Humberto Castro

Humberto Castro was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1957. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts San Alejandro and Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana.

Humberto Castro's work is today acclaimed internationally and is considered one of the most original and important exponent of the latin American Art.

The work of Humberto Castro stylistically mixes painting and figuritive art with lyrical and conceptual elements forming an art form credited to a new trend referred to as modern Neofiguration.

His themes often deal with social and/or psychological challenges of human kind incorporating historical and social-cultural myths.

Castro’s work is easily grouped in three time periods; the first period is Havana, Cuba, the second in Paris, France and the third and most recent, in the United States.

Characteristic of his work, is the development of different series of art which incorporate specific themes. The themes are made possible through extensive research conducted by the artist and typically will include multimedia elements and components.    

He is a Multimedia Artis who works in Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Ceramics and Installations as well as Photography and Video - Art. In his early years, he also delved into performance art, especially using it as a vehicle for social criticism in his country.

He is one of the most active members of the group widely recognized as the “Generation of the 80s” in Cuba, which generated changes in the aesthetic and conceptual art scene of the island.

In 1983 he founded the team Hexagon in which, alongside other artists, he mounted installations aimed at provoking public participation in the work. Between 1980 and 1984 he produces an extensive body of graphics, particularly innovating in the intaglio technique. He has designed sets for theater and film in Cuba.

In 1989 he immigrates to Paris, France, where he lived for ten years and became active in the Parisian intellectual scene, holding exhibitions and giving conferences across Europe. In 1999 he moved to the United States, where he lives and works.

Since the beginning of his career, he has received numerous international awards, and his work is present in notable museum and private collections. His work and artistic attitude have influenced subsequent generations of artists within Cuba.