% of the proceeds from this raffle will go to supporting a variety of organizations who are fighting against systemic racism both in the US and Colombia.

Thank you for taking the time to dive into this with me, it is important for the true nature of my art and what inspires me to be clear to my community of friends, clients and followers.