Darwin Estacio Martinez

The images of my paintings are intended to embody general ideas through fragments and details that allude symbolically to a chain of actions that are maintained at all times in a speculative and interpretive level. I always find it more accurate to say that in my paintings absolutely nothing happens, except what an observer is able to infer. The ambiguity of the situations tries to combine purely formal notions with the conceptual associations that they generate. The use of the human figure removed from any individual reference helps me focus on personality archetypes. I use each figure as a kind human being type, assuming costumes and different poses along with color and composition, as essential components of the frame. In this sense, I can speak of a cinematographic painting.

Education
2011-

Postgraduate in "Microsociology" at University of Arts (ISA). Havana /Studies in "Symbolic Production" at University of Arts (ISA). Havana.

2007-

Graduate from University of Arts (ISA). Havana.

2001-

Graduate from The Professional Arts Academy ̈El Alba ̈, Holguín City. Cuba

Teaching

2007- 2023

Professor at the National Fine Arts Academy, San Alejandro, Havana

2014- 2017

Professor at the University of Arts (ISA) Methodology of the Investigation in the Artistic Process

Lectures

2019-

Action and Reflection: Dialogues in Practices in Fine Arts Education, University of Arts (ISA), Events on Theory, 13th Habana, Havana, Cuba

2018-

Inventory. (Alibi) Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana

Archives and individual imagery. Hitting the target, III Symposiums on Art theory and critical analysis.

2012-

A warm investigation. University of Arts (ISA) during Havana 11th Biennale

2009-

Theoretical workshop at University of Arts (ISA) during Havana 10th Biennale

Inventory. Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana

Solo Shows

2018-

Alibi. Cultural Art Center, Holguín, Cuba. Biennale de la Habana

Inventory. (Alibi) Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana

2017-

Shortcuts. Fucina Des Artistas, Havana

2015-

Paintings of their Kind. Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica,

2009-

Inventory. Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana

2007-

Nothing less than Painting. Carmelo González Gallery at House of Culture in Plaza municipality, Havana.

2001-

Liberations. Art Center, Holguín City.

Selected Group Shows

2023-

Summertime, International Gallery of Contemporary Art, Anchorage Alaska 

Time Stands Still, Galeria Cubana, Provincetown, MA

Tout le Poids d’unm île. Collectionner l’art Cubain. Museé des Beaux-arts de Rennes, Rennes, France

Credible Thread, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

2022-

A priori, Galeria La Acacia, Havana, Cuba

Celebrating Contemporary Latinx Artists, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

Athens Open Art, Art Number 23, Athens, Greece

Camino Sinuoso (Winding path), Galeria Cubana, Provincetown, MA

2021-

Of Another Era, Galleria Cubana, Provincetown, MA

2020-

Circle, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA Museum) South Korea.

Video Art Today, Shoebox Projects, Los Angeles, California

Color, Line & Figure II, Galería Cubana, Boston, Provincetown

2019-

Color, Line and Figure, Galeria Cubana, Provincetown, Massachusetts

The Cloud, San Alejandro National Fine Arts School, 13th Biennale de Havana, Havana, Cuba

Salty Water, The Sanctuary, 13th Biennale de Havana, Havana, Cuba

2018-

The Pearly Gates Collection, Yucca Valley Art ́s Center, California, USA

Smell of rain, Center of Development or Visual Arts (CDAV). Havana

Contemporary Art Peru, (PArC.2018) Art Fair. Peru

2017-

I come from everywhere and everywhere I go, (Standard Time LA) at Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, USA

Si Cuba! Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA

Topus Uranus, Altamira Space, Havana.

2016-

Present! GX Gallery. London

The old guard. International Festival of Arts, “Romerías de Mayo”. Holguin City. Cuba

2015-

Present continuous. Servando Gallery. Havana

Fresh painting II. Havana Gallery, Havana.
The silence before the storm II. (Zona Franca Project) Morro Cabaña, during Havana 12th Biennale.
ZIP, Artist 718 Gallery. Havana.
To border the myth. Ruben Martínez Villena Gallery, (UNEAC) during 24th International Books Fairs, Havana.

2014-

The silence before the storm. Benito Juárez Museum. Havana. Salty Water. Hispano-American Art Center, Havana.

2013-

Post- it. 1st Edition. at Galiano Gallery. Havana
Habited Zone, Open House in street 24 / 23 and 25. Vedado. Havana
The young ones. Galería Cubana, Boston & Provincetown. Massachusetts, USA

Open. Luz y Oficios Art Center, Havana.

Publications

2020-

Bluebee Magazine. Issue No 3 Spring

2019-

Cutting Edge Art: 100 Cuban Artists

2015-

Zona Franca, Contemporary Cuban Art, 12th Havana Biennale. Cuban Art Editions. Catalogue

ArtScene, Vol.34, No.9, May, page 11 (by: Kathy Zimmerer) (The Monthly Digest to Art in Southern California)

2014-

New vigor in the young Cuban Painting. News of Cuban Art, No.12, (by Shirley Moreira)

The silence before the storm. Catalogue
Art Oncuba. The Cuban Arts Magazine. March–May.

Post–it. Collage Editions. Catalogue

2013-

Abstract Painting in Cuba, Boloña Editions

2012-

CdeCuba. Cuban Art Magazine. No.10. Spain. CdeCuba.

Cuban Art Magazine. No.11. Spain.

Elastik. News of Cuban Art, No. 2, (by Frency Fernández)

2011-

Junge Szene Kuba. Pasinger Fabrik. Munich. Germany, Catalogue.

2010-

The bullet extreme. (A decade of Cuban Art). Catalogue.