GARAVATO (TAVO GARAVATO)
Master Printmaker | Illustrator | Gig Poster Pioneer
Who is Garavato?
Behind the hand-stenciled bandanas and beneath the ink-stained press sheets lives one of the most vital voices in contemporary Latin American graphic art. Known simply as Garavato (Tavo), he is a Bogotá-based master printmaker, illustrator, and urban artist who has spent over 20 years defining the visual pulse of the underground.
You will rarely see his face. When he steps into the light, his identity remains veiled behind an artisan scarf—hand-printed using the very stencils and relief motifs he carves himself. For Garavato, anonymity is intentional: the focus belongs entirely to the message, the tactile bite of the linocut block, and the fierce independence of the craft.
As a foundational pioneer of Colombia’s official gig poster movement and co-founder of the print workshop Editor Felino, his philosophy is anchored in pure self-management and the raw power of the D.I.Y. ethos. His visual language has commanded stages for international music giants—including Iggy Pop, Foo Fighters, Interpol, Marky Ramone, and Austin TV – while partnering with iconic brands like Gibson, Dr. Martens, Levi’s, and Rolling Stone Magazine. Yet his art remains equally committed to the streets and social conscience, using linocut banners to amplify human rights and support victims of armed conflict across Colombia.
The Gathering at Upper Buena Vista
In September 2026, La Linterna opened its doors at Upper Buena Vista for an intimate gathering bringing our community face-to-face with the enigmatic artist.
There was no rehearsed lecture or distant stage. Instead, the room was electric with genuine conversation as local collectors, designers, and longtime admirers came to hear Garavato speak on the raw history of Latin American gig poster art, his iconic music collaborations, and the enduring discipline of manual printmaking. Dedicated collectors arrived clutching prized La Linterna × Garavato prints from their personal walls, eager to have them signed and dedicated in pencil. Our community showed up in force, embracing one of our own with the deep reverence his 18-year journey commands.
The Exclusive Release: La Vida No Es Una Carrera
The centerpiece of his Miami visit was the official launch of the collaborative edition, “La Vida No Es Una Carrera / Life Is Not a Race.”
Rendered in a luminous split-fountain gradient that sweeps through warm amber, magenta, electric cyan, and vivid green, this dynamic composition reimagines the timeless fable of the tortoise and the hare. It is a visual manifesto on artistic endurance, creative rhythm, and the refusal to rush genuine mastery. Hand-pulled on heavy archival paper using our historic 19th-century printing machinery, each limited print carries the unmistakable tactile impression of iron and oil-based ink—a standout work of contemporary Colombian printmaking.
Documentation: Photography by @martinahoyos
