Byron Gago (born in 1994, Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a visual artist based in Switzerland. His research explores the relationship between nature and culture, focusing on social anthropology, technological impact, and transitions within social and architectural landscapes.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree from NABA in Milan, where he developed an editorial project investigating the effects of the oil industry’s displacement in the Amazon rainforest on the Ecuador-Colombia border. In 2020, he completed his Master’s degree at ECAL in Lausanne with a survey documenting architectural transitions in Ciudad Guerrero, a border city between Mexico and the USA, using photography, archival materials, and audiovisual elements.
Gago has participated in several residencies, including Fondation Thalie (B), SOMA Summer (MX), Proyecto Timba (MX), Viafarini (IT), Spazio Morel (CH), La Fornace (IT). His work experience includes collaborations with institutions such as Careof (IT), Biennale Giovani Monza (IT), Volumnia Space (IT), Panorama Venezia (IT), Galleria San Paolo Invest (IT), La Rada (CH), Arte Pubblica Morcote Festival (CH), Maison Gaudard (CH), Onarte (CH), Galerie Crèvecoeur (FR), ERROR Space (MX).
His video work Costa Caro was presented at Cinema Teatro Massimo (IT) in 2016 and at LagosPhoto Festival in 2019. His photographic work has been published in Abitare Illegale by Andrea Staid (Milieu Edizioni, 2017) and in X (La Casa de El Hijo del Ahuizote, 2019).
His work has also been recognized with awards such as the Fondazione Pescarabruzzo Prize in 2016, the Ducato Prize in 2020, and nominations for the Ricas Prize, and the Città d’Arte Treviglio Prize. He has been invited to present his work at conferences at ERROR Space (MX), the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia (IT), and UANL University in Monterrey (MX).