Humberto Castro
Humberto Castro was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1957. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts San Alejandro and Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana.
He works in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics and installations. In his early years, he also delved into performance art, especially using it as a vehicle for social criticism in his country.
He is one of the most active members of the group widely recognized as the “Generation of the 80s” in Cuba, which generated changes in the aesthetic and conceptual art scene of the island.
In 1983 he founded the team Hexagon in which, alongside other artists, he mounted installations aimed at provoking public participation in the work. Between 1980 and 1984 he produces an extensive body of graphics, particularly innovating in the intaglio technique. He has designed sets for theater and film in Cuba.
In 1989 he emigrated to Paris, France, where he lived for ten years and became active in the Parisian intellectual scene, holding exhibitions and giving conferences across Europe. In 1999 he moved to the United States, where he lives and works.
Since the beginning of his career, he has received numerous international awards, and his work is present in notable museum and private collections. His work and artistic attitude have influenced subsequent generations of artists within Cuba.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
1980
Hallazgos, Teatro Mella, La Habana, Cuba
1982
Blanco y Negro, Galería Galiano, La Habana, Cuba
1985
Calcografías y Litografías, Galería Habana, La Habana, Cuba
Calcografías, Casa del joven talento, Berlín, Alemania
Calcografías, Club impulso, Berlín, Alemania
Galería Academia de Artes Plásticas, Varsovia, Polonia
1986
Pinturas y grabados, Museo de Santa Clara, Cuba
1989
Poder y Existencia, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, La Habana, Cuba
1990
Nature Vivante, Le Cercle Lucas Carlton, Paris, Francia
1992
Humberto Castro Peintures, Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, Francia
Temporalidad y el Teatro del cuerpo, Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, Florida
New Works, Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, Francia
Paintings and drawings, Espace CIO, Limousin, Francia
1993
L’envol d’Icare, Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, Francia
Temporalidad y el Teatro del cuerpo, Centro de Arte Euro-Americano, Caracas, Venezuela
Art Chicago Fair, Ambrosino Gallery, Chicago
Art Miami Fair, Ambrosino Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
1994
Erótica (performance), Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, Florida
Minotauro, Galerie Got, Barbizon, Francia
1995
Le Radeau de Ulises, Le Monde De L’Art, Paris, France
Minotaur in His Labyrinth: Seven Forms of Escape, Seven Forms of Entrapment, Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, Florida
Minotauro en su Laberinto: Siete Formas de Encierro, Siete Formas de Escape, Galería Nina Menocal, Mexico City, Mexico
Minotauro, Galería Corinne Timsit, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Art Chicago Fair, presented by Ambrosino Gallery, Chicago
Art Miami Fair, presented Ambrosino Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida
1996
Minotauro en su Laberinto, National Gallery of Jamaica, Jamaica
Galerie Got, Barbizon, France
1997
Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, France
Pan American Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Madrid Art Fair Arco’97, represented by Le Monde de L’Art, Madrid, Spain
1998
Retrospective exhibition 1989-1998, Chapelle de Jésuites, Nîmes, France
Paintings and drawings, Sicardi-Sanders Gallery, Houston, Texas
1999
Traversée (in memory of his friend and art dealer Raphael Doueb,) Le Monde de L’Art, Paris
New Works, Galerie Got, Barbizon, France
New Works, Galerie Fardel, Le Touquet, France
2000
Galerie Got, Saint Paul de Vence, Francia
Galerie Fardel, Le Touquet, Francia
Humberto Castro The Paris Years: 1989-1999, Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2002
Fuga, Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, Florida
2003
Main in Detresse, Mosquera Orthodontics, Miami, Florida
The Hunter, the House and the Bait, Kendall Campus Art Gallery, Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida
2004
Humberto Castro, Panamerican Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2006
Humberto Castro: Paintings and Drawings 1990-2005, ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida
2007
Humberto Castro – paintings, Naomi Silva Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2008
Humberto Castro: Contemporary Fables, ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida
Humberto Castro: New Cities, Allen Sheppard Gallery, Nueva York
2009
Pies secos pies mojados, Museo de las Américas, Cuartel de Ballajá, Viejo San Juan Puerto Rico
2010
