Born in Riofrío, Magdalena Department, Lombana demonstrated artistic ability from childhood, carving his first work—a wooden bust of Simón Bolívar—at age four.[1] At sixteen, he won first prize at the IX National Art Salon of Colombia in Cartagena, receiving a scholarship to study in Spain at the Academy of San Fernando, where he studied sculpture and painting for nearly a decade.
He was the brother of Marcel Lombana and Tito Lombana, the latter also a sculptor, renowned for his monument The Old Shoes, created in honour of the poet Luis Carlos López.
In 1961, Lombana created the India Catalina statuette as the trophy for the Cartagena International Film Festival.[2] He contributed to the establishment of the School of Fine Arts in Cartagena and worked on architectural restoration projects including the Cartagena City Hall, Núñez Museum, and Palace of the Inquisition.
From 1970 to 1975, Lombana worked in Venezuela, creating murals including Folclor Llanero and Ícaro at Caracas's Simón Bolívar Airport. He then moved to Puerto Rico, where he spent five years restoring colonial architecture in Old San Juan, including the Cristo Chapel and Archbishop's Palace. During these excavations, he discovered the Santelmo fresco, considered the Caribbean's oldest painting from the 16th century.
In 1980, Lombana relocated to the United States, initially working on the restoration of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and later in St. Augustine, Florida. He settled in Miami, where he established the Premio Esmeralda to recognize Colombian achievements in arts and sciences.
Lombana returned to Colombia in 1990, beginning an extensive career in public art. Notable works include:
- 1992: Los Pegasos (The Pegasus), two monumental winged horses donated to Cartagena
- 1993: Homenaje a la Etnia Tayrona (Tribute to the Tayrona People) in Santa Marta
- 1994: La Fuente de la Solidaridad (The Solidarity Fountain) in Cali
- 1996: Forty sculptures depicting myths and legends of the Coffee Region at the National Coffee Park in Armenia
- 1996: Exaltación a la Paz (Exaltation of Peace) in Pasto, constructed from melted weapons of the 19th of April Movement
- 1998: Sendero Yuma (Yuma Trail) in Barrancabermeja, featuring nine ornamental fountains representing endangered Magdalena River wildlife
In 1999, Lombana moved to Panama, where he created a monument to Arnulfo Arias Madrid and Los Juegos de Antaño (Games of Yesteryear), composed of 21 children's figures and 200 doves, commemorating the X Ibero-American Summit. The latter work was later removed and reportedly stolen.
Lombana returned to Colombia in 2005, proposing various monument projects. In 2007, he inaugurated a monument to Miguel de Cervantes in Cartagena for the Spanish Language Congress.[3]
