Leho DE SOSA, born in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural manager, and activist based in Paris since 2021.
His work has been exhibited in Uruguay, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and France, exploring a queer and decolonial Latin American artistic vision. He works across various disciplines, including painting, illustration, digital art, photography, video, performance, and installation, with a strong commitment to human rights and LGBTQI+ visibility. His participation in queer art festivals in cities like Belfast, Madrid, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lyon, and Paris highlights this mission. Leho studied Communication Sciences at the University of the Republic and began his career in film and audiovisual arts in 2004 as an art director, later transitioning to filmmaking in 2009. In 2024, he received the Ibero-American Federico García Lorca Award, which addresses issues of homophobia, lesbophobia, and biphobia, for his work Descanso. His practice extends beyond individual artistic endeavors, playing a key role in collective projects such as L.A. Contracultural, which he co-founded, and the Outburst Américas collective network, created in 2019 with professionals from Northern Ireland, Brazil, Argentina, and Jamaica. Since 2018, he has also been the co-artistic director and curator of the Semana de Arte Trans (SAT), an international festival organized in Montevideo by the city government, co-organized by L.A. Contracultural in its latest 2024 edition. Among his publications is the graphic novel Teen Trans, Héros sans identité secrète, published in Spanish by Muchas Nueces in Argentina (2018) and by the Municipality of Montevideo (2017). The comic was later translated into French for the Festival d’Art et Créations Trans in Lyon (2019) and also has an English translation. Additionally, in 2019, his work Yellow Fury was published in El Alto, Latin American Queer Art, supported by the British Council and Outburst Arts. Leho is also co-author of the book Arte Trans, published by the Municipality of Montevideo, which explores gender diversity, dissidence, and the right to culture. His artistic experience ranges from individual creative work to cultural management and curatorial projects. In both approaches, his focus remains on the concept of the "collective." Even in his solo work, he believes that "building a narrative from identities that have no place in mainstream and academic art history means that our memory and creative processes rely on orality, alternative forms of connection, and our own community technologies."
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2023 "Big Pink" Intervention at the "Cul Béni" party La Flèche d'Or, Paris, France 2022 "Mariconadas NFT" Museari, Valencia, Spain 2019 "LIBERTRANS" Festival d’Art et Créations Trans Amoour Space, Lyon, France November 9, 2019 "Naïf" Diversity Week of Colonia Bastión del Carmen Space, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay September 4 - September 30, 2019 2018 "Naïf" Queer Art Festival Casa Brandon, Buenos Aires, Argentina December 5, 2018 - January 31, 2019 2017 "Teen Trans, live artwork creation" 22nd LesGaiCineMad Cineteca Matadero Madrid, Madrid, Spain November 4 - November 12, 2017 2016 "A Imagen y Semejanza" Contemporary Art Space, Montevideo, Uruguay December 1, 2016 - March 5, 2017
solo exhibitions
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS 2024 “Museari, Queer Art 7” Museu de Belles Arts de Xátiva, Valencia, Spain. June 5 - September 5, 2024. “Ibero-American Federico García Lorca Award” Spanish Cultural Center, Montevideo, Uruguay. May 20 - July 2024. “Group Exhibition” Ready Art Gallery, Montevideo, Uruguay. June 27 - September 30, 2024. 2022 “Littéragrrrlz” Antre Peaux, Bourges, France. 2021 “La Gran Conspiración” Collaboration between artists Leho De Sosa and Francesc Ruiz in the context of the exhibition “Correos.” Royal Academy of Spain in Rome, Italy. Spanish Cultural Center, Montevideo, Uruguay. March 3, 2021. 2019 “Sudakas, Décolonisations des corps” Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale. Anciennes Usines Fagor-Brant, Lyon, France. November 8, 2019. Performance. “LA Contracultural Collective Installation” Festival d’Art et Créations Trans, Lyon, France. November 2 - November 30, 2019. “Jornadas de Arte y Comunidad: la voz ciudadana” Faculty of Law, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. } September 16 - September 23, 2019. “Pride, Trans Law” LA Contracultural Collective Installation. Spanish Cultural Center, Montevideo, Uruguay. June 28 - July 31, 2019. 2017 “Nacional Queer Art” Semana de la Diversidad de Colonia. Argentine Consulate, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. September 21 - September 25, 2017. 2016 “Group Exhibition, Semana de Arte Trans” Spanish Cultural Center, Montevideo, Uruguay. September 23 - October 3, 2016. “Projecto Múltiplo 10, Latin American Printmaking Group Exhibition” Pera de Goma, Montevideo, Uruguay. September 21 - September 25, 2016. 2015 “Diversity and Family” Llamale H. Alliance Française, Montevideo, Uruguay. September 10 - September 30, 2015.
