Highlights
Carlos Guzman (Havana 1970) talks about his work in these terms: “I do not invent when I paint; I show the real world except that people do not see it, but in fact, it is there. There are parallel worlds, simultaneous histories. The people I draw exist; the proof is that I see them.”
This young Cuban artist draws a series of universal parallels and beings that surge from old eras and form the playful world of our childhood. Carlos Guzman shows a strong tendency towards fantasy and gothic style. He grabs and re-interpret these elements in his daily reality and goes beyond the simple clichés and stereotypes of an “antique” painting.
His technique, soft in its forms, strong in its lines and sober in its use of colours demonstrates an excellent drawing mastering. His figures, like goblins, spring off the canvas, rich in textures and filigree.
Carlos Guzman is one of the Cuban artists selling the most on the international scene, especially on Subasta Havana and elsewhere.
Curriculum
Carlos Manuel Guzmán Hernández.
Havana, March 3, 1970.
Graduate, 1985, “Paulita Concepción” Elementary School of Fine Arts; graduate, 1989, “San Alejandro” Academy of Fine Arts; post-graduate studies.
-Art instructor and Art Gallery Director.
-Professor of Drawing and Illustration, at poly technical and university levels (in the Superior Institute of Industrial Design – ISDI - he gave classes to students of Costume Design, and in the Superior Institute of Art - ISA – to students of set design).
-Illustrator of books, magazine, post cards, and other publications.
-Undertook, design of the Casa Ltel and various hotels in Havana, Pinar del Río, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo and Trinidad.
Personal Exhibitions:
1986 - “Nearby Love.” San Alejandro Academy.
1988 - “The Roman Profile of the World.” Performance, San Alejandro Academy Gallery.
-“Self portrait.” Performance, Domes of the National School of Art.
1989 - “The Transparent Sign.” Multimedia, Video Hall, 30 y 31.
1991 - “Kaleidoscope.” Fayad Jamís Gallery.
-“While the Trains Sleep.” Tina Modotti Gallery.
1992 -“Work in the Place’s Fumes.” Land Art and ‘Acción Plástica.’
Punta del Este, Isle of Youth.
-“Work in the place’s fumes.” Land Art and ‘Acción Plástica.’
Sierra de los Órganos, Pinar del Río.
1993 - “Saturn’s Cataract.” Galiano Gallery.
1994 - “The Shapes to Come.” Domingo Ravenet Gallery.
1996 - “The Elephant and the Goat’s Foot.” Provincial Center for Fine Arts and Design.
1998 - “A Few Cuts in the Skin.” 23 and 12 Gallery.
-“The voyage of the Salamander Man.” Plaza Vieja Gallery. Cuban Fund for Culture, Havana.
1999 - “The Last Eclipse.” Havana Gallery.
2000 -“Soul.” Fayad Jamís Gallery.
-“Soul.” Museum of the City Gallery, Palacio de los Capitanes Generales.
-“Blood isn’t Water, Don’t Drink it.” Provincial Center for Fine Arts and Design.
-“The Angel of the House.” University of Costa Rica, Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery, Costa Rica.
2001 -¨Edges.¨ Domingo Padrón Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
-¨Mamá-Singer.” Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana.
-¨Nemo and the Pink Whale.” Acacia Gallery, Genesis Project, Havana.
2002 -“Abracadabra.” White Salon, Basilica and Convent of San Francisco
de Assisi, Havana.
-“Migratory Fish Flying Over Our Heads.” 23 y 12 Gallery, Havana.
2003 -“Beings of Light.” Mexican Cultural Center, Embassy of Mexico, Panama.
-“Zone of Silence.” Acacia Gallery, Genesis Project, Havana.
-“Between Insomnia and Waiting.” Parallel show during the 8th Biennial of Havana.
Dos Leones Gallery, FCBC, Havana.
2004 -“Carolinas.” Snob Shop Gallery, Panama.
-“Where You Come From.” Museum of Rum Gallery, Genesis Project,
Havana.
-“Astral Voyage.” Provincial Council of Fine Arts, Ciego de Ávila.
-“Interior Soul.” Casa del Joven Creador Gallery, Pinar del Río.
-“Without You There, the Forest Would be too Big.” San Francisco de Assisi Convent, Launch of the magazine Opus Habana.
2005 -“Manufacturing Illusions.” San Juan de Dios Gallery, Camaguey.
-“Sentinels.” Palacio del Conde de Casa Lombillo Gallery, Office of the City Historian, Havana.
2006 -“On the Edge of Time.” Servando Cabrera Gallery (23 y 10 Streets), Vedado, Havana.
2006 -“ Recent Works, Carlos Guzmán.” Belomonte 20 Gallery, Porto, Portugal.
