The dynamic and visually captivating world of Johan Samboni, a Colombian artist whose debut book, "Yo podria estar robando, pero estoy haciendo artes (I Could Be Stealing But I’m Making Art)", is a visual exploration of his hometown, Cali. Through a blend of contemporary, mainstream, and transmedial resources, Samboni offers a unique perspective on the complex social and political environment of his community.
Drawing on a diverse array of visual structures, from Grand Theft Auto sceneries, to gang members Facebook profile pictures and Google Street View images, Samboni creates a distinctive language that captures the the flavor of his surroundings in a way that is both uncanny and intriguing. With a keen eye for detail, he reimagines his neighborhood in stunning and unexpected ways, inviting readers to see it in a completely new light.

With its stunning visuals and insightful commentary, "Yo podria estar robando, pero estoy haciendo artes" Samboni manages to develop a new narrative to talk about local political and social issues with a universal approach.

Founded in 1976, Printed Matter, Inc. is the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books and related publications.

First established in Tribeca by a group of individuals working in the arts (among them artist Sol LeWitt and critic Lucy Lippard), Printed Matter was developed in response to the growing interest in publications made by artists. Starting in the early 60s, many of the pioneering conceptual artists (as well as performance, process, environment, sound and other experimental media artists) began to explore the possibilities of the book form as an artistic medium. Large-edition and economically produced publications allowed experimentation with artworks that were affordable and could circulate outside of the mainstream gallery system. Printed Matter provided a space that championed artists’ books as complex and meaningful artworks, helping bring broader visibility to a medium that was not widely embraced at the time.