Afro-Cuban Art In Miami

The influence of Afro-Cuban culture continues to shape Greater Miami & Miami Beach through art, music and dance. Afro-Cuban art in every medium showcases the rich history of resilience and resistance of the African ancestors brought to Cuba and beyond. 

Discover Afro-Cuban artists in Miami who preserve centuries-old ancestral traditions, tell modern-day stories through bold artworks, highlight the harsh realities of colonial Cuba's enslaved past and redefine what it means to be Black and Cuban today.

Prominent Afro-Cuban Artists in Miami

Many talented Afro-Cuban artists have enriched Miami's art scene for generations. Each voice is unique, yet they share a deep connection to their African and Cuban ancestry, expressed through their art.

Wifredo Lam

Afro-Cuban artist Wifredo Lam (1902-1982) once said, "My painting is an act of decolonization." Inspired by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo, Lam blended Cubism, surrealism and African art to defy notions of the primitive in works like "La Jungla" while acknowledging Cuba's colonial history. Though he never called Miami home, Lam's work can be found in prominent local collections like the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).

Juan Roberto Diago

Exploring his Afro-Cuban identity and spirituality through mixed media, Juan Roberto Diago uses raw materials and found objects to create cultural resistance art centered around the theme of slavery. Diago recycles items like sticks and plastic bottles into printmaking, sculptures and wood works, creating a visual commentary on how Cuban artists had no access to art materials in the 1990s.

Though Diago lives and works in Havana, the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum presented a mid-career retrospective of his work in 2020, and he also has pieces in the collection of the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

María Magdalena Campos-Pons

Stories rooted in womanhood, African identity and Yoruba spirituality are at the heart of María Magdalena Campos-Pons’ multidisciplinary works. Born in La Vega, Cuba in 1959, Campos-Pons uses photography, video, sculpture, performance and more to explore her multicultural identity of being Cuban, Nigerian and Chinese.

Her art also invites you to explore stories of ancestors from the transatlantic slave trade to highlighting Santería practices and modern-day complexities of identity. Campos-Pons is based in Nashville, TN and her work is included in the collection of several public institutions globally, including the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

Gonzalo Borges

Afro-Cuban art's legacy continues today with works by contemporary artists who push boundaries and challenge perceptions. Like Carlos Enríquez Gómez, who painted the Catholic saint Our Lady of Charity as the Orisha of Oshún in 1933, Gonzalo Borges is a prominent Miami-based Cuban painter and drawer who weaves the rich mythology of the Yoruba religion in his paintings to help deconstruct misconceptions and view the religion through a modern lens.

Duwane Coates

Duwane Coates is a Cuban filmmaker, photographer, painter and art conservator who tackles complex issues like migration, neo-Black identity, racism in Cuba and the cultural nuances of being Afro-Cuban in today's society. Based in Miami and inspired by the life and work of Cuban filmmaker Nicholas Guillen Landrian, Coates uses mixed media to expand what identity and heritage mean by fusing the personal and collective experience in socio-political contexts.

Tomás Esson

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Tomás Esson immigrated to Miami in 1990 after Cuban authorities censored and closed his first exhibition. Esson fuses mythology, sexuality and political commentary to create bold and provocative artworks that criticize the failures of the Cuban Revolution.

Where To Find Afro-Cuban Art in Miami

Miami’s art scene is filled with examples of Afro-Cuban creativity, from classical masterpieces to contemporary artworks. Check local museums' websites for ongoing and upcoming exhibitions featuring Afro-Cuban artists.

Key Museums, Galleries & Special Events

• Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM): With an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, PAMM features paintings, sculptures and installations that explore themes of identity, history and spirituality.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA): The MOCA showcases over 400 artworks by contemporary artists, ranging from Haitian-Cuban photojournalist Carl Juste to the late Juan Francisco Elso, a Cuban artist who used art to elevate Afro-Latino cultures.
• American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora: Dedicated to preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of the Cuban diaspora, this museum features a significant collection of Afro-Cuban art that illuminates the struggles and triumphs of the Latinx community.
• Cernuda Arte: This Coral Gables gallery has an extensive inventory of Cuban art, focusing on the works of Colonial, Early Republic, Vanguardia and Modern master painters, as well as the latest production of contemporary artists.
• Latin Art Core: From Afro-Cuban sculptor Agustín Cárdenas to printmaker Belkis Ayón, this fine art gallery showcases the work of Cuban and other Latin American artists in a welcoming space on Calle Ocho in Little Havana.
• Gary Nader Art Centre: With a massive exhibition space in Wynwood and a Sculpture Park near the Miami Design District, Gary Nader features the works of modern and contemporary Latin American artists, among them important Afro-Cuban figures like Wifredo Lam.

Step outside the art museums and surround yourself with Afro-Cuban art by viewing murals in neighborhoods like Little Havana and Wynwood. The destination also hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate Afro-Cuban culture. 

In March, attend the annual Calle Ocho Music Festival to enjoy live music, dance performances and art displays celebrating Afro-Cuban culture. In December, head to Art Basel Miami Beach, where several galleries often showcase works by Afro-Cuban artists.

Afro-Cuban Art in Music & Dance

Afro-Cuban art also includes music and dance. Afro-Cuban music is deeply rooted in intricate rhythms that were born from the West African spirit and blended with Spanish influences. From the bongos, drums and bolero love songs to the rhythmic energy of rumba, each musical genre reflects different aspects of the Afro-Cuban lifestyle. 

To honor ancestral deities, dancers wear vibrant costumes that are living art pieces. Afro-Cuban artists use music and dance to tell the history of slavery while celebrating Cubans' cultural pride.

One of the most renowned dance champions of these traditions is IFÉ- ILÉ, a nonprofit dance company dedicated to platforming Afro-Cuban dance and music. The company collaborates with different communities, institutions and organizations throughout the area to showcase traditional Afro-Cuban dances at various events. 

The Social Impact of Afro-Cuban Art Through Creative Expression

From dance and music to visuals, Afro-Cuban art is a unified creative language that artists have used to pass down traditions, stories and beliefs from generation to generation. By expressing themselves through art, Afro-Cuban artists help raise awareness of social change while creating safe spaces for connection and celebration. 

Art of Black Miami spotlights these voices through exhibitions, performances and podcast episodes that celebrate Africa's influences on art and culture in Miami.