Colectivo El Puente_lab

El puente_lab is a cultural and artistic production platform based in Medellín, Colombia. It focuses on developing locally grounded projects that use artistic creativity as a tool to activate cultural dynamics and engage with communities. By responding to specific social contexts, El puente_lab facilitates processes of education, communication, and urban and social transformation. Through an operational model of international cooperation, it connects local communities with artists, researchers, and institutions from around the world. The platform was co-founded by Juan Esteban Sandoval, a visual artist working between Colombia and Italy, and Alejandro Vásquez Salinas, an artist and curator based in Medellín. Sandoval is the Director of the Art Office at Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto in Biella, Italy, and has exhibited internationally since 1994. He has participated in major artist residencies across Europe and received the NCTM per l’arte prize in Milan in 2018. Vásquez Salinas holds an MFA from the Utrecht School of the Arts and a degree in visual arts from the University of Antioquia. He is Director of the Paul Bardwell Gallery at the Colombo Americano in Medellín and leads the Deseartepaz program, focused on art and peace-building. Together, they have developed workshops, exhibitions, and long-term community projects in collaboration with international artists and institutions, positioning El puente_lab as a key actor in Colombia’s independent art scene.