Agustín Bejarano (Camagüey, Cuba, 1964) is one of the most prominent exponents of contemporary Cuban painting and engraving. His work, which was born in the midst of the difficult circumstances of the 90’s, breaks with the previous decade’s paradigms to be part of the “back to good working” trend, which proposed a balance between technical virtuosity and tropologic density. Since the years of academic training at the Superior Institute of Art (ISA) until today, the visual creation of Bejarano has assumed a reflective and metaphysical mood that places contemporary, offset, apocalyptic individuals as the core of his concerns. However, beyond the conceptual games of strong existential intention, the artworks made by this artist from Camagüey stand out for their artistic skill and visual ostentation. His palette shows rather shades than lights; his strong color pastes of abstractionist influence and his accurate strokes cannot hide the true magic of he who dominates the work. Characterized by working in series, Agustín Bejarano has built an authentic visual language of great artistic value that even nowadays cannot be pigeonholed.
EDUCATION
- 1984 – 1989 Superior Institute of Art (ISA), Havana
- 1980 – 1984 National School of Plastic Arts (ENA), Havana
- 1976 – 1980 Elemental School of Plastic Arts Luis Casas Romero, Camagüey, Cuba
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
- Diamantes en la noche, Collateral to the 13th Havana Biennial, Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery, Havana
2018
- Silencio en el filo del papel, Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery, Havana
- La cámara del eco, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, Havana
2015
- Viaje al paraíso, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Fortress San Carlos de la Cabaña, Havana
2012
- En brazos de la amada (With Aziyadé Ruiz), Collateral to the 11th Havana Biennial, Mercury Sevilla Hotel, Havana
2011
- Paisajes. Agustín Bejarano, ARTMIAMI, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami
2010
- Horizontes blandos, Pinar del Río Art Museum (MAPRI), Pinar del Río, Cuba
- Landscape, Galería Habana, Havana
2009
- Sedimentos, Collateral to the 10th Havana Biennial, Center of Conservation, Restoration and Museology (CENCREM), Havana
- Vértigo, Moncada Art Center, Holguín, Cuba
- Riesgo, Provincial Museum Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, Cuba
- Alpinismo a los 40, Galiano Gallery, Havana
2008
- Veril, Pedro Esquerré Gallery, Matanzas, Cuba
- La levedad de lo eterno, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba
- Mentes flotando, Art-Mex Gallery, Mexican Cultural Institute, Vienna
- Días de Cuba en Zagreb, Museum of Art and Craft, Zagreb, Croatia
- Eclipse, Missionary Cultural Center, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
- Plan de la calle IV (Public intervention), San Cristóbal, Pinar del Río, Cuba
- Plan de la calle III (Public intervention), Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba
2007
- Soledades conjugadas, Mateo Torriente Gallery, Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Crepúsculo, Provincial Museum Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, Cuba
- Plan de la calle II (Public intervention), Camagüey, Cuba
- El ritual del instante (Public intervention), Don Cayetano’s Inn, Camagüey, Cuba
- Delirio insular, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba
- Las quimeras del errante, PanAmerican ArtGallery, Miami
- Constelaciones, La Acacia Gallery, Havana
2006
- Taller del artista, ARTMIAMI, Nina Menocal Gallery, Florida
- Plan de la calle I (Public intervention), Havana
- Abismos, Collateral to the 9th Havana Biennial, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Aziyadé, musa y mito, La Acacia Gallery, Havana
- A paso discreto, El Templete Restaurant, Havana
2005
- 8 manos years old, Espacio Abierto Gallery, Havana
- Azyjarano (With Aziyadé Ruiz), International School of Cinema and Television (EICTV), Havana
2004
- Agustín Bejarano, PanAmerican ArtGallery, Dallas, Texas
- Meditaciones, Villa Manuela Gallery, Havana
- Nude encounters (With Annia Alonso), Distillery Visitor Center and Realtime Studio, Toronto
- Espirales en ascenso, Missionary Cultural Center, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
- ArtCuba 2004 (With Moisés Finalé), Lost Steps Hall, United Nations Palace, Geneva
- Ecos, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D. F.
2003
- Malerei (With Aziyadé Ruiz), Havana Gallery, Zurich
- Los ritos del silencio, Collateral to the 8th Havana Biennial, Servando Gallery, Havana
- ARTORONTO, La Acacia Gallery, Toronto
2002
- El rostro anónimo, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D. F.
