Highlights
Enrique Avila Gonzalez, born the 15th of December 1952 in Holguín City is a painter, designer, sculptor and printer. A graduate of the National School of Arts in Havana, Avila has exhibited in Berlin, Moscow, Leningrad and his work can be found in private collections in South America, the United States and Europe. He is famous for creating the steel sculptural relief of the most well known photograph of Che Guevara captured by Korda. The latter can be seen on the facade of the Ministry of Interior in the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana.
Enrique Avila recreates suggestions of sub-aquatic landscapes of great richness, in their tactile and visual textures, transparencies and rough elements of tonal contrasts, where light in its whole gamut of hues is the protagonist.
The Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler says of Avila’s work:
It is a labour of love. When we get closer we see someone who is exploring like an apprentice, even a master who allows the brush to move serenely and calmly, as he brings us wherever he wants.
Curriculum
ENRIQUE AVILA GONZALEZ
Born the 15th of December of 1952 in Holguín City, Cuba. Painter, sculptor and designer.
Studied at the National School of Arts in Havana. Started to work as a professor of painting and design at the Provincial Art School in Holguin in 1972.
After graduating he followed studies of basic design at the National School of Arts and History of Arts and Literature at the University Center in Holguin and scenographic design for cinema and television at the ICRT in Havana City.
Worked in the eighties as scenographic designer for the Cuban TV.
Main Personal Exhibitions
1996 Exhibition “Submarine Landscapes” at the Gallery of “Las Brisas” Hotel in Guardalavaca, Holguin
1998 Exhibition at the Gallery of “Las Brisas” Hotel in Guardalavaca, Holguín.
2000 Exhibition “Interior Landscapes” at the Center of Arts in Holguin for the 8th Fiesta of the Iberoamerican Culture.
2001 Exhibition “Landscapes Series”at the Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods, Bayado Gallery in Holguin.
2002 Exhibition at the Gallery of the Paradisus Rio de Oro Hotel in
Emerald Beach, Holguin.
2003 Exhibition “Another Reality” at the Iberoamerican House, Holguin
- Exhibition at the Marco House, Holguin.
- Exhibition at the Gallery of Breezes, Costa Verde Hotel in Pesquero Beach, Holguin
- Exhibition Arts Center of Holguin for the 11th Celebration of the
Iberoamerican Culture.
2003 Exhibition “Texture of Light” at the Jose Marti Memorial in Havana.
- Exhibition at the Gallery of “Armadores of Santander” Hotel for the
Eight Havana Biennale.
- Exhibition at the Gallery of Playa Pesquero Hotel, Holguin.
2004 Exhibition “Unknown Landscapes” at the Gallery of Paradisus Rio de Oro Hotel
in Guardalavaca.
2005 Exhibition “Unknown Landscapes” at Fausto Gallery , UNEAC , Holguin.
Main Collective Exhibitions
1972 Second National Exhibition of Young Artists at the National Museum of Arts.
1973 Contest “26th of July” at the National Museum of Arts.
1973-76 Contest “17th of April” in Havana
1976 Provincial Exhibition Salon of Santiago de Cuba. Participates in a
collective exhibition where his work is selected to for the World Festival of Youth and Students.
1977 Collective exhibition in Moscow, Leningrad and Viet Nam.
2002 Exhibition of Contemporary Arts in Toronto Canada.
2003 Exhibition “Little Sample of Contemporary Art” made at the inauguration of
Playa Pesquero Beach Hotel, Holguin.
- Exhibition ”Salon of the City of Holguin” as a guest artist.
2003 Exhibition “Antilla in Three Times” at the Gallery of the School of Visual Arts
in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
2004 Exhibition “Salon of the City of Holguin” as a guest artist.
2005 Exhibition “Walking Knight I Am” for the celebration of the 400 years of Don
Quixote
- Exhibition “Salon of the City of Holguin” as a guest artist.
“The Flight of the Start” at the Famagusta Gate Gallery in Cyprus for the 38th
Anniversary of the downfall in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara.
Most important sculptural works
- Monument to Che Guevara at the entrance of the City of Holguin.
-Sculptural embossment of Lenin at the hospital of the same name in the City of Holguin.
-Monument to Antonio Maceo at the Easter Army Headquarters in Holguin City.
-Monument to Frank Pais across from the Zoo Park in Santiago de Cuba.
-Monument to Carlos Manuel de Cespedes at the entrance of Bayamo City.
-Monument to Saiz’s brothers across from the Pinar del Rio University.
-Monument to Ignacio Agramonte in Camaguey City.
-Monument to Celia Sanchez in Guantanamo City.
-Monument to Arides Estevez, to the Martinez Tamayo’s brothers, and to Adriana Corcho in schools that bear their names in Havana.
-Sculptural embossment of Che Guevara on the wall of the Ministry of Interior Building in the Revolution Square.
Prizes
1972 Prize in the Second National Exhibition of Young Artists.
1973 Mention in the 26th of July Contest.
1973 Prize in the 17th of April Contest.
1974 Prize in the 17th of April Contest.
1975 Mention in the 17th of April Contest.
1976 Prize in the 17th of April Contest.
1985 Shell Prize of UNEAC as Stage Designer.
Distinctions
- Distinguished Son of Holguin City.
- Coat of Arms of Holguin City.
- Knocker of the Consistorial House
- Axe of Holguin.
- Coat of Arms of Pinar del Rio City.
- Copy of the Machete of Maximo Gomez.
- April Prize.
- Electa Arenal Distinction for Whole Life Work