Cuban Contemporary Painters

Her Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Romania, Déborah Leticia Ojeda VALEDÓN, together with the Rotenberg-Uzunov Art Gallery and the Rădulescu Galleries, are pleased to invite you to the opening of the exhibition "Cuban Contemporary Painters", Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 6:30 PM, at the contemporary art hub hosted by The Lobby in 68-70 Calea Victoriei, Bucharest.

The event celebrates the broad approach of an initiative to bring together international contemporary art expressions, taking this particular opportunity to bring a Cuban fragrance to the heart of Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

The selection of participants who will exhibit their work at The Lobby includes contemporary artists both young and experienced, who have in common the Cuban mark they left with their works across the world.

Michel Mirabal (1974) comes from a family with relevant cultural roots, whose most notorious representatives on the artistic scene are his paternal grandmother, singer and actress Martha Jean-Claude and his aunt, opera singer Linda Mirabal. Creator of 11 representative series of iconic elements of human nature and the native environment, into which he incorporates the nuances of his own experiences and ideals, thereby creating a symbiosis between Cuban culture and the perceptions of an international spirit.

Betzi Arias López (1971) is a remarkable artist who ventured into various cultural projects, many of them philanthropic in nature, such as "El festin del gato" and "Sonarawake" (to improve the quality of life of children without filial protection). She began to participate in collective exhibitions in 2009, and has gone on to take part in notable artistic projects, such as the multi-disciplinary art experiment coordinated by fellow artist Diana Balboa. Her works feature in private collections in Argentina, Portugal, France, USA, Brazil, Venezuela, and Spain.

Diana Balboa (1945) is a painter, ceramicist, and multi-media artist, awarded with the Distinction for National Culture, the "Cuban Woman March 8" Prize on behalf of the Federation of Cuban Women, a replica of Maximo Gomez's machete by the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the "Pearl of the South" Gratitude Order of Cienfuegos, and many other national and artistic prizes and medals. She has given art classes and conferences in Cuba, Peru, Venezuela, Spain, and Mexico. She has been a juror in many artistic competitions and exhibitions.

Sándor González Vilar (1977), dubbed "the titan of charcoal" due to his artistic style and process, during which an initial, realistic sketch may or may not stabilise and take definitive shape on the canvas, cardboard, or his other chosen medium, becoming something that could not be farther away from dilettantism and academicism. He has also worked in cinema, and makes video art and installations using 16 mm and 8 mm projectors. With over 50 solo shows and 160 group exhibitions in Cuba and abroad, his work can be found in private collections in his native country and all over the world. He has a work in the collection of the Vatican Holy See, as a gift to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, former secretary to His Sanctity Benedict XVI. He took part in creating 59 murals, he illustrated books and created album covers, textile prints, and posters.

Yari Delgado (1992) has illustrated children's books and other writings, for Cuban and foreign publishing houses. Her work can be found as cover on many magazines, and she worked with filmmakers on documentaries about the Covid-19 pandemic and on gender inequality (with Lisset Vila and Palomas Productions, 2022). She has exhibited in Brazil, Cuba, Romania, and Italy, and has won competitions in illustration and photography organized by Cuba, UNICEF, and Cittadellarte / Fondazione Pistoletto.

Juan Leo Brower (1973) is a graduate of the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, he has exhibited his work in Austria, Cuba and Spain, and has been a participant in over 30 group shows. His works are found in private collections in Spain, Mexico, Japan, USA, France, China, Romania, UK, Italy, and Cuba. In 2023, he participated in the International Art Festival in Sibiu, SCAF-2023, hosted by the Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu, Romania.

The exhibition will be open between March 13, 2024 - April 10, 2024, at The Lobby, Calea Victoriei no. 68-70, Bucharest.

Looking forward to seeing you there!