Layered Lives: The Art of Nine Contemporary Cuban Women from the Discoveries in Art • Certilman Family Collection

“There have been surprisingly few surveys of contemporary Cuban women artists. This exhibition aims to shed light on women’s significant contributions to the cultural fabric of their country and beyond. The works showcased span the last 30 years and feature a selection of nine contemporary artists: Ariamna Contino, Aimée García Marrero, Rocío García de la Nuez, Alejandra Glez, Elsa Mora, Mabel Poblet Pujol, Sandra Ramos, Adislen Reyes, and Linet Sánchez Gutiérrez. While half of the artists continue to reside permanently in Cuba, others, such as Ramos, Mora, and García Marrero, have emigrated to the United States. Some, like Contino and Poblet, have residences in both Cuba and Spain. Despite geographical distances, they remain deeply connected to their heritage and share common values, as reflected in their works, which bear witness to the enduring impact Cuba has had on their multilayered lives.

In contrast, Poblet, Glez, Sánchez, Reyes, and Contino, born later in the 1980s, began their careers amidst a growing awareness of the world beyond, facilitated by increased tourism and opportunities for artists abroad. Despite these divergent backgrounds, most of the artists in this exhibition received their training at the country’s prestigious art schools: the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) and the Academia de Bellas Arts de San Alejandro.