Traf_Algar (b.1998) is a Guatemalan-French artist based in London whose vivid oil pastel drawings function as a visual diary. Using colour, detail, and expressive linework, he explores memory, identity, and personal heritage. Each piece becomes a layered narrative, where words are replaced by marks and emotions unfold through texture and rhythm.

 

His work often navigates themes of loss, melancholy, and nostalgia, but always through a vibrant lens. Colour becomes a way to preserve what might otherwise fade, reflecting a deep need to hold onto the past.

 

In November 2024, a residency in Antigua, Guatemala brought a quiet shift to his practice. Immersed in the landscape and culture of his roots, he returned with a renewed sense of clarity and connection, elements that now resonate through his latest work.