Gabriela Punín

Gabriela Punín Burneo is an Ecuadorian visual artist, researcher and educator whose practice focuses on contemporary art, bioart and experimentation with new materials. She holds a PhD in Art and Design from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She is a professor in the Department of Philosophy, Arts and Humanities and director of the Master’s Program in Arts Pedagogy at the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador). Her artistic and academic work explores the intersection of art, science and environment, investigating biological processes, organic materials and biopolymers as artistic media. She coordinates the Art and Environment Research Group, where she develops interdisciplinary projects related to bioart and sustainability. As part of her research, she has generated several patented inventions in biopolymers registered with the Ecuadorian Intellectual Property Institute (IEPI) and received the First Prize for Innovative Invention awarded by CEDIA. Punín Burneo has participated in more than 30 exhibitions in countries including Mexico, Chile, Peru, the United Kingdom and Ecuador. She previously worked at the Contemporary Art Center of Quito and is currently a producer and collaborator of the Vilcabamba project within Iura Flumminis et Terrae, presented at the 23rd Biennale of Sydney.