Collective Exhibitions:
1988 -“Ideas Escaping from a Pyramid.” San Alejandro Academy Gallery, Karl Marx Theatre, Wilfredo Lam Cultural Center Gallery, Ciudad Libertad, Havana.
1989 -“The Creator’s Head Aches.” San Alejandro Academy Gallery, Havana.
1991 - “Prelude to a Deaf Era.” Fayad Jamís Gallery, Havana.
-“The non-aligned.” Khalo Gallery, Havana.
-“Alternative.” 4th Biennial of Havana, Fayad Jamís Gallery, Havana.
1992 -“Members of Our Species.” Khalo Gallery, Havana.
1993 -“Small Format Expo.” L Gallery, Havana.
1994 -“Minutes Before.” Paralelo 23 Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
-Juan David 94 Salon.” Juan David Gallery, Yara Cinematographic
Center, Havana.
-“Those Who are not Here.” 5th Biennial of Havana, Domingo Ravenet Gallery, Havana.
-“City Salon ’94.” Provincial Center for Fine Arts and Design.
Havana.
1995 -“1st Cuban Contemporary Arts Salon.” Fototeca de Cuba, Havana.
-“The Monsters of Correctness.” Salon of Contemporary Art, Provincial Center for Fine Arts and Design, Havana.
1996 – “Halfway Through the Dream.” Veracruz Institute of Culture, Veracruz, Mexico.
-“Buafata, let’s inject the whale.” Khalo Gallery, Havana.
-“The Blender Told Me Yes.” Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Isle of Youth.
1997 -“Beast Collective.” Homage to Dulce María Loynaz, 23 and 12 Gallery
Havana.
-“From Real to Marvellous.” El Reloj Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico.
-“Cuban Painting Today.” Artchipel, Escena Nacional, Guadalu-
pe, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
- Young Cuban Painting.” Dramatic Society of Maracaibo, Venezuela.
1998 -“While Drawing, I Never Forget You.” Alcalá de Henares Public Library
Madrid, Spain.
-“Meetings.” Provincial Center for Fine Arts, and Design, Havana.
1999 -“March Salon.” Gesta Gallery, Havana.
-“Cuba Towards a New Millennium.” A&B Anticues Gallery, Panama.
2000 -“Awake in Cuba.” Provincial Center for Fine Arts and Design, Havana.
-“Pointed Brushes.” Nelson Domínguez Studio Gallery, Los Ofi-
cios. Havana. Hotel Meliá Varadero Gallery, Matanzas.
Permanente Collection, Museum of Dance.
“All You Need is Love.” El Reino de Este Mundo Gallery,
José Martí National Library, Havana.
2001 - “Cuban Imaginations.” San Martín Internacional Group S.A.,
San Martín.
-“SUBASTAHABANA.com.” Havana Club Foundation, Havana.
2002 -“ORA PRO NOBIS.” San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary,
Havana.
-“I know a Giant Painter.” José Martí Memorial, Havana
-“Sex-timents.” 16th World Congress on Sexology, Convention Center, Havana.
-“SUBASTAHABANA.com.”2nd parallel edition during the 8th
Biennial of Havana, Hotel LTI Panorama Gallery, Havana.
-“Snuggled Up With Isa.” Parallel event, 8th Biennial of Havana,
Isabel Santos Rojo Gallery-Workshop, Havana.
-“SUBASTAHABANA.” 2nd Edition, Havana Club Gallery
-“Art and Fashion.” Parallel event during the 8th Biennial of Havana, Casa
de la obra Pía Museum, Havana.
-“Fiesta of the Trades.” Acacia Gallery, Genesis Project, parallel event,
8th Biennial of Havana, Havana.
-“From the Wolf a Hair.” La Acacia Gallery, Genesis Project, Havana.
2005 -“The Art of Appropriation.” Servando Gallery, Havana.
2005 -“Anthropological Art.” Servando Gallery, Havana.
2003 -“Passerby Sculpture.” National Museum of Fine Arts.
2005 -“After Rebirth.” Pan American Art, Dallas, Texas, USA.
2004 -“SUBASTAHABANA.” 3rd edition, Havana Gallery.
2006 - “Homage to the Jiribilla.” Name: 5 x 5 = 25, José Marti Memorial,
Havana.
2006 -“5th Havana Architecture Biennial,” The Art of Appropriation, Museum of Rum.
He has participated in numerous collective exhibitions since the year 1988 and as well in the Biennales of Havana, and sold works in three editions of the Havana Auction. Salons of the City and of Cuban Art, as well as other art-related events in and out of the country. Numerous national and international exhibitions in Brazil, Mexico, Guadalupe, Venezuela, Spain, United States, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Panama, France and Holland. He is a member of the International Federation of Fine Arts (ACEA).
Works in private collections in: Brazil, United States, Mexico, France, Holland, Spain, Venezuela, Italy, Panama, England, Costa Rica and Austria.