Meet, Roberto Rios

Gabriel Roberto Rios was born and raised in El Sobrante, California. Surrounded by art from an early age, he grew up with a mother who was a dancer and a father who was a musician. Drawn to visual storytelling, he studied film and media in Santa Barbara before turning his focus to photography.

In 2016, Rios began to lose a majority of his vision due to a rare autoimmune disorder. After years of treatment, he recovered enough sight to return to photography. The experience summoned a deeper attention to the world around him and a clarity of purpose he hadn't had before.

Rios works across travel and portrait photography, exploring the relationship between people, culture, and place. His images range from documentary style observations to carefully constructed portraits, but are united by a focus on storytelling and human connection.

His latest collection was created in Peru during an assignment with International Nature & Cultural Adventures (INCA), a travel company with more than 50 years of experience leading cultural and nature based expeditions around the world.

He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.