collective exhibitions
AWARDS 2024 Artwork: "Descanso" Ibero-American Federico García Lorca Award, Painting category. Embassy of Spain in Uruguay - Montevideo City Hall 2016 Installation Project: “A Imagen y Semejanza” 6th Call for Artistic Projects Award, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo Ministry of Education and Culture, Montevideo, Uruguay Artwork: “Merienda Divertida” 1st Prize, Art Express Competition "Diversity and Family" - Llamale H, Montevideo, Uruguay 2011 Nomination for Best Art Director in Film, film Reus Awards from the Association of Film Critics of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
AWARDS
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT 2024 Artistic Coordinator and Curator, together with Delfina Martínez IV Trans Art Week Festival organized by the Diversity Secretariat of Montevideo City Hall Montevideo, Uruguay December 1 - April 13, 2024 2022 Guest Curator for the exhibitions Transur and Guerreras Futuras by Sofía Saunier Festival d’Art et Créations Trans, Lyon, France October 27 - November 7 Curatorial team member for “Veiculo Sur” in France. This international artist residency program is a project by Plataforma Pluss with selected artists from France, Germany, Finland, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay Antre Paeux, Bourges, France April 2022 2021 Curator - Invited to collaborate with the curatorial team of the Festival d’Art et Créations Trans Lyon / Paris, France November 5 - 7, Lyon, November 13, Paris 2020 Curator - Curatorial team member from Uruguay “Veiculo Sur”, international artist residency program Plataforma Plus, France, Germany, Finland, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay July 11 - November 10, 2020 2019 Curator “Decolonization of the Body, North - South” Dance residency led by Canadian choreographer Brian Solomon and Argentine choreographer Carla Morales, focusing on the artistic training and development of trans people and non-binary dancers. National Institute of Performing Arts + SAT, Rivera / Montevideo, Uruguay March 18 - 23, 2019 Curator, together with Delfina Martínez “II Trans Art Symposium,” Argentina, Brazil, France, and Uruguay Plataforma Plus, Outburst Queer Art Festival, University of the Republic, and SAT Faculty of Information and Communication, Montevideo, Uruguay April 5, 2019 Artistic Coordinator and Curator, together with Delfina Martínez III Trans Art Week Festival organized by the Diversity Secretariat of Montevideo City Hall Montevideo, Uruguay December 1 - April 5, 2019 2018 Curator “Decolonization of the Body” Dance seminar led by Canadian choreographer Brian Solomon, focusing on the artistic training and development of trans people and non-binary dancers. National Institute of Performing Arts + SAT, Montevideo, Uruguay July 9 - 13, 2018 Curator, together with Delfina Martínez “I Trans Art Symposium,” Northern Ireland, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay British Council, Outburst Queer Art Festival, and SAT. Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Montevideo, Uruguay April 14, 2018 Artistic Coordinator and Curator, together with Delfina Martínez “II Trans Art Week” Festival organized by the Diversity Secretariat of Montevideo City Hall Montevideo, Uruguay April 9 - 15, 2018
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT/ CURATORIAL PROJECTS
FESTIVALS 2022 Festival d’Art et Créations Trans, Lyon, France October 27 - November 7 2019 Festival d’Art et Créations Trans, Lyon, France October 30 - November 10, 2019 2018 Festival Risco, São Paulo, Brazil December 6 - December 16, 2018 Festival de Arte Queer / Casa Brandon, Buenos Aires, Argentina December 5 - December 6, 2018 Montevideo Comics, Montevideo, Uruguay June 16 - June 17, 2018 2017 Outburst Queer Art Festival, invited by the British Council, Belfast, Northern Ireland November 10 - November 18, 2017 LesGaiCineMad, invited by Fundación Triángulo, Madrid, Spain November 2 - November 9, 2017 2016 Llamale H 10 años, Jury of the Second Express Art Contest, Montevideo, Uruguay September 14 - September 23, 2016
INVITATION / PARTICIPATION IN FESTIVALS
