Quito, Ecuador

Collage artist Beto Valencia – better known on social media as Beto Val – came upon his craft almost by accident. While working at his studio in Quito, Ecuador, Beto stumbled upon a massive collection of vintage illustrations. Beto’s imagination ran wild, spurring him to use these illustrations to create animal hybrids, impossible machines, and other surrealist mash-ups. Between the organic feel of the hand-drawn illustrations and Beto’s digital collage techniques, he is able to seamlessly blend different figures in ways that feel natural. His touch of the unexpected in a familiar medium was a perfect match for Vinyl Moon, and we’re excited to showcase some of his creations on this month’s volume. Beto’s art has exploded in popularity over the last few years, with features in Spanish television, commissioned works by Festival Eurocine, and workshops led by the artist for the International Organization of Migrants. You can f nd some of his works in a volume titled *The Great Book of the Imaginary Animal Kingdom*, enjoy his collages on mugs and calendars, or purchase prints on his website.