Roberto Edwards

Roberto Edwards (1937–2022) was a Chilean photographer and entrepreneur best known for Cuerpos Pintados, a groundbreaking artistic initiative that merges painting, performance, and photography. Over the course of 25 years, more than 100 painters and countless models participated in this collaborative project that explored the expressive potential of the human body as both landscape and three-dimensional canvas. Originating in Santiago, Chile, the project initially involved 45 Chilean artists but quickly gained international attention, attracting artists from across South America, Europe, and the United States. Edwards’s resulting photographs—accurate yet imaginative records of a dynamic, organic process—have been exhibited in more than 40 museums worldwide. The work captured not only the beauty of painted bodies but the performance aspect of the creative process itself, often resembling ritual or dance as models moved and paint transformed under studio lights.

Watching Edwards photograph was akin to witnessing a theatrical production with no linear script. He allowed models to improvise their movements and never altered the original artwork. Instead, he manipulated focus, perspective, and framing—employing photographic techniques such as cropping, selective depth of field, and multiple exposures to compose his images. The fluidity of the paint, affected by sweat and movement, became part of the evolving artwork, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of the medium and the body as a living canvas.

Edwards was born in 1937 and pursued studies in architecture, economics, and film before establishing himself in the publishing industry. In the 1980s, he launched Cuerpos Pintados, with its first exhibition in 1991 featuring nude bodies painted by Chilean artists. A second iteration debuted in 2003, expanding the project to include musicians, traditional cultural expressions, and a broader array of visual artists. Beyond Cuerpos Pintados, Edwards was deeply involved in cultural and philanthropic work through Fundación América, which he led. The foundation supported programs promoting social inclusion through the arts, such as IntegrArte, a 2002 exhibition featuring paintings, sculptures, and photographs created by blind artists.

Later in life, Edwards remained active in curating exhibitions and publishing books through Fundación América, continuing his commitment to creativity, inclusivity, and the power of artistic collaboration.