BIOGRAPHY

Luis Vega De Castro (born October 4, 1944 in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban artist. Since 1980 he resides in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. He works in graphic design, painting, drawing and illustration, and has been noted for his work in film posters and for his Graphics Comics.

Luis Vega de Castro (La Habana, 4 de octubre de 1944) es un artista cubano. Estudio cerámica, fotografía, artes plásticas  en la Escuela de Bellas Artes San Alejandro y la licenciatura en Historia del Arte en la Universidad de La Habana. Desde 1980 reside en Estados Unidos de América. Ha trabajado en ilustración, diseño de carteles, dibujo y creó un concepto renovado de historietas gráficas publicadas en la revista Cuba Internacional. Actualmente se ha dedicado exclusivamente a la pintura con notable éxito, se le reconoce entre los mejores paisajistas de nivel internacional.

Sus obras son de un realismo extremo que evidencian la meticulosa observación de la figura humana y del paisaje, así como del dominio de la técnica   que al combinarlas logra una realidad inexistente o como el mismo la reconoce, una pintura surrealista, que traslada de lo representativo a un mundo poético, romántico y fantástico. Se trata de una obra que cautiva al observador por medio de la paz y el sosiego que transmiten convirtiéndolas en un espacio deseado, que nos evoca a su natal Cuba por medio de la exuberante vegetación, característica de las áreas tropicales.

EDUCATION

He studied in the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, Havana, Cuba. In 1979, he received his degree in Art History, from Havana University, Havana, Cuba.

EXHIBITIONS

Individual exhibitions

  • Among his must relevant personal exhibitions was the 1973, Los Expedicionarios, Posters Exhibition of UNEAC Gallery, with Pedro Damian, Jorge Dimas and Luis Vega, Sala Rubén Martínez Villena, Havana, Cuba.
  • 1984 “Tertulias San Miguel” Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1985 “Luis Vega” en Key Biscayne Library, Key Biscayne, Florida.
  • 1997 “Elite Fine Art” Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1999 “Elite Fine Art” Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2002 “Elite Fine Art” Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2004 “First Bank of Miami” Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2007 “Sueños y Realidades” Prado Fine Art Collection Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2010 “Galería Artis” Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México DF.

Collective exhibitions

  • 1970 “Cuba Alegre como su Sol” (sponsored by Mario Paioti), Florencia, Italia.
  • 1973 He was included in the ler Festival International d’ Affiches du Cinema, XXVIeme Festival International du Film, in Cannes, France.
  • 1976 VI International Poster Biennale Warsaw, Galeria Zacheta, Varsovia, Polonia.
  • 1979 He was one of the selected artist to conform “1000 Carteles Cubanos de Cine. 20 Años de la Cinematografía Cubana” in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, La Habana.
  • 1981 “Hispanic Week”, Association of Art Critics and Commentators, Miami, Florida
  • 1982 “Roots”, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.
  • 1982 “XXI Premi International de Dibuix Joan Miro”, Spain.
  • 1982 “Association of Art Critics and Commentators”, Miami, Florida.
  • 1983 “CalleOcho Open House”, Miami, Florida.
  • 1983 “Arts Day”, Tallahassee, Florida.
  • 1983 “7th Annual Hialeah Showcase Art Show, Hialeah, Florida.
  • 1984 “A Tribute to Hispanic Art in Miami”, Circle Gallery, Miami, Florida.
  • 1984 “Vision” North Dade Library, Miami, Florida.
  • 1985 “ALLOYAGE 85”, SIBI Cultural Center, Miami, Florida.
  • 1986 “Local Cuban Artits” Cristissa Art Gallery, Miami, Florida.
  • 1986 “Le Petit Format, A Group Show” SIBI Cultural Center, Miami, Florida.
  • 1986 “Today’s Hispanic Art”, De Armas Gallery, Miami, Florida.
  • 1987 “Latin American Drawing”, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
  • 1987 Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, Washington D. C.
  • 1987 “Cintas Fellows Revisited a Decade After”, Metro Dade Cultural Center, Miami, Florida.
  • 1990 “Five from Miami”, St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • 1994 “Latin American Spectrum”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1995 “Absolut Mariel”, South Florida Art Center, Miami Beach, Florida.
  • 1996 “Latin American Spectrum”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1997 ” Design for Life”, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithonian Institution, New York, New York.
  • 1997 “Summer Group Show”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1998 “Latin American Spectrum”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1999 “Summer Group Show”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 1999 “Cuba Nostalgia”, Coconut Grove Convention Center, Miami, Florida.
  • 2000 “Summer Group Show”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2000 “Cuba Nostalgia”, Coconut Grove Convention Center, Miami, Florida.
  • 2000 “20 Years of Art on the Diaspora”, 0 & Y Gallery, Miami, Florida.
  • 2001 “Latin American Spectrum”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2001 “Places in the Heart”, The Art Center, St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • 2002 “Summer Group Show”, Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, Florida
  • 2004 “Artistic Development and Iberoamerican Integration”, One Brickell Square, Miami, Florida.
  • 2004 “Contemporary & Modern Artist” Onate Fine Art, Miami, Florida.
  • 2010 “Farewell to the sea: Remembering el Mariel, Zu Gallery, Miami, Florida.