- Imágenes en el tiempo, La Acacia Gallery, Havana
2001
- Cabezas mágicas, Havana Club Foundation, Havana
2000
- Anunciaciones, Collateral to 7th Havana Biennial, National Council of Plastic Arts (CNAP), Havana
1999
- Las coquetas, Espacio 52 Gallery, Havana
- Agustín Bejarano, Lausin & Blasco Gallery, Zaragoza, Spain
- Paisajes y naturaleza muerta, La Acacia Gallery, Havana
- Agustín Bejarano. Pinturas y grabados, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D.F.
1998
- Pinturas y grabados, Havana Gallery, Zurich
- Angelotes, Galería Habana, Havana
- El hombre inconcluso, GAN Gallery, Tokyo
1997
- Marea baja, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D. F.
1996
- Voluntad de silencio, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D. F.
- Tierra húmeda, Espuela de Plata Gallery, Center for the Development of Visual Arts (CDAV), Havana
- Apuntes sobre dos testimonios (With Aziyadé Ruiz), Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales (FCBC), Cienfuegos, Cuba
1995
- Salón de la gráfica y originales sobre papel, Manuel Rodríguez Lozano Exhibition Hall, Cultural Art Center, Monterrey, Mexico
1994
- Tierra fértil, Galería Habana, Havana
- Brisas del alma, Espacio XXI Gallery, Center for the Development of Visual Arts (CDAV), Havana
1993
- Corte final, Plastic Arts and Design Provincial Center, Havana
1991
- Nidando cerca del jardín de miel, 23 y 12 Gallery, Havana
1989
- Huracanes, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Havana
1984
- Radiografía arquitectural, 23 y 12 Gallery, Havana
1979
- Agustín Bejarano, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015
- El blanco más oscuro, Casa 8 Gallery, Havana
- Homenaje a José Martí, Alba House, El Alto, Bolivia
- Grabados cubanos de la siempre Habana, José Martí Cultural Center, Mexico D. F.
- Bienaventurados los que buscan la paz, Los Oficios Gallery, Havana
- Apuntes sobre un viaje, Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Havana
2014
- Grabado en la memoria (Anthological show of Cuban engraving promoted by Belkis Ayon State), Benito Juárez House, Havana
- Encuentros, Conrado Massaguer Gallery, Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba
2013
- Obras sobre papel, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D.F.
- Texturas develadas (Promoted by Belkis Ayon State), Art Gallery of Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Imágenes de una plenitud, Los Oficios Gallery, Havana
- Table Ten Art. Cuban Contemporary Art, Lima, Peru
2012
- Graphic Design in Cuba, Center for Cuban Studies, Chelsea, New York
- Cuarenta años de grabados, Center for Cuban Studies, Chelsea, New York
- La patrona del sol, Ta Project Gallery, Miami
- Este hombre es mi amigo, José Martí Memorial, Havana; Art Gallery of Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Sucedáneos de fe, Saint Francis of Assisi Convent, Havana
- HB, Collateral to the 11th Havana Biennial, Pabexpo, Havana
2011
- ARTMIAMI, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami
- ARTEAMERICAS, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami
2010
- ARTMADRID, Pabellón de los Cristales, Casa de Campo, Madrid
- El arsenal, Cultural Community, Madrid
- Encuentros (Hispano Cuban Exhibition of Contemporary Art), Sala Retiro, Madrid
- Nuevas adquisiciones, Covarrubias Hall, National Theater, Havana
- XII Festival del Habano, Habanos Art Gallery, Havana
- Entre islas, Carmen Montilla Gallery, Havana
- Alicia Alonso baila esta noche, Magnam Metz Gallery, New York
- En tiempo de bolero, Servando Gallery, Havana
- Cuba pinta a Guayasamín, Oswaldo Guayasamín House, Havana
- Presente, 1930 Salon, National Hotel of Cuba, Havana
- Retratos cubanos, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana
- Homenaje al maestro, Saint Francis of Assisi Convent, Havana
- ARTMIAMI, PanAmerican ArtProjects, Miami
- Un minuto de silencio, Oswaldo Guayasamín House, Havana
2009
- Diálogo cotidiano, José Martí Memorial, Havana
- HB. Muestra de arte cubano contemporáneo, Collateral to the 10th Havana Biennial, Pabexpo, Havana
