Contemporary Cuban artist Antonio Guerrero to donate work to Miami Dade Community College

May 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Miami, Florida May 11, 2011/ The Cuban Art Project-  Artist Antonio Guerrero will donate a piece of art work to Miami Dade Community College West Campus. Guerrero will present the artwork  to Ana Maria DeMahy, director of student services and chief administrative officer at West Campus.


La Puerta Astral Medium: Charcoal, Ink & Acrylic on Canvas
The artwork will be the first piece of work brought to the University from Antonio Guerrero. The idea of donating the work came after exhibiting last august at the West Gallery when Miami Dade College (MDC) West at Doral teamed up with the City of Doral’s Economic Development Office and the Public Works department to kick off the first ever Social Fridays in Doral project. “Close Encounter,” featured his work Love, Peace, Sex & War and works by Alejandro Moya, Nathaly Lezcano, Miguel Angel Baez, Ryan Herb, Raymond Fuentes, Alejandro Aguilera, Nora Cervino, Noel Santiesteban.

The campus has a great art collection and has also created the MDC archives, a compilation of thousands of photos, documents and memorabilia that show the history of the college from 1960. This digital library is slated to become a historical reference for the city, as well.

The West Campus began primarily as an institution specializing in business administration, with courses designed to fit the needs of companies in the city. Today, the campus offers more than 230 classes offered in a range of subjects, including English, real estate, and computers.

About the Artist:

Born 1968 in Matanzas, Cuba
Lives and works in Miami Beach, Florida
Antonio Guerrero is a contemporary Cuban artist. He was born in 1968 in Matanzas Cuba, under the Castro regime. Guerrero grew up in a household where artistic expression was appreciated and encouraged; although materials were not always available, his dreams and ideas were always abundant.
In 1986 Antonio was drafted into the army and was immediately transported to Africa to fight in the Ethiopian War. He was inspired by the people and scenes of Africa and he developed an interest in modern expressionism and began to experiment with modern forms of visual art. The popularity of his work led to exhibits of his paintings at the military base.


©2011 Antonio Guerrero
Guerrero returned to Cuba in 1988 where he resumed his job as an artisan specializing in painting, engraving woodcarving, sculpting and metal work. Feeling increasingly oppressed by Cuba's government, and unhappy with the worsening living conditions, Antonio, along with two other men, climbed into a raft they had secretly designed and built. Floating off from the coast of Matanzas, they were at sea for five days before being rescued and brought to the U.S.

In January of 1995 Guerrero's “Balseros del 92”, (“The Rafters of 92”) was exhibited at Vanidades Gallery in Miami, FL. This painting was part of a collection donated to the Jose Marti Foundation in order to raise money for the Florida International University student scholarships. This portrait of himself along with his cousin and friend fleeing Cuba was said to best commemorate the occasion. On May 17, 1996 Guerrero's work was exhibited by U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Washington D.C. as a part of the “Cubans in exile” exhibit.

Guerrero sees the world as a cosmic stage for human activity. "I'm in the system like a computer programmer writing codes with my sketchbook and brushes, playing the critic, here to create and program the unconscious. Apart from all the trouble we cause ourselves, I believe we are immersed in a powerful and beautiful mystery. The fact of our existence is a great riddle to me.

"In his imaginary world everything is possible, shadows fall according to nature’s intent, trees grow from earth, and triangles refract light in a realistic manner. But all of that realism is just Antonio's way of holding the scene together so that he could go on to upset our normal expectations of reality.

Latest Exhibitions

Selected Exhibitions: (*Solo Shows)
2011 SeaFair, Represent by Aldo Castillo Gallery, Curate by Aldo Castillo, Sarasota FL, (USA)
2011 Art Naples, Represent by Aldo Castillo Gallery, Curate by Aldo Castillo, Naples FL,(USA)
2011 Art Naples, Represent by Miami Wave, Curate by Sergio Garcia, Naples FL, (USA)
2011 Ava Art Gallery, under the name, “Close encounter II” Wynwood, Miami FL, (USA)
2010 Ivan Galindo Art Studio, Miami FL (USA)
2010* Condesa Gyn,Dance and theater of Miami, Miami FL (USA)
2010 US Century Bank, under the name “Two Artist Same Dream” Miami Beach FL,(USA)
2010* AbaHouse Art Gallery, under the name “Evolution” 20 years in the Making, Miami Fl
2010 Miami Dade West Campus Martin and Pat Fine Center for the Arts, (USA)
2010 AbaHouse Art Gallery, under the name “Close encounters”; Doral Miami Fl (USA)
2010* US Century Bank, under the name “Exile on Main Street” Miami Beach, Fl (USA)
2010* Touch Muah, under the name “I live in a Red Planet” Miami Beach, Fl (USA)
2010 ArtRouge Gallery Miami Florida (USA)
2010 Renee Gallery, under the name “The Future belongs to you”, Miami Florida (USA)
2010 The Art of Freedom, under the name “51 Años de todos”, Miami Florida (USA)
2010 International Art Fair Palm Beach, Convention Center, Presented By Aldo Castillo’s Gallery
2010 International Art Fair Miami, It’s Present by Aldo Castillo’s Gallery, Miami Beach Convention C.

To see more please visit: www.guerreroart.com

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The Cuban Art Project is a Non Profit organization that promotes the work of Cuban artists around the world, using the latest innovations in technology. It was founded by Leticia del Monte in Miami Beach, Fl with the purpose of serving artists through in-depth consideration, presentation, and the publishing of critical writing; and to introduce this work into public contexts through exhibitions, screenings, performances, and educational programs.