Visual artists Javier Caraballo and Giselle Borras, both natives of Barranquilla, will represent Colombia at the Art Basel Week Zurich, one of the most influential platforms in the global contemporary art scene. The event starts today, June 19, and runs until Sunday 22 Switzerland. It features 280 international galleries, showcasing works by more than 4,000 artists in various formats such as painting, sculpture, installation, photography, digital art, and more.
The participation of these two Colombian creators, made possible through an invitation from Iller Gallery, is not only a personal milestone in their artistic journeys but also a key opportunity to spotlight the emerging talent of the Colombian Caribbean on the international stage. Though distinct in style, both artists engage with themes of identity, memory, and the vibrant spirit of the tropics, offering a fresh, innovative perspective deeply rooted in their territory.
Who are the Colombian artists participating in Art Basel Week Zurich?
Javier Caraballo: childhood as a creative territory
Javier Caraballo holds a degree in Fine Arts from the Universidad del Atlantico. For over a decade, he has developed a unique artistic proposal based on the aesthetics of childhood drawing marked by vibrant colors, spontaneous lines, and free compositions. Caraballo sees children as the true artists of the contemporary world, and his work celebrates that unfiltered, emotional perspective.
One of his most notable projects, “Master of Painting,” involves intervening in iconic works by artists like Picasso, Miro, and Van Gogh using children’s markings. This creates a visual paradox that invites viewers to rethink the art canon through the lens of innocence and irreverence.
Caraballo has exhibited in cities such as Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Panama, Brussels, Miami, and Luxembourg. His work is part of prominent private collections, including those of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the Royal Family of Monaco. He has also participated in international art fairs such as Art Miami, Art Lima, and Drawing Now Paris.
At Art Basel Week Zurich, Caraballo will showcase a selection of works that extend his exploration of childhood and Caribbean identity, now infused with deeper conceptual weight. Using materials such as wood, handmade paper, and raw canvas, and techniques including oil, acrylic, charcoal, and natural pigments, he addresses themes like vulnerability, urban spirituality, and repressed desire.
Giselle Borras: memory, symbols, and meticulous technique
Giselle Borras, a Colombian-Spanish visual artist and also a graduate of the Universidad del Atlántico, has developed a highly symbolic and technically meticulous body of work. Her practice revolves around what she calls “contemporary pointillism,” a technique in which she deconstructs personal archival photographs and reconstructs them dot by dot, incorporating symbols from Latin American fauna, colonial architecture, and popular aesthetics.
In addition to her fine arts background, Borrás is a social communicator and journalist from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla and holds a Master’s degree in Marketing from the Autonomous University of Madrid. This interdisciplinary foundation has enriched her artistic vision, allowing her to develop a distinct visual language that weaves together memory, identity, and visual heritage.
Her work has been exhibited in cities such as Paris, Milan, Miami, Bogota, Istanbul, and Mexico City, and she has participated in major art fairs including Zona Maco, Art Miami, Contemporary Istanbul, and Estampa Madrid. Borrás has collaborated with renowned galleries such as Mark Hachem (France and the U.S.), Otros 360 Grados Gallery (Bogotá), and Elsa Piñeres Gallery (Barranquilla).
In Zurich, Borras will present a selection of pieces that integrate symbols from the Latin American landscape, reinterpreted through Caribbean memory and sensibility. Her work transcends decorative art, engaging in a visual dialogue about territory, belonging, and cultural legacy.