About Altino Villasante:
Born in 1966, Altino was the only child of farmers in the small village of Conima, in the department of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca at the southern tip of the Peruvian Andes. At the age of seven, Altino was moved to Lima after his father abandoned the family. The goal was to travel to, and settle in, the United States. Due to various legal details, Altino had to stay in Lima for more than 20 years. It was during this time that he discovered his talent and joy for drawing and painting. When Altino graduated high school, he was accepted into the Escuela de Bellas Artes for his drawing skills. He briefly studied architecture but found himself going back to drawing and painting. By age 18, Altino was selling his work professionally and winning many national art competitions, including the National Watercolor Contest organized by the Peruvian North American Cultural Institute.
