Cristóbal Palma
Santiago, Chile
Cristóbal Palma is a photographer whose work focuses on architecture and the built environment. Born in Oxford and raised in Santiago, Chile, he studied at the Architectural Association in London before launching his photography career. In 2008, he established Estudio Palma in Santiago, where he currently lives. Palma’s images have been widely published and exhibited both in Chile and internationally, and his work is held in private and institutional collections, including MoMA’s. His editorial work has appeared in Monocle, Wallpaper, Dwell, and Casabella, among others. Palma’s training in architecture and eye for spatial composition shape a distinctive photographic voice that bridges documentation and creative interpretation.
2025 Biennial Project
Project Overview
Lugar Común
Lugar Común (Common Place) explores the Latin American city as a constantly shifting and dynamic space. Through a series of random walks, Palma collects visual fragments—repeated patterns, accumulations, and types of buildings—that suggest new ways of seeing the city. For this installation, the images are presented in a set of booklets, each acting as a section of a larger field, inviting viewers to navigate and construct their own interpretation of urban life. The project emphasizes the peripheral, the banal, and the unexpected, offering a fresh perspective on how cities are imagined, experienced, and reassembled.
Previous work
Project Overview
Venue
View moreChicago Cultural Center
Address
78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Neighborhood
The Loop
Description
Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation’s first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more – presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others.
