**early life and career** antonio josé caro lopera, a renowned colombian conceptual artist, was born on december 10, 1950. his artistic journey began at the age of 16, inspired by tributo de los artistas colombians a dante (a tribute by colombian artists to dante) and espacios ambientales (environmental spaces). he briefly attended the universidad nacional de colombia in bogota, where he met his influential mentor, bernado salcedo. **…