Ricardo Gamboa Salazar

Ricardo Gamboa Salazar is an artist based in Duitama, Boyacá. In 2000, he traveled to London to learn English, explore art, and further his studies. What was meant to be a short stay turned into three years of creative growth. During that time, he held solo exhibitions, participated in group shows, and studied abstract painting. He also met a woman from Turkey, and they moved to Istanbul, where he lived for 17 years. Together, they have a teenage son, Yunus, with whom Ricardo recently shared a month-long photography adventure through the beautiful landscapes of Boyacá.

In Istanbul, Ricardo’s creativity thrived. He painted, taught at various institutions, exhibited his work, and deepened his passion for photography. In 2021, he returned to Colombia, continuing his work as a painter, teacher, and photographer, and regularly participating in exhibitions and competitions.

Having grown up in the Andes, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, Ricardo’s art often reflects rural life, countryside people, and themes tied to his homeland. When he’s not painting landscapes, he enjoys sketching faces through a spontaneous, intuitive process—without models or plans, just pure creativity.

In recent years, Ricardo opened a gallery in Tibasosa with his sister, who also ran a chocolate shop in the same space. I had the pleasure of visiting the gallery and meeting Ricardo in person. The space also included a curated bookstore, making it a refreshing and innovative cultural hub for a small town like Tibasosa. It quickly became one of my favorite places in the entire province! Unfortunately, the gallery has since closed, but this year, Braeden and I were lucky to visit during its final week of operation. As sad as it was to see it go, we’re grateful to have met Ricardo and to collaborate with him on his artistic journey.