Rikii Altamirano

Rikii Altamirano is a visual artist and expanded photographer from Timor-Leste, currently based in Bristol, UK. Moving beyond traditional documentary photography, his practice explores post-independence identity and the lived reality of the Timorese diaspora. Altamirano creates intentional narratives that challenge the digital erasure and algorithmic flattening of his community online, treating the photographic print as a sculptural material to be cut, stitched, and woven.

Grounded in traditional textile motifs and material resistance, his expanded practice has garnered substantial international recognition. His work has been exhibited across Australia, Italy, and the UK, earning accolades including a Portrait of Britain winner (2025), third place in the International Photography Awards (self-published book category, 2025), an Association of Photographers Finalist (2026), an honourable mention by FotoSlovo (2026), and shortlistings by the National Gallery London and the Royal Photographic Society (2026).