Draw-Wings: A Retrospective 1990-2010, Cremata Gallery, Miami, Florida
Traces of Migrations, ArtSpace / Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida
Selected Group Exhibitions
1977
Alumnos de San Alejandro, Sala Talía, Havana, Cuba
Arte en Madera, Museo de Artes Decorativas, Havana, Cuba
1981
Traveling exhibition of graphics through Latin America
Exhibition of Graphics, XIV Lujbliana Biennial, Yugoslavia
La Generación de La Esperanza Cierta, Taxco Museum, Mexico City, Mexico
1982
Retrospectiva de Arte Joven, Havana, Cuba
Landscape, Salon at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba
5+1, Galería Espacio Latinoamericano, Paris, France
Grandes Maestros y Jóvenes Pintores, Galería Universitaria and Museo Ayacucho, Venezuela
1983
Siete Artistas Contemporáneos, Museo De Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid, Spain
Plástica Contemporánea, Museo Nacional in Bogota, Colombia
Encuentro Michoacano de Textil, organized by Marta Palau, México City, Mexico
Hexagon Group, Galería Habana, Havana, Cuba
1984
Joan Miro Competition, Spain
III Graphic Arts Biennial, Bradford, England
20 Pintores Contemporáneos, Galerie Place de La Defence, Paris, France
20 Pintores Contemporáneos, IFA Gallery, Bonn, Germany
La Caída de Ícaro, Salon UNEAC, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba
Forum Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany
First Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba
1985
Etchings, Center for Radio and the Press in Warsaw, Berlin, Germany
Etchings, Home of New Talent, Berlin, Germany
1986
Pintores Cubanos, Galerie Schwerin, Berlin, Germany
Arte con La Sonrisa, Rome and Milan, Italy
Decollages, joint project with the Italian artist Mimo Rotella, Second Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba
Installation Caida de Icaro II, Second Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba
Paintings and Prints, Museo de Santa Clara, Cuba
1987
Cuatro Artistas Cubanos, Galería Realidades, Río de Janeiro and in the Palacio de la Cultura, Bello Horizonte, Brazil
La Joven Imagen, Casa de Las Américas, Havana, Cuba
XIX International Festival of Painting, Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France
4 en 1, Galería Habana, Havana, Cuba
Blue Life Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil
1988
Signs of Transition 80’s Art from Cuba, Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art, New York
Arte Cubano, Palacio de la Recoleta and Galería CAYC, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Changing Opinion, Ontario Museum of Art The Forest City Gallery in London, Ontario, Canada
Changing Opinion, 76 Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1989
Center of Contemporary Arts, Corbeil-Essonnes, France
Trayctoire Cubaine, Centre d’Art Contemporain Pablo Neruda, Paris, France
Trayctoire Cubaine, Galerie Nesle, Paris, France
Traiettoria Cubana, Museo Civico d’Arte Contemporanea di Gibellina, Italy
Traiettoria Cubana, Comuna di Orvieto, Italy
Museo Fondazione Famiglia Piccolo di Calanovella, Capo d’Orlando, Sicily
Le Cercle Lucas Carlton, Paris, France
Galerie Akie Aricchi, Paris, France
Galería Almirante, Spain
1991
Auctions Latin American Art, The Hotel Drouot, Paris, France
Auctions Latin American Art, Neuilly, Paris, France
La Spirale Eternelle, Salon de la Jeune Peinture, Paris, France
Salon Fundation Battistoni, Paris, France
Tate, Tate Gallery, Madrid, Spain
Papier et Volupté, Galerie Akié Aricchi, Paris, France
1992
Visa Pour un Nouveau Monde: 62 Artistes d’Amérique Latine, Espace Chevreuil, Nanterre, France
L’eau, Galerie Akié Aricchi, Paris, France
Pinturas y Dibujo, Museum of Art and History, Río de Janeiro, Brazil
1993
Saga’93, Gran Palais, Paris, France
Galerie Akié Aricchi, Paris, France
Notre Amérique Latine, Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, France
La Vendetta, (sponsored by Valentino) Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, France
Journal de Corps (book of erotic lithographs with poems by the Greek poet Dimitri T. Analis), Galerie Akié Aricchi, Paris, France
1994
Art Miami Fair, represented by Ambrosino Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Operamanía, Gran Hotel de L’Opera, Toulouse, France
Art Animal et Compagnie…, the Musée d’ Art Moderne, Troyes, France
Roma, Le Monde de L’Art, Paris, France
1995
Gary Nader Latin American Auction ’95, Gary Nader Gallery, Miami, Florida Petit Format, Galerie Akié Aricchi, Paris, France
1996
The Other Journey, (installation Out of Africa,) Kent Hall Kermes, Austria
Au Tour d’Aimée Cesair, (traveling exhibition through French-speaking countries,) UNESCO, Paris, France
Salón de Pintura Latinoamericana y del Caribe, sponsored embassy of Colombia, Paris, France
1997
Latin American, Carré Sainte Anne, Montpellier, France
1998
Pour Regarder le Siècle en Face, (organized by Anick T. Melssan),Cultural Center Zac Bouillée, Martinique
