Billy Monsalve Duffo

About the Artist

Billy was born in the United States in 1965 to Colombian parents and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, where he spent his formative years immersed in art and culture. At the age of seventeen, he relocated to Miami, Florida, where he now lives and works. His artistic sensibility emerged early and was shaped by the influence of celebrated Colombian masters Fernando Botero and Heriberto Cogollo—drawing inspiration from Botero’s commanding scale and Cogollo’s refined realism and masterful use of light. Largely self-taught, Billy’s early commercial success allowed him to later pursue formal studies at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Cartagena, Colombia. Working primarily in oil, his paintings are inspired by everyday objects and moments—familiar elements elevated through careful observation and elegant execution. With a strong focus on light, shadow, and volume, Billy creates works that approach photorealism while maintaining warmth and presence. His paintings are defined by clarity, balance, and a quiet sophistication, inviting viewers to find meaning in beauty that feels both familiar and timeless.