- Mañana será demasiado tarde, International Press Center, Havana
- Restaurarte (Project A cielo Abierto), Construction Company Puerto Carena, Havana
- Equipo pronóstico, Museum of Gibara, Holguín, Cuba
- ARTSHANGHAI, Latin American Pavilion, La Acacia Gallery, Trazos Gallery, Shanghai
- Art Mortem, la muerte en el arte cubano contemporáneo, Benito Juárez House, Havana
- Navidad, Allegro Gallery, Panama City
- Pro vida (Collective project Arte público), Camagüey, Cuba
- Entre islas, Los Oficios Gallery, Havana
- 9 contemporáneos en ARTSHANGHAI, Servando Cabrera Moreno Library Museum, Havana
- Contemporary Cuban Art in Malaysia, Balai Seni Lukis Negara Gallery, Kuala Lumpur City
- Colores de Cuba, Shah Alam Gallery, Selangor, Malaysia
- Juntos podemos detener la tuberculosis, Riviera Movie Gallery, Havana
2008
- Colección de arte cubano contemporáneo, Museum of Gibara, Holguín, Cuba
- Grabadores cubanos, Art Museum of Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
- Arte cubano, Arte Malecón Cultural Center, Havana
- La historia en la memoria, Orígenes Gallery, Grand Theater of Havana, Havana
- Tate a la vista, Galería Habana, Havana
- 4 puntos cardinales, Lloyd’s Register, Havana
- El rapto… en la pupila, Hispano American Culture Center, Havana
- Del trazo al volumen, Galería Habana, Havana
- Identidad, Florencio Gelabert Gallery, Riviera Hotel, Havana
- Esta noche baila aquí Alicia Alonso, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Desde la piel de Eva con los ojos de Adán, Plastic Salon, Mexico D. F.
- Tan sencillo como abrir los ojos, Conventions Palace, Havana
- Artistas Cubanos na Assembleia da República, Parliament of the Republic, Lisbon
- Del trazo al volumen, Galería Habana, Havana
- Atlantide Caraïbe, Residence Clément-Francois, Martinique
2007
- Art Basel, Nina Menocal Gallery, Miami
- Monstruos devoradores de energía, Casa de América, Madrid; Milan Triennial, Milan; Grand Palais, Paris
- Frío cubano, Alovera Gallery, Guadalajara, Spain
- Casabe y matajíbaro, Center of Conservation, Restoration and Museology (CENCREM), Havana
- Pensar en Fidel, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba
- A través del espejo. Arte cubano hoy, Allegro Gallery, Panama
- Confluences: Inside Cuban Contemporary Art, Benito Juárez Cultural Center, Villa Hermosa, Tabasco, Mexico D. F.
- De uno y de otro. Plástica cubana actual, Country Club, Bogotá
- IKF Latin American Art Auction, Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation, USA
- Luz insular, Addison House, Panama
- Auction Exhibition. Contemporary Latin American Art, Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Long Beach, California
- Tres miradas al arte cubano, Alejandro Otero Museum, Caracas
- Imagen y posibilidad: plástica cubana, Reino de este mundo Gallery, José Martí National Library, Havana
- Arte y moda, Habana Libre Hotel, Havana
- 3rd East Africa Biennial, Tanzania
- Relaciones mágicas, Conrado Massaguer Gallery, Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba
2006
- El tercer entorno, La Casona Gallery, Havana
- Art Basel, Nina Menocal Gallery, Miami
- Confluences: Inside Cuban Contemporary Art, Clavijero Palace, Morelia, Michoacán
- Vuelo Habana-Mérida, Luz Gallery, Merida, Yucatan
- Aquí y ahora, Intemporel Gallery, Paris
- Manual de instrucciones, Collateral to the 9th Havana Biennial, National Center of Conservation, Restoration and Museology (CENCREM), Havana
2005
- PALMBEACH, Galería Habana, Florida
- 9 artistas cubanos contemporáneos, Salle d’exposition Du Qua Antoine, Monte Carlo, Monaco
2004
- ARCO’04, Madrid
- Armory Show, Nina Menocal Gallery, New York
- El salón, French Artists Society, Parc Floral, Paris
2003
- Pintura cubana de hoy, Oswaldo Guayasamín Foundation, Quito
- Estampa Art Fair, Madrid
- Art Basel, Nina Menocal Gallery, Miami
2002
- Art Basel, Miami
- ARTMIAMI, Miami
- ARCO’02, Madrid
- 16 artistas cubanos en Beirut, UNESCO Headquarters, Beirut
2001
- Homenaje de la joven pintura cubana a dos generaciones de pintores: Antonio Canet y Agustín Bejarano, Cultural House of Tlalpan, Mexico D. F.