In and Out of Cuba, Pan American Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Far From Cuba, Musée des Tapisseries, Aix-en-Provence, France
Recent Works, Galerie Got, Barbizon, France
1999
Visiones Contemporáneas, Galería Lyle O. Reitzel, Dominican Republic
2000
Hidden Images, Lehigh University Art Galleries, Pennsylvania
Gary Nader Latin American Auction 2000, Gary Nader Gallery, Miami, Florida
Art Miami Fair, represented by Ambrosino Gallery, Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida
2001
Visiones Contemporáneas, Gallery Lyle O. Reizel, Santo Domingo
2003
Art Miami Fair, presented by Galerie Got, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida
Auction 2003, Latin American Graphics and Works on Paper, Museum of Latin American Art, California
Contemporary Cuban Art in New York, (silent auction,) Bill Maynes Gallery, New York
!Abre los Ojos! Arte de Cuba 1982-1992, Hans der Kunst, Graz, Austria
31 Artistas Cubanos Contemporáneos en Chile, Galeria BordeRio, Santiago de Chile, Chile
2004
Art Miami Fair, Frederic Got Fine Art, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
The Soul of Latin American Art, Lurie Fine Art Gallerie, Boca Raton, Florida
Miguel D’Arienzo, Humberto Castro & Lionel Matheau, Lurie Fine Art Gallerie, Boca Raton, Florida
La Barbacoa Group Show 2004, Cernuda Arte, Coral Gables, Florida
First Internacional Human Form Show, Kent Gallery, Key West, Florida
2005
Important Cuban Artworks, Volume Three, Cernuda Arte, Coral Gables, Florida
La Barbacoa Group Show 2005, Cernuda Arte, Coral Gables, Florida
27 Artistas Cubanos al Auxilio: An Exhibition and Silent Auction of Contemporary Cuban Art in Exile, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida
2006
Artistas Cubanos al Auxilio: An Exhibition and Silent Auction of Contemporary Cuban Art in Exile, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida
Arte de Cuba, Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Brasil
Arte America Art Fair, Cernuda Arte Gallery, Miami, Florida
Arte Cubano 2006, Cernuda Arte Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida
2007
Arteamericas – The Latin-American Art Fair, presented by ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Important Cuban Artworks Volume Five, Cernuda Arte Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida
Panorama Latinoamericano, ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida
Witches, Bitches and Saints: Myths and Misconceptions, Kendall Campus Art Gallery, Miami, Florida
Open Studios and Group Show, Juvenal Reis Studios, Long Island City, New York
Killing Time, Exit Art Gallery, New York
Cuban Avant-garde, Contemporary Cuban Art from Farber Collection, Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida and John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida
IKF Latinamerican Art Auction, Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundations, Miami, Florida
Auction Exhibition 2007, Contemporary Latin American Art, Museum of Latinamerican Art, (MOLAA,) Long Beach, California
2008
Open Studios, Juvenal Reis Studios, Long Island City, New York
Bridge Art Fair Art-Space/Virginia Miller Galleries, Wynwood, Florida
IKF Latin American Art Auction, Cisneros Fontanals Art Fundation, Miami, Florida
2009
Hacia Paris, Cremata Gallery, Aliance Francesa, Miami, Florida
Arteamericas – The Latin-American Art Fair, presented by PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Open Studios, Juvenal Reis Studios, Long Island City, Nueva York
Art Auction Step by Step Foundation, Coral Gables, Florida
Latin American Painting Now, Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida
Joyas Latinoamericanas, Art-Space/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida
2010
Arteamericas – The Latin-American Art Fair, presented by Cremata Gallery and feature artist with installation “The Hunter, The House and The Bait, Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida
Awards
1979
First honorable mention (painting) in the Raúl Gómez Garcia, Cuba
First honorable mention First Drawing Triennial Arístides Fernández, Cuba
1981
First prize (printmaking) at the Salón de Pequeño Formato, Cuba
First honorable mention (printmaking) in the Salón Trece de Marzo, Cuba
First honorable mention (printmaking) in the Raúl Gómez Garcia, Cuba
1982
First prize (printmaking) at the Salón Trece de Marzo, Cuba
First prize (graphics) at the Concurso Literatura en la Plástica, Cuba
1983
First prize (printmaking) at Encuentro de Grabado`83, Cuba
1984
First prize (drawing) in the Salón Trece de Marzo, Cuba
Frist prize (drawing) in the Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas, Cuba
First international prize (drawing) at the Trienal Intergrafic, Berlín
First international prize (printmaking) at the Trienal de Arte Contra la Guerra, Poland
First Prize (installation) at the Salón UNEAC, Cuba
1986
First Prize (printmaking) VII San Juan Print Biennial, Puerto Rico
1987
First prize (printmaking) Casa de Las Américas, Cuba