AWARDS

During his life he has obtained many awards and recognitions, including:

  • 1972 First Prize in a Poster Contest “La Mujer en America Latina”, Cuba.
  • 1972 First Prize in Poster Contest “Proteccion e Higiene al Trabajo”, Cuba.
  • 1981 First Prize in “Contemporary Drawing”, Association of Art Critics and Commentators, Miami, Florida.
  • 1982 “Best of Show”, Calle Ocho Open House, Miami, Florida.
  • 1983 “ARLIS Award”, New York Chapter, Art Library Society of North America, New York, New York.
  • 1983 “Best of Show”, Calle Ocho Open House, Miami, Florida.
  • 1983 “Best of Show”, 7th Annual Hialeah Showcase Art Show, Hialeah, Florida.
  • 1984 First Prize in “Graphics” 8th Annual Hialeah Showcase Art Show, Hialeah, Florida, Primer premio.
  • 1984-1985 He has been awarded with the “Cintas Fellowship”, New York, New York.
  • 1985 First Prize in “Addys Award”, Miami Film Festival, Miami, Florida, Primer premio.
  • 1989 He obtained the “Angel Award” Miami, Florida.

COLLECTIONS

His works are included in relevant collections such as:

  • Cintas Foundation New York, U.S. A.
  • Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematograficos (ICAIC), Havana, Cuba.
  • Museo National de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.
  • “Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)”, Washington D. C., U.S.A..
  • “Transatlantic Bank”, Miami, Florida, U.S.A..
  • “Lowe Art Museum”, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A..
  • “Universidad Autonoma Metropohtana” Mexico D. F., Mexico.


REFERENCES

1. Veiga, Jose (2001). Cuban Art of the 20th Century. California International Arts Foundation,
2. Alvarez Bravo, Armando. «Los paraisos de Luis Vega», El Nuevo Herald, 01/09/02.
3. Gómez Sicre, José (1987). Art of Cuban in Exile. Editorial Munder.
4. Arte. A Contemporary Latin Expression)). Casa & Estilo International Magazine: pp. 244-249.
5. Curras, Myrna. «Luis Vega, Recientes trabajos de un Maestro». Arte al dia, International Magazine of Latin American Fine Arts (77): pp. 40-43.
6. Damian, Carol (1997). «Recent Works». Elite Fine Art.
7. Curras, Myrna. «Luis Vega paraiso añorado: sueños realizados». Arte al dia, International Magazine of Latin American Fine Art (71): pp. 42-45.
8. Bosch, Lynette (1999). Day Dreaming». Elite Fine Art.

  • 1985 Galería. El Nuevo Herald, Ana Santiago, Miami, Florida. February.
  • 1985 Galería. El Nuevo Herald, Rafael, Casalins, Miami, Florida. April.
  • 1987 Art of Cuba in Exile, Jose Gomez Sicre, Editorial Munder, Miami, Florida.
  • 1990 Galería. El Nuevo Herald, Olga Connor, Miami, Florida. April.
  • 1992 Selecta Magazine, Astur Morsella, Miami Florida. March.
  • 1995 Vanidades Continental, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1995 Camacol Magazine, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1995 Selecta Magazine, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1995 Miami Mensual, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1995 Casa y Estilo Magazine, Jose A. Lerma, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1996 El Cartel Cubano de Cine, Letras Cubanas, Jesus Vega, Camaguey.
  • 1996 Iberoamericana Magazine, Miami, Florida. August.
  • 1997 Design for Life, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithonian Institution, New York, New York.
  • 1997 Casa y Estilo Magazine, Miami, Florida. October.
  • 1997 Selecta Magazine, Arturo Frausto, Miami, Florida. October.
  • 1997 Miami Mensual, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1997 Vanidades Continental, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 1997 La Playa Nacional Magazine, Astur Morsella, Miami Beach, Florida. August.
  • 1999 Artes y Letras, El Nuevo Herald, Armando Alvarez Bravo, Miami, Florida. November.
  • 1999 Arte al Dia Magazine, Myrna W. Curras, Miami, Florida. November.
  • 1999 Casa y Estilo Magazine, Miami, Florida. November.
  • 2000 La Imagen Constante, Jorge R. Bermudez, El Cartel Cubano del Siglo XX, Havana.
  • 2001 Casa y Estilo, Una Expresión Latina Contemporánea. Art Book.
  • 2002 Artes y Letras, El Nuevo Herald, Armando Alvarez Bravo, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 2002 Miami Mensual Magazine, Miami, Florida. September.
  • 2002 Selecta Magazine, Miami, Florida. August.
  • 2002 Casa y Estilo Magazine, Miami, Florida. August.
  • 2002 Iberoamericana Magazine, Miami, Florida. January.
  • 2002 Cuban Posters, Havana.
  • 2003 Illustrating Cuba’s Flora and Fauna, Emilio Cueto, The Historical Museum of Souther Florida, Miami, Florida.
  • 2006 Diario Las Americas, Miami, Florida. November.
  • 2007 “Voces de Cambio”, Ediciones El Cambio. Miami, Florida.
  • 2010 Remembering El Mariel. Miami, Florida.