About Gustavo Fuentes

Gustavo Fuentes Colón, a native of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, was born on May 6, 1976. He is the son of Bernardo Fuentes, originally from Medellín, Colombia, and Olga Colón, a native of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

In 1981, Gustavo began his primary education at José De Diego School in Vega Alta. In 1992, he met his mentor, the master of visual arts, Heriberto Nieves, who ignited Gustavo’s passion for the visual arts with non-traditional techniques that introduced him to the world of art. The influence of Maestro Heriberto provided direction and purpose to Fuentes’ rebellious and somewhat unconventional nature, helping him express his ideas in concrete ways, eventually transforming them into beautiful and monumental works of art.

In 1995, Gustavo completed his secondary education at Ladislao Martínez School in Vega Alta. After several years, he embarked on formal studies at the “Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico”, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Painting in 2016. One year before completing his formal studies, his artwork “Paraíso Interno” was selected by the board of the Francisco Oller Museum in the city of Bayamón to be part of the permanent collection. This stunning piece had a prominent place in the inauguration of the city’s Museum of Emerging Art. Gustavo continued to achieve success with his artwork, winning the bronze medal in the Mixed Media category with his piece “Prisma Natural” at the tenth edition of the Florence Biennale Contemporary Art Exhibition in Florence, Italy. The event featured the participation of over 300 internationally renowned artists.

In 2016, Gustavo brought his work to Bogotá, Colombia, where he participated in the art fair “Art Chicó” with his artwork “Luz Cósmica,” an aerial sculpture that captivated attendees with its colorful luminosity and aerial dynamism.

His time at the “Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico” was a significant contribution to his academic, technical, and conceptual development. The institution awarded him the Painting Prize at the Night of Achievements in 2016, an accolade bestowed upon the most outstanding students by the faculty.

In the following years, Gustavo continued to develop his artwork and expand his knowledge. In 2021, he held an exhibition at the “Museo De Las Américas” in San Juan at Cuartel Ballaja, titled “Percepción del Espacio.” This opportunity marks another stage in Fuentes’ career as an artist, propelled by the presence of the viewers who are the main purpose and creative driving force behind these manifestations brought to life.