WORKSHOPS / CONVERSATIONS 2021 "Cráter Program #12" Session #12 dedicated to cultural projects related to LGBT+ activism by Cráter, a program of activities conceived as a meeting point for artists, curators, researchers, designers, illustrators, wanderers, or anyone involved in creative fields. Sala de Arte Joven de la Comunidad de Madrid, Spain October 6, 2021 2021 "Solís Inclusivo" Talk on art, diversity, and inclusion focused on theater workers to generate policies and actions within the institution. Teatro Solís, Montevideo, Uruguay August 6, 2021 2020 "Introvisual, online" Centro Cultural de España, Montevideo, Uruguay April 17 - May 8, 2020 "Armarios Abiertos, Sexual Diversity in Ibero-American Culture" Cycle of online conversations for International LGBTQ+ Pride Day Network of Cultural Centers of the AECID June 29, 2020 2019 "Supers Divers" Creation and illustration workshop with a diversity perspective aimed at children. Festival d’Art et Créations Trans Bibliothèque Municipale de Lyon, Lyon, France November 6, 2019 "The Public is Political, Never Back to the Closet", conversation Semana de la Diversidad de Colonia Bastión del Carmen, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay September 21-22, 2019 Semana de la Democracia, Human Libraries Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency of the Republic September 15, 2019 "Workshop of Diverse Characters" Intendencia de Montevideo Friki Fest, Montevideo, Uruguay September 4, 2019 2018 "Curating as Gesture" Festival Risco Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Brazil December 11, 2018 Semana de la Democracia, Human Libraries Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency of the Republic September 15, 2018 Gender Diversity and Identity Workshop with Art Clubs Semana de la Diversidad de Colonia Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay September 6, 2018 Microutopías "Printed Art Fair," Pecha Kucha 20 x 20 Talk Centro Cultural de España, Montevideo, Uruguay June 8, 2018 2017 "A Imagen y Semejanza" Workshops for children Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo, Montevideo, Uruguay February, 2017 "Viejas infancias" Creative Space and conversation for LGBT+ older adults LesGaiCineMad Fundación 26 de Diciembre, Madrid, Spain November 5, 2017
WORKSHOPS / CONVERSATIONS
PUBLICATIONS 2019 Graphic Story “Furia Amarilla” - Author and Illustrator El Alto, Latin American Queer Art, p. 263 Magazine edited by the British Council and Outburst Arts, Latin America and the United Kingdom 2019 Graphic Novel “Teen Trans, Héros sans identité secrète” - Author and Illustrator Edited by Festival d’Art et Créations Trans, Lyon, France 2018 Graphic Novel “Teen Trans, Héroes sin identidad secreta” - Author and Illustrator First manga featuring four transgender characters from Latin America Editorial Muchas Nueces, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2017 Book “Arte Trans, diversidad de género, disidencia y derecho a la cultura” Authors: Mariana Percovich, Leho De Sosa, and Marcela Schenk’s report Edited by Montevideo City Hall, Montevideo, Uruguay
PUBLICATIONS
GRAPHIC DESIGN 2019 “I’m a rainbow too” - Art for graphic image Beyond Homophobia Biennial Kingston, Jamaica Design Rights and Opportunities for Trans People Ministry of Social Development Montevideo, Uruguay Design Rights for Migrant People in Uruguay Ministry of Social Development Montevideo, Uruguay 2018 “Cake Daddy” - Visual Design and Costumes Queer and fat-activist work Outburst Art Festival 2018, Belfast, Northern Ireland Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019, Sydney, Australia 2017 “Identidades” - Art for graphic image International Film Festival Llamale H Montevideo, Uruguay “Bienvenidxs Todxs” - Creation, development, and direction of the public campaign Goal: promote health care rights for LGBTQ+ adolescents Inter-American Institute of Human Rights and Montevideo City Hall Funded by the Embassy of Canada in Uruguay and UNFPA Montevideo, Uruguay
GRAPHIC DESIGN
FILM / ADVERTISING / AUDIOVISUAL 2005 - 2021 Art Director in Advertising Film Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, UK, USA, Italy, Australia 2021 Set Decorator Series "El Presidente", Season 2, Amazon Prime Produced by Gaumont - Salado Media - Amazon Studios 2017 "Bienvenidxs Todxs" Creation, development, and production of four animated pieces, public awareness campaign Inter-American Institute of Human Rights and the Intendencia de Montevideo Financed by the Embassy of Canada in Uruguay and UNFPA 2011 Art Director in Film "Reus" Co-production Uruguay - Brazil Sueko Films, Salado Media, and Panda Filmes 2009 - 2014 Filmmaker - Director in Advertising Film National and international campaigns and pieces Argentina - Chile - Puerto Rico Salado UnLtd, Uruguay 2008 Art Director in Film "Paisito" Co-production Uruguay - Argentina - Spain La Jolla Films, Haddock Films & Tornasol Films 2004 TV Director "El Espejo" Fashion Magazine Montecarlo Televisión, Montevideo, Uruguay