Diego Felipe Cadavid

Colombian peacebuilder using art to heal communities affected by conflict

Diego Felipe Cadavid (b. 1990) is a Colombian muralist and community organizer whose Colores de Paz initiative has transformed over 200 conflict-affected neighborhoods through large-scale public art since 2020. Born in Medellín during the height of drug cartel violence, Cadavid studied graphic design in Bogotá before developing a method of collaborating with local residents to create murals that tell their stories of resilience. His most famous project, the 2022 Medellín Wall of Memory, features testimonies of victims from Colombia's 50-year civil conflict. Partnering with UNICEF, his workshops have trained 1,500 youth in art therapy techniques. The project's documentary "Colors of Peace" won a 2023 Human Rights Film Festival award. Cadavid's approach has been adopted in post-war communities in El Salvador and Guatemala, with the EU funding replication programs in 2024. His TED Talk "Walls That Speak" has become a key resource for restorative justice practitioners internationally.