- 5 ases al tiro 5, La Siempre Habana Engraving Workshop, Coyoacán, Mexico D. F.
- Latin American Art. La belleza y la fuerza, Elkon Gallery, New York
- Cuba, isla infinita, Costa Rican Art Museum, San Jose, Costa Rica
1999
- ARTMIAMI, Nina Menocal Gallery, Florida
- Arte cubano más allá del papel, Conde Duque Cultural Center, Madrid
- ARTCHICAGO, Chicago
- L’avantgarde cubaine a Paris, Galerie Etats D’Art, Paris
- ARTMIAMI, Florida
- FIAC, Paris
- 15th International Triennial of Original Graphic Print, Grenchen, Switzerland
1998
- Arte cubano contemporáneo, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana
- ARTMIAMI, Miami
- ARTCHICAGO, Chicago
- Iwaki City Cultural Hall, Hillside Forum Daikanyama, Tokyo
- Urasoe Museum, Okinagrama, Japan
- Tokyo International Mini-Print, Triennial 1998, Art Museum of Tama University, Tokyo
- FIAC, Paris
1997
- 6th Havana Biennial, Fortress San Carlos de la Cabaña, Havana
1988
- Exposición del Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Massachusetts, Boston
- III Salón de Premiados, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Cómprame y cuélgame, Center for the Development of Visual Arts (CDAV), Havana
- Vindicación del grabado, La Acacia Gallery, Havana
- Los dados de medianoche, Center for the Development of Visual Arts (CDAV), Havana
- The 3rd Sapporo International Print Biennial Exhibition, Modern Art Museum of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Private Viewing for the International Council of the MoMA, New York
1977
- Exposición de alumnos de la Escuela Provincial de Arte, Julio Antonio Mella Provincial Library, Camagüey, Cuba
AWARDS
2004
- Bronze Medal, French Artists Society, Parc Floral, Paris
1997
- Grand Prize, Salón Nacional de Grabado, Plastic Arts and Design Provincial Center, Havana
1995
- Award, 6th Biennial of Latin American and Caribbean Engraving, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Award, Meeting on Engraving, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Mention, La joven estampa, Haydée Santamaría Gallery, Casa de las Américas, Havana
1992
- Award, Salón Regino Boti, Guantánamo, Cuba
1991
- Mention, VII Salón Provincial Fidelio Ponce de León, Promotion Cultural Center, Camagüey, Cuba
- Award, Provincial Museum Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, Cuba
1990
- Grand Prize, Salón Nacional del Festival de Origen Caribeño
- Award, Salón Regino Boti, Guantánamo, Cuba
- Award, VI Salón de Artes Plásticas Fidelio Ponce de León, Camagüey, Cuba
1989
- Grand Prize, V Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas, Camagüey, Cuba
- Award, National Museum of Fine Arts, V Salón de Premiados, Havana
1988
- Award, IV Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas Fidelio Ponce de León, Camagüey, Cuba
- Award, National Museum of Fine Arts, IV Salón de Premiados, Havana
1987
- Award, Meeting on Engraving, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Award, III Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas Fidelio Ponce de León, Camagüey, Cuba
1984
- First Prize of Painting, Thesis Exhibition, National School of Plastic Arts (ENA), Havana
1978
- Drawing Prize, Salón Nacional de Estudiantes de Artes Plásticas, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
COLLECTIONS
- Avistamientos Collection, Havana
- National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
- Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Long Beach, California
- Armando Amorim Soares Collection, Portugal
- Christie’s Collection, Mexico City
- Center of the Arts Collection, Florida
- Lausin & Blasco Collection, Zaragoza, Spain
- Objet Trouvé Collection, Belgium
- Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana
- Havana City Historian’s Office, Havana
- Peter Ludwig Collection, Cologne, Germany
- Frédéric Corda Collection, Paris
- Nelson Villalobos Collection, Havana
- Elkon Gallery Collection, New York
- Provincial Museum Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, Cuba
- Jean Pierre-Pastor Collection, Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Lori Hall Collection, New York
- Dr. Patricia Noone Collection, Ireland
- Jean Lauderdale Collection, California
- Nina Menocal Collection, Mexico D. F.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Lahit-Bignolt, Nereida. Energía. Catalogue. Santiago de Cuba: Universal Art Gallery, 1990.
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