All my work in general deals with the question of identity, understood as the system of judgments about a person, culture or phenomenon. This question is generally treated from the prism of Caribbean popular culture, using the humor and elements of this culture, and such cliches formed about the culture, that when it comes from them, it builds images that simultaneously incarnate that reality, and question it. The ambivalence of genres is also a topic that is near to me, a game of illusions with the spectator, the doubt in the identity of a concept or an image, the phenomena that pretend to be one thing, but that are really something else or both at the same time. Although my work has a conceptual root, where the idea conditions formal elements; the sensory sense, the sensations that emanate from the forms of my work are fundamental to them. In my artwork I used to work with different media depending on how interested I am: painting, installations, sculptures, prints, ceramics; this, however, has been associated generally with the soft sculpture (sewn and stuffed fabrics), a technique that brings me closer to the craftwork of the popular cultures of the Caribbean, incorporating real chosen objects.

Elio Rodriguez

Instagram Posts

ELIO RODRIGUEZ

1966

Havana, Cuba

Lives and work between Spain and Havana

ACADEMICS STUDIES

1989

Higher Institute of Art (ISA), Havana, Cuba.

1984

San Alejandro Art Academic, Havana, Cuba.


RESIDENCIES

2015

Hutchins Fellowship, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

2010

Artist in Residency. Mattress Factory Art Museum, Pittsburgh, PA. USA.

2003

Artist in Residency. El Museo Diego Rivera & Francisco Oller, Buffalo, NY, USA.

2002

Guest Professor. Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA.

Guest Artist. Ceramic Workshop. Harvard University. Boston, USA.


PERSONAL SHOWS

2022

Junglas Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NYC, USA.

Junglas Museum of Alicante University, Alicante, Spain.

2019

Ramón Alejandro vs Elio Rodríguez Spanish Cultural Center in Miami, Miami, USA.

2017

Black Gardens Factoría Habana, Cuba.

2016

Puzzled Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NYC, USA.

On Guard (Con la Guardia en Alto) Rudenstine Gallery, Hutchins Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, PA, USA.

2014

Presión Contenida Gallery Charpa, Valencia, Spain.

Corridas y Venidas Breese Little Gallery, London, United Kingdom.

2012

Selva en las Paredes Pumps Project, Contemporary Art Center "Las Cigarreras", Alicante, Spain.

Carnival/Cannibal Elio Rodriguez and Douglas Perez. Breese Little Gallery, London, United Kingdom

2009

Ceiba Negra L´Escorxador, Elche, Alicante, Spain

2007

Remakes Frick Fine Arts Gallery. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. USA.

2006

Elio Rodríguez/Mayra Alpizar Cervantes Institute. London, United Kingdom.

Ceiba (with Susana Guerrero) IX Havana Biennial. Provincial Center of Art Gallery, Havana, Cuba.

2005

Remakes Gallery 23 y 12, Havana, Cuba.

2003

Quilts & co. Open Studio, VII Havana Biennial. Casa Gaia, Teniente Rey # 157, H. Vieja, Havana, Cuba.

2001

El Macho: Made in Cuba El Museo Diego Rivera & Francisco Oller, Buffalo, NY, USA.

2000

Vogue Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

Elio Rodríguez UNEAC/ Nicolás Guillén Foundation, Havana, Cuba

Elio Rodríguez/René Peña Galerie Winance-Sabre, Tournai, Belgium

1999

Mulatisimas La Casona Gallery, FCBC, Havana, Cuba.

1997

La Gran Salsa 23 