Artist bio

Daveed Silva is a classically trained artist from Cali, Colombia

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember

My journey began in Colombia, where I attended art-focused schools that treated creativity as part of everyday education. Beyond drawing and painting, we explored philosophy, metaphysics, literature, volunteerism, politics, craftsmanship, and design. Those experiences taught me that art is a process not a result

Much of that foundation came from my family. My mother always encouraged creativity, and my grandfather had an enormous influence on me. After retiring at a relatively young age, he built a home in La Buitrera, in Colombia’s Valle del Cauca. Many weekends were spent there learning calligraphy, watching classic films projected on an 8mm projector, experimenting with darkroom photography, and making things by hand. Those moments shaped how I think about craftsmanship, curiosity, and lifelong learning. During those years I attended Colegio Juvenilia in Cali

As a senior in college we captured a few events with photography and video as a company we called Remaya

Later, after graduating from high school in Bogotá, I studied at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and LaSalle College, continuing to explore design, architecture, and the humanities before taking my next steps abroad

In Miami, I worked alongside my uncle, an architect, helping prepare architectural drawings and blueprints using Autodesk. At nights and weekends I’d be in wynwood or Churchill’s wirh the Florida burners

Soon afterward, I received a scholarship that allowed me to live in Jerusalem. During that time I studied with artists, explored museums and archaeological sites, and traveled throughout Israel, immersing myself in thousands of years of artistic, architectural, and cultural history. That experience expanded my appreciation for the relationship between tradition, spirituality, and contemporary creative practice

Around 2013 I ended up in San Francisco, where I became involved with the Burning Man community. There I helped build large-scale art installations, designed interactive experiences, collaborated with theme camps, and learned from artists, engineers, performers, and makers from around the world. The collaborative spirit of the burner community continues to influence much of my work today

Today I’m based in New York, where I mentor emerging artists, support community productions, and volunteer wherever I’m needed. My work often includes graphic design, printed materials, iPad illustrations, event branding, fabrication, logistics, production support, harm reduction, safety, and community organizing. I regularly contribute to events throughout Upstate New York, New York City, Burning Man, Love Burn, and regional gatherings

Many of these projects are created under the name Santo Cabrón, alongside collaborations with local collectives, artists, nonprofits, and community organizations

Art is an invitation. Whether through design, architecture, community events, public installations, or shared experiences, my goal is to create spaces where people can connect, collaborate, and leave inspired to build something of their own