Julián Esteban Torres López is a cultural architect, artist, and polymath whose work is rooted in the transformative power of storytelling, creativity, and justice. Born in Medellín, Colombia, his identity and creative work are deeply shaped by the rich interweaving of African, European, and Abya Yala Indigenous lineages. As a multiply neurodivergent individual living with multiple chronic health conditions, Julián brings unique perspectives to his roles as a creative and public scholar. His artistic work spans literature, oral storytelling, sonic art, and visual art, while his academic contributions include critical works on Latin American culture, politics, and social systems. As the founder of The Nasiona podcast, he amplifies marginalized voices and preserves critical narratives through conversations with thought leaders, artists, and activists. Through his Decolonizing Storytelling & Artistic Expression workshops, cultural consulting, and community-driven projects, Julián creates spaces where individuals feel empowered to challenge societal norms and embrace, discover, and/or constitute their authentic voices. His approach to culture and scholarship reflects a deep understanding of time as nonlinear and existence as interconnected, allowing him to find patterns in complexity and reveal deeper truths about the human experience.

Julián Esteban Torres López is a cultural architect, artist, and polymath whose work is rooted in the transformative power of storytelling, creativity, and justice. Born in Medellín, Colombia, his identity and creative work are deeply shaped by the rich interweaving of African, European, and Abya Yala Indigenous lineages. As a multiply neurodivergent individual living with multiple chronic health conditions, Julián brings a unique perspective to his role as a creative and public scholar. At the core of his work lies a steadfast commitment to imagination, liberation, and the continual challenging of boundaries—whether in art, culture, or ethics. Navigating the world with a quiet boldness and a deep commitment to collective liberation, Julián thrives at the intersections of identity, disciplines, and paradoxes, embodying the ethos of someone who is both a seeker and a guide.

As an artist, Julián’s work spans literature, oral storytelling, sonic art, visual art, and digital collage, showcasing his extraordinary range and depth. His literary achievements include acclaimed works in short fiction, creative nonfiction, and micro-poetry, which have resonated deeply with diverse audiences. In sonic art, Julián has explored experimental and avant-garde music, often collaborating with other artists to produce unique spoken-word and musical compositions. His visual art includes short films, layered digital collages, and community mural projects, such as those he designed and managed to foster collective creativity and social connection. Each medium he engages with reflects his ability to uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, inviting audiences to pause, reflect, and embrace the complexities of the human experience.

Julián’s intellectual rigor and insatiable curiosity have earned him a reputation as a true polymath. His academic research, particularly in Latin American culture and literature, is informed by a deep understanding of history and its impact on contemporary society. He is the author of Marx’s Humanism and Its Limits: Why Marx Believed We Should Achieve Socialism and Communism Nonviolently and Reporting on Colombia: Essays on Colombia's History, Culture, Peoples, and Armed Conflict, books that provide critical insights into the complexities of political and social systems. In journalism, Julián has contributed thought-provoking articles, columns, and interviews, including those archived in major cultural and historical institutions like the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. His work as a cultural consultant and public scholar has shaped educational programs, media initiatives, and community-driven projects, rethinking how culture and social justice intersect. Julián’s ability to synthesize ideas across disciplines—from academia to creative practice to activism—has positioned him as a thought leader, inspiring innovation and challenging conventional approaches to knowledge and transformation.

As a public scholar, Julián’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and everyday life is reflected in his work across multiple platforms, from published books to his widely respected podcast, The Nasiona. Through this podcast, he interviews thought leaders, artists, and activists, preserving critical narratives and amplifying marginalized voices. His work includes public lectures, workshops, and consulting engagements, where he invites audiences to rethink power dynamics, decolonize storytelling, and engage in conversations that challenge societal norms. Julián’s public scholarship also extends to his role as a curator and educator, having shaped cultural programs that prioritize inclusive narratives and creative expression. He has curated exhibits and designed educational initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration among diverse communities. His leadership is not just in the theories he espouses but in the inclusive, empowering spaces he cultivates—environments where individuals feel heard, valued, and capable of driving change themselves.

Julián’s deep compassion and attunement to the nuances of human emotion make him a gifted communicator and facilitator. His work is characterized by a rare ability to listen beyond words, perceiving the unspoken energies and underlying emotions in any given conversation. This intuitive sensitivity is evident in his workshops, where participants are encouraged to engage authentically, share vulnerably, and connect on a deeper level. Through his Decolonizing Storytelling& Artistic Expression talks and other community events, Julián creates spaces where individuals from all walks of life feel empowered to explore their own narratives, confront their truths, and transform the way they relate to others. His compassionate approach fosters an environment where authenticity flourishes and collective healing is possible, encouraging those involved to embrace both their personal and shared journeys.

