Rionegro Artist Shines in Italy and Redefines the Image of Colombian Art

Colombian art is shining brightly on the international scene thanks to figures like Niver Valencia, a visual artist from Rionegro, whose disruptive work is making a difference. Valencia was recently awarded the "Critical Art" award and recognized as "Great Ambassador of Colombian Art" at the 2025 Mostra D'arte Latinoamericana, held in the Sala Cannoniera of the historic Rocca Paolina in Perugia, Italy.

Born to a peasant family, Niver Valencia forged his artistic path as a self-taught artist, consolidating his technique under the tutelage of maestro Óscar Cardona at the School of Art of the Society of Public Improvements of La Ceja. His deeply experimental and multidimensional artistic approach is based on human synesthesia, giving life to sensorial paintings that interact and transform with the light, temperature, and humidity of the environment.

With more than 30 exhibitions in the last four years, both nationally and internationally, Valencia's work has been consistently recognized. Among his notable achievements are the award for "Best Antioquian Artist 2021" at the Second Regional Festival of Environmental Art and Culture of CORNARE, and the milestone of being the first Antioquian to exhibit at the Louvre Palace in Paris, France, in 2023.

In addition, he has been a recurring winner of the Rionegro Municipal Artistic and Cultural Talent Incentives in 2022, 2023, and 2024. This year, his talent has led him to be selected to participate in the regional exhibitions of the VIII BAT Salon of Popular Art, one of the most important events in Colombia, and to be a featured guest at the ongoing Mostra D’arte Latinoamericana 2025 in Perugia.

In the Italian exhibition, Niver Valencia presents his work "Colombia: Land of Passion, Diversity, and Resilience," a piece that had previously been awarded the Rionegro Art Incentives in 2024. This work, true to his experimental style, combines highly skilled techniques based on synesthesia, reacting and transforming with the environment.

The artist emphasizes the importance of his work in a context where Colombians generally face a deep-rooted stigma, often associated with negative narratives such as drug trafficking. “Colombians carry a deep stigma, often reduced to narratives like drug trafficking. But here I am transforming that perception, offering a different narrative through my art, with a different, sensorial, and unconventional approach that has left its mark and awakens a different perspective on who we are. Feeling the impact, wonder, and emotion of people with paintings that you can interact with is a unique experience,” he says proudly.

The Arte Anima Latina Award, organized by the Salentino Group with the sponsorship of the City of Perugia, is an annual showcase for Latin American art, held since 2019 at the iconic Rocca Paolina. In this prestigious setting, Niver Valencia's work has been recognized not only for its artistic quality but also for its ability to break barriers and redefine the image of Colombian art on the global stage. His work is a vibrant testament to Colombia's cultural richness and resilience, challenging prejudices and leaving an indelible mark.
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