Miguel Gómez (March 29, 1974 - November 12, 2024) was a
Colombian-American photographer and visual artist, based in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, whose style was marked by/best known for his work in
fine art photography,
portrait, editorial and
landscape photography.
Gómez worked between
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
and
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
.
Early life and education
He completed his primary and
secondary education at
Colegio San Carlos, a
bilingual private school
A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...
which he attended from 1981 to 1992 in
Bogotá, Colombia.
After graduating from high school, Gómez enrolled in the Architecture School of
Bogotá's
Universidad de Los Andes and eventually continued and completed his studies at
Jorge Tadeo Lozano University from 1994 to 1999, earning a Professional (Bachelor of Arts) Degree in Advertising with an emphasis in Graphic Design.
While at advertising school, Gómez decided to put all his efforts into pursuing a career in photography. However, his work in the medium dates as early as 1989, when he was 15 years old. During 1991–1992 (his last two high school years), this dedication grew significantly, and he spent almost every day after school in the darkroom, processing film rolls he had shot with a complete 35mm kit.
Gomez's initial photographic interests were based on deadpan views of the street, architecture and urban landscapes. Later on, while working as an assistant photographer (while still being a university student), Gómez established direct contact with commercial photography, agencies, fashion shoots and larger productions.
In 1998, he upgraded from the smaller 35mm film format to
medium format and
large format, and by 2000 started working with
digital photography. As a consequence of the exploration of the possibilities these formats gave, his body of work evolved and embraced broader topics.
Career
Gómez's first editorial commission was for ''
Architectural Digest'' Magazine / Latin American Edition. He provided work for almost every major publication in Bogotá for more than 5 years and for advertising agencies such as Lowe & Partners/SSP3, (now
MullenLowe Group), Bates and
Ogilvy & Mather. Subsequently his photographs were featured in some of the most important Colombian magazines: ''
Fucsia'', ''
Cromos'', ''
SoHo (magazine)'', ''Estilo Fedco'', ''
Donjuan (magazine)'', ''Axxis'', ''
Semana'', and ''
Rolling Stone'', (North Cone edition). His editorial work covered fashion, portraiture, architecture, stills and reportage.
His photography work for architect
Giancarlo Mazzanti was also featured in ''The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture''.
Gómez's work has also been published in
Avianca's magazine, and ''
El Tiempo''.
In addition, Gómez lectured on different levels of photography at Bogotá's most important universities for 7 years. He worked for the Fine Art, Media, Graphic Design, Advertising and Engineering schools of
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana,
Politécnico Grancolombiano,
Jorge Tadeo Lozano University,
Central University and
Francisco José de Caldas District University. He was also offered a place as a photography lecturer in the Fine Arts School of the
Universidad de Los Andes by Carolina Franco (then dean of the Fine Arts School), shortly after having already decided to travel to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the U.K. and continental
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
to focus on his personal work and expand his international experience.
Some of the editorial portrait subjects from Gómez's career have ranged from Colombian ex-president
Álvaro Uribe Vélez and politician and diplomat
Noemí Sanín, to race car driver
Juan Pablo Montoya and alternative rock band
Aterciopelados.
Gómez has lived and worked previously in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, and
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
where he worked as a freelance photographer for
ASOS.com. He is currently based in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. In addition to his photography career, Gómez is actively involved in artistic and curatorial projects, and in photographic education.
Gómez works mainly with
Mamiya RZ67,
Sinar and
Canon Inc. equipment.
Major exhibitions
*London: Southbank Centre / Coin Street Festival Exhibit: "Equilibrium". 2009-2010.
*Invitation to Photographic Exhibit
Fotográfica Bogotá. May - Jun. 2009A selection of 15
B/W Portraits by Miguel Gómez, along with work by:
Bettina Rheims,
Nan Goldin,
Erwin Olaf,
Eugenio Recuenco,
Cindy Sherman,
Sophie Ristelhueber, Loan Nguyen, Alexandre Orion,
Chuck Close,
Gottfried Helnwein, Graciela Sacco,
Martin de Thurah, Olaf Breuning, Peter Beste,
Robert Mapplethorpe, Tom Chambers,
Alberto Korda,
Arnold Newman, Bernard Silvesten,
Man Ray,
Graciela Iturbide.
Awards, presentations and distinctions
*Featured and Showcased on Culture Trip's Website:
7 Photographers from Bogotá to Check Out2017.
*Nominee / "Amphibia" - Sixth Annual Black and White Awards:
The Spider Awards 2011.
*Artwork (cover) for Thom Carter's Album
‘Son Clair’ - London Soundmap experimental audio projectReleased London, 2009.
*Featured and Showcased on the British Fashion Website:
"Iqons": 15 Minutes of Fame London, 2008. / Archived: Site closed in late 2012.
*Pecha Kucha Night Bogota - Farewell Presentation
PKN Vol.IV 2007
Profilean
Video Link* Featured and Showcased on:
2005-2007.
*Finalist: Photography Lecturing Contest -
Universidad Nacional de Colombia: August 2004.
*Member of the Board of Directors at the Colombian Photographers Association ASOFOTO
ACF Jun. 2002 - Dec. 2004.
*Honorary Mention - Fotomaratón - Fotomuseo: Images of the City: Oct. 2001: (Amanecer, Monserrate: Item 31 of 50)
FotoMaratón Plus
All versions of the competition*Shared: - Cannes Young Creatives Competition / Semana - with University Creative Advertising Partner
Studio Arellano June 1999.
References
External links
miguel gomez photography , mgpixlabOfficial Blogan
CollaborationsDon Juan Magazine Website - May 2007an
Original Source*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez, Miguel
1974 births
American portrait photographers
Fashion photographers
Photography academics
Colombian photographers
Academic staff of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Artists from Bogotá
Living people
Fine art photographers
Photographers from New York City
21st-century American photographers
Colombian emigrants to the United States
Colombian people of French descent
Colombian people of Spanish descent
Colombian diaspora in the United States
Jorge Tadeo Lozano University alumni