Steven Ruiz Ledezma, a graduate of the Plastic Arts Program at the University of Cauca, showcased a series of posters by artists from southwestern Colombia at the Académie du Climat in Paris, bringing his artistic and cultural commitment to the international stage. The exhibition took place on April 17, 2024, in Room 2.18. Tumo - 2nd place Baudoyer Paris 4th.

Steven Ruiz Ledezma, a graduate of the Plastic Arts Program at the University of Cauca, has worked as a muralist and cultural manager in several municipalities of Cauca, including Popayán, Bolívar, Argelia, Balboa, Santander de Quilichao, Toribio, and Buenos Aires, among others. Since his time at the university, Steven has been part of the artistic collective Monareta, with which he has promoted the muralism festival ‘Sobre Fondo Blanco,’ an initiative that has celebrated nine editions since its inception in 2015.

Provided photo

The Monareta Collective, of which Steven Ruiz is a member, has developed artistic processes that have paved the way for building ideas with an increasingly larger group of people interested in reflecting on the graphic scene as a medium to address topics such as peace, territory, and communities. These connections led to the opportunity to present at the Académie du Climat, discussing the community processes of both the collective and the annual development of the ‘Sobre Fondo Blanco’ festival. During the exhibition, Steven presented a showcase of graphic work from several Colombian collectives and artists, especially those from Cauca.

Provided photo

“The opportunity to take our processes to other spaces and so far from home has been a very enriching experience that has helped enhance artistic processes. It is an honor to be able to talk about the territory we come from and also discuss the importance of public education and the relevance of the university in the department and the country,” Steven expressed with emotion, representing and showcasing the work and creativity of various Colombian artists. In this regard, it is important to highlight that the Académie du Climat in Paris is an initiative aimed at promoting education and public awareness about climate change and environmental sustainability.

From this University of Excellence and Solidarity, we are proud that our graduates are elevating the name of their Alma Mater while raising awareness about climate change and the commitment we all have as Colombians towards peacebuilding, especially from the Caucan territory and our communities, which have unfortunately been direct victims of the country's historical conflict. We are even prouder that they are generating these kinds of discussions at an international level, in such representative settings as the Académie du Climat.

For more information about the exhibition and Steven Ruiz's work, you can visit the following link: https://www.academieduclimat.paris/evenements/exposition-et-rencontre-avec-steven-muraliste-engage-en-colombie/

For more information:

Faculty of Arts
Email: facartes@unicauca.edu.co