At the heart of Julián’s work lies a complex, layered relationship with time—one that defies linearity and embraces the fragmented, cyclical, and simultaneous nature of existence. His artistry and scholarship reflect an ongoing conversation between past, present, and future, often collapsing them into a single, fluid moment. This approach is particularly evident in his flash fiction, micro-poetry, and his book Ninety-Two Surgically Enhanced Mannequins: A Micro-Poetry Collection, where fragmented moments and overlapping timelines create a fluid narrative that captures the complexity of lived experience. In his writing, time is not a mere progression but a dynamic force—where various eras, memories, and futures collide, intertwining to form new meanings and insights.

In his academic work, particularly in his research on Colombia’s armed conflict, he explores how historical legacies inform the present while simultaneously forecasting potential futures. Julián’s creative process mirrors this approach, as he weaves diverse influences and experiences into a tapestry that reflects the nonlinear ebb and flow of time. Rather than experiencing time as a linear progression, his work embraces the idea of it as an interconnected, ever-shifting cycle—one where moments from all eras can influence and inform one another. Julián’s multifaceted practice operates as an ecosystem, where diverse influences—from academic theory to artistic expression to lived experience—interact to fuel his ability to find coherence in complexity. Whether in his research or his artistic work, he seeks patterns in what others may perceive as chaotic, revealing deeper truths that speak to the human experience across time.

As a culture architect, Julián transcends the role of a mere creator—he is a curator of freedom, designing and leading cultural initiatives that empower individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and oppressive systems. Through his work, he enables people to reclaim their agency as cultural creators and changemakers. Julián has founded and/or led numerous projects that reflect his belief in collective empowerment, including galleries, museums, a podcast (The Nasiona), magazines, conferences, open mics, a poetry slam, writing workshops, readings, music showcases, and film screenings. He has also mentored and sponsored hundreds of artists and culture makers, nurturing the next generation of creative leaders. His Decolonizing Storytelling workshops, for instance, encourage participants to challenge hegemonic narratives and discover their authentic voices. Julián’s leadership style prioritizes collaboration and inclusivity—by creating spaces for open dialogue and mutual respect, he redefines leadership as an act of collective growth and shared vision. Whether curating cultural events, guiding organizations in social justice-focused consulting, or fostering community-driven artistic initiatives, his work is rooted in the belief that culture is a transformative force that shapes and empowers communities.

Julián’s life philosophy is deeply rooted in embracing unfinishedness and honoring the journey over the destination. This perspective allows him to approach his work and life with humility, curiosity, and a deep openness to continual evolution. Whether in his creative endeavors, like the exploration of fragmented narratives in his flash fiction and micro-poetry, or his advocacy for marginalized voices, Julián remains committed to the idea that growth is not linear—it is a process of constant adaptation and learning. His work as a public scholar, for example, reflects his belief in the ongoing dialogue between knowledge, experience, and action, as he continually seeks to bridge the gap between academic theory and lived reality. Similarly, his personal interactions are guided by an openness to learning from others, creating space for diverse perspectives to enrich his own. Julián embodies the notion that life is a mosaic—each experience, whether joyous or challenging, contributes to the larger picture. He approaches each moment with an awareness that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, and that the beauty of life lies in the continuous unfolding of its many interconnected pieces.

In every aspect of his life and work, Julián is both a mirror and a beacon. He reflects back to others their inherent strengths, potential, and humanity, while also illuminating paths they might not have seen. His presence is transformative, inviting individuals to explore their own depths, celebrate their contradictions, and engage with the liberatory power of creativity and culture. Whether through his role as a mentor to emerging artists, his workshops that challenge limiting beliefs, or his advocacy for marginalized communities, Julián empowers others to recognize and harness their own creative agency. His work is a constant invitation to confront what holds us back and embrace the complexities that make us whole, seeing contradiction as a source of strength and resilience.

Julián Esteban Torres López is more than a storyteller or an intellectual—he is a harmonizer of complexity, a sculptor of energy, and an advocate for growth. Through his creative projects, public scholarship, and cultural leadership, he demonstrates that liberation is not a singular moment but an ongoing practice—one that requires listening to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us with care, courage, and imagination. Whether through his decolonizing storytelling workshops, his cultural organizing, or his writings that challenge the boundaries of genre and form, Julián shows us that liberation begins with the willingness to question, to embrace contradiction, and to create spaces where everyone can grow and evolve.