She’s known as Leona out on the streets of Chile because of her pop, and that’s badass. But, in Europe, she’s Carolina Gamboa - and everybody knows her for her unmistakable style. She serves speed and control merged with a punkastic attitude. She’s 32 now, has been skating 18 years, and, throughout the past 7, she’s been based in Berlin -  where she works at the skate shop, travels around Europe on her skateboard, and ceases opportunities that bind her skating and her art together.

You see, she’s also a multidisciplinary artist who, apparently, can’t be satisfied with only one way to express herself. From board graphics to installations, collage, air spraying, videography and film photography - while most of us stick to one passion, she’s had a go at every art form you can imagine. The underlying philosophy of her art, she says? The punk spirit, mixed with a strong tendency to reject fakeness and question everything. Amen, sister!

Words: Letícia Nogueira

Photos: Raisa Abal

Caro, or, as they call her in Chile, Leona, as in lioness, because of her solid ollies!

 

What’s good Caro, how are you doing right now?

Hey Leti! I’m good, hyped to be doing this! Just back from a skate trip in the Netherlands. It was my first time there, and it was really cool.

First off, why do they call you Leona?

When I was younger, I had crazy, long, curly hair, and had quite a proper pop to my ollies! Some friends told me I jumped high and strong, like a lioness, so that’s where the nickname comes from. But silly me, since I came to Europe, I started calling myself Caro and Carolina again. I wanted to be formal, but I feel I fucked it up, Leona is actually epic to me! People back home know me by Leona, they don’t even know my real name!

Yeah, Leona is cool, I reckon we can bring it back. Speaking of ollies, what gets you most stoked to skate usually? 

Watching skate videos! I'm a fucking nerd sometimes.

Sick! Go on, like what skate videos are you hyped on at the moment?

I really liked Brett Weinstein’s part in Static VI. I always dig the Static videos, but this part especially, because of the music and the way it’s filmed. The spot selection is incredible and Chicago looks cool. Also Emilio Dafour’s part for Free, Nini, and the interview that goes with it is really good as well. Been a while since I saw a part like that, that made me so hyped and want to try new things.

“I look up to my Carhartt WIP teammates so much! They’re all insanely unique in their style.”

Noseblunt yank-in.

You skate for a bunch of exciting brands which seem to fit you really well, Carhartt WIP being one of them. They’ve even put out a collab with clothing and boards with your artwork a couple of years ago… That seems really special.

It’s been a crazy ride, because it all started from that collab. That’s when they started considering me for artwork. To be honest, I don’t know how to explain it, but Carhartt has been taking me places and giving me opportunities that I never expected before. I’m from South America, from the end of the world, so I never imagined I’d end up where I am right now. Poetic Collective and CHPO have really trusted and supported me too, which I really appreciate. Some of my teammates in Carhartt WIP are people that I look up to so much in terms of skating, which is really fun to me. My younger self wouldn’t believe where I am at the moment.

Yes, Carhartt WIP has such a powerhouse team at the moment when it comes to girls. You get to skate and travel with them much?

Really, what an amazing line-up of crazy powerful teammates, all of those girls are so insanely unique in their style. They have Maité, Marine, Maria, Lilly… I haven’t gone on many trips with all of them, but I wish something can come up with all the girls together one day. I know it’s hard, when there are so many riders. It’s a powerful team in general, the trips are always awesome, but it’s also a big team - which seems like a lot of work for Joseph and Etienne, I have massive respect for them. Recently I got to join Marine on a boat trip in Finland with Justus Irvin, Carhartt photographer, and it was an amazing experience. Marine almost sank us when driving the boat, I was scared! 

That boat trip sounds insane, is that something you can tell us more about? And what other places have you been around on adventures with them?

We’ve been to a couple of events all over Europe, like Lyon, Frankfurt and Vienna… I don’t know if I can talk too much but the boat trip, but it was a one of a lifetime experience. It’s a book project from Justus Irvin that he’s been working on for like 5 years. It will come out summer 2026 which I’m so thankful for the experience, and for being part of it.

"I hated make-up when I was a kid, but I think it helped with my confidence."

What plans do you have for the rest of the year? 

I’ll be finishing filming for all of my skate projects soon and, to be honest, right now, I just want to get some problems out of the way and get better. I just need to apply for my visa again, so I really don't have any goals right now. I need to at least try it one more time and see; but I can’t see so much future when someone else has to decide for me.

I know it’s hard to sum up, but how did you end up in Berlin all the way from Chile, and how’s that ride been?

It's a rollercoaster. I came to Europe just for a three-month trip, not thinking I would end up staying. I went to Barcelona, actually, just thinking that I needed to get way from some dark times back home. I didn't come to make it in the sponsors field or to lurk for opportunities, as others often do. When I saw a chance to stay, I stayed here to change my life, because I didn't know when I’d be able to come back. I had amazing people on my side that pushed me to apply for a visa, so, for that reason, I stayed in Berlin. I didn’t speak a word of English. I felt like an alien in Berlin - so I stayed, and took it as a challenge. I still haven’t gone back home after 7 years, I still struggle with the language barrier, and I haven’t really felt motivated enough to integrate into German society. It’s super individualistic, in my opinion. But this city has given me amazing friends from all over, and a better life. Just always fighting for staying is mentally draining me. I hope Europeans appreciate the privilege and freedom that a European passport can give and how much they can help others with it too.

“I felt like an alien in Berlin - so I stayed, and took it as a challenge.”

Working at Civilist skate shop, is it like every skater’s dream? How do you end up working at the skate shop?

I was getting kicked out of whatever other jobs I had, with all the skate trips, even if I was showing up all the time. I’ve been working there for about 3 years now. This is probably the dream job for any skater that has opportunities to travel around, it can be very flexible.

You have a distinct style of make-up you always wear and refer to as ‘your drag’. Any reason why you feel naked without it?

Life’s a drag show, we’re all wearing masks. Shantay you stay or sashay away! You choose! I hated make-up when I was a kid, but I think it helped with my confidence, or to just make up my shitty mood face. I don’t know, now I just put some red lipstick on and red eye shade but nothing else. A little girly vibes in my tomboy style. 

"My younger self wouldn’t believe where I am at the moment."

Tell us about the art you make. You do all kinds of everything, from board graphics to installations, from collage and film photography to making videos, air spraying and making little dolls… Why isn’t just one medium enough for you? And what’s one particular artistic medium you’re nerding out on lately?

I’ve never been a person with one main focus. Skateboarding, or the streets, taught me everything that I know. I’m nerding out on printing techniques in photography lately. I just love to do anything that comes to my mind at that moment. I didn’t have the chance to go to university, didn’t have it figured out when I finished school, and I didn’t come from a good situation, so being multidisciplinary opened many doors to me in terms of work. I’m hyped to keep teaching myself new things all the time. I’m also getting into how to use software like Photoshop and so on. I recently borrowed a friend’s laptop, I didn’t own one for years, so I appreciate that a lot. It helps me keep up with the times!

So what would you say is the main philosophy, if there is one, that drives you and inspires your art in all its different forms?

I don’t know if there’s one specific philosophy. Maybe a punk philosophy. I had many shitty life experiences and that way of thinking gave me the confidence to go on. Slowly, I learned how to communicate a little better and not frown so much. Sometimes I can be very outspoken and problematic, but I can't just shut up! I reject fakeness. That’s also where my art will often reflect things that happen in my life. Also - question everything!

“Sometimes I can be very outspoken and problematic, but I can't just shut up! I reject fakeness.”

Rock and wallie!