Gabriel Kalach
Artist, Designer, and Art Director in Miami Beach, Florida
Gabriel Kalach was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, one of the most beautiful countries of South America and voted as one of the happiest countries in the world by Time magazine. At an early stage Gabriel instinctively embraced the arts in a truly passionate manner, by translating his everyday life and experiences into pictorial representations the accurately evoked factual life.
Fine Art, Architecture, Design and a thirst for knowledge drove him to further his inherent talents. Being 9 years old, he was awarded in recognition for his aesthetical and architectural representation of a landscape he created. For more than a decade, Gabriel was a member of a selected group of very young talented artists who attended The Martenot Academy for the Arts in Colombia. Later in life, he moved to the capital city of Colombia - Bogota, in order to pursue higher goals.
After completing a 5-year Graphics and Arts Career, he never stopped studying and researching. Something he aptly calls "the University of Life". He initiated his work efforts for small to high profile companies even before he had graduated. The experience proved to be invaluable once he indeed graduated and made him realize that the freelance arena came as second nature to him.
Soon after graduating, Gabriel decided to try and participate in the COREL/EPSON National Graphic Design Contest. A first of its kind at that time in Colombia. In an awe-inspiring outcome, he was the winner of the contest in all categories. He needed a bigger challenge. In 1999 Gabriel decided to take his talents and entrepreneurial spirit to the U.S. The Colombian designer was granted a talent-based O-1 Visa.
Knowing that only a certain number of Talent Visa’s are issued per year, he was determined to make his mark and remain in the U.S. In acknowledgement of his proven talents, awards, work and publications, he was awarded a Talent-based Green-Card; an amazing feat when considering that an artist has to be on the top 10% of his field, on his native country as well as being recognized in the USA to be considered.
Gabriel, a free spirit of sorts, instead of pursuing a career in the corporate stage, continued working as an independent Visual Communicator and Graphic Artist to this day.