NOMAD
What is known and what is unknown? What is the answer to life? Where did we come from? These are the kinds of questions Nomad likes to explore. He tends to stay in the background, observing and thinking about the deeper workings of the mind. Through his paintings, he tries to work through those questions, drawing on themes like mythology, lore, history, sexuality, and the obscure.
I met Nomad at a weekend art show called Allstars by Start Shows in late July. I was there recording interviews with the artists. On the first night, he stood beside his work almost like an immovable boulder. When I approached him, I asked about his paintings and what they meant. He explained that each piece represented a different mythological story. One painting in particular caught my attention. It turned out to be based on a story from Indigenous people from the region that is now Colombia. As we talked more, we realized we actually share the same heritage and come from the same region in Colombia.
At the show he was wearing a mask, so I asked him about it. He told me he had carved and painted it himself. The mask represented how he sees himself internally. Showing artwork can be intimidating, and the mask helped him connect more directly with his work while facing the public. It reminded me of the Japanese idea of the three faces: the one you show the world, the one you show to close friends and family, and the one you never show anyone. In a way, his mask didn’t add another layer—it actually removed one, making him more comfortable showing his work. He wore it the entire first night and then occasionally throughout the rest of the weekend as he slowly became more comfortable.
After the show, I visited his home studio for a photoshoot. His studio is a dark room with very little natural light coming through the window. The space is filled with books, awards, paintings, and sculptures he has made. You can tell the environment is intentional—it helps him enter the right mindset when he’s creating. One piece that stood out to me was The Valkyrie, a painting of the Valkyrie accompanied by a poem written in Norse. It showed how much thought he puts into maintaining consistency within the worlds he creates.
During the photoshoot he shifted between different moods. Sometimes he appeared dark and intense, and other times relaxed and thoughtful. He used the same mask from the art show to switch between those two personas. Watching that balance during the shoot was interesting—the mask became part of the story he was telling through the photographs.
We later continued shooting on the rooftop of his apartment building. At one point I asked him why he doesn’t draw or paint up there. He explained that creating his work requires a specific state of mind, which is why he keeps his studio dark and controlled. That environment helps shape the tone of his artwork, which often explores darker themes and sometimes pushes into more provocative ideas.
Despite the intensity of his work, Nomad himself is very approachable and easy to talk to. He’s incredibly curious and enjoys seeing things from different perspectives. During our conversation he asked thoughtful questions about photography—why I do it, whether photography can truly be considered art, and how my work differs from someone else’s. Talking with him made me think about my own practice in ways I hadn’t before.
In many ways, Nomad is a reminder of the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.” His work might appear dark and mysterious, but behind it is someone who is thoughtful, curious, and constantly searching for meaning.
Though if you ask him directly… he might jokingly say he’s just looking for inspiration for his next painting. Just keep an eye on your kidneys.
