RODRIGO RANGEL DE ALBA - 197 Countries, Infinite Stories.

In August, Lux Photo Lab had the honor of sponsoring our ambassador Rodrigo Rangel de Alba’s very first exhibition and talk at The Ivy Hotel in Chicago.

Rodrigo, who in May completed his extraordinary journey of visiting all 197 countries in the world, presented not only a milestone in travel but a deeply human body of work now gathered under his new brand, RRA 197.

The evening brought together guests from Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and as far away as Denmark, drawn to hear Rodrigo reflect on his decades-long odyssey and to see, for the first time, a selection of his portraits of children from around the world.

In these images, the innocence and resilience of youth are rendered with the same dignity and depth that Rodrigo carries in his storytelling.

His achievement is one shared by fewer than 400 people according to CNN, less than the number of humans who have traveled to space. It is a cheerful reminder that

Rodrigo’s journey is not only rare, but luminous in its defiance of limits, turning the world itself into a classroom and a gallery.

The event unfolded in three movements: an exhibition of portraits, a conference talk, and a candid Q&A session that invited guests into Rodrigo’s process and philosophy.

Every print on display was produced by Lux Photo Lab on Hahnemühle fine art papers, ensuring museum-quality permanence for moments that speak of impermanence,

distance, and shared humanity.

It was an evening of resonance, an intimate gathering where art, travel, and conversation converged, marking the beginning of a new chapter for RRA 197 and

reaffirming the power of photography to bridge worlds.

“The Best University in the World, is the World Itself” Rodrigo Rangel de Alba