Álvaro Nates is a Colombian photographer based in Mexico City.
His work moves between fine art, portraiture, fashion and commercial photography, with a focus on the space between what is directed and what unfolds naturally.
Rooted in a fine art practice, his work has been presented in both solo and group exhibitions, as well as commissioned art projects. He has exhibited in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Arts in Mexico City, and has participated in international galleries and art fairs.
While his work spans different fields, portraiture remains central to his practice. Through it, he has developed a deeper understanding of people, how to direct them, and how to create images that feel natural, even within highly constructed settings.
There is a quiet tension in his work — something held, something about to happen, or something that has just passed. Whether working with individuals, public figures or within commercial contexts, his aim is not only to produce an image, but to capture a moment that resonates beyond it.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with brands and publications such as National Geographic Channel, Vogue, Pantene, Volkswagen, Swarovski, Magnum and Pandora, as well as Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino, Versace Perfumes and Calvin Klein, among others. His work includes portraiture of public figures, editorial projects and commercial campaigns.
He studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York and has also worked as an educator, teaching photography at institutions such as the AAVI School of Photography.
Before focusing on photography, he worked internationally as a model, collaborating with leading agencies such as Wilhelmina and Why Not Models, among others, across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. This experience continues to inform his understanding of image, presence and direction from within the frame.
He is currently photographer and creative director of CROM Magazine, a project that has taken him to different places and contexts, continuing to expand the scope of his work.
His practice remains an ongoing exploration of presence, timing and the relationship between what is constructed and what cannot be controlled.
He works on a limited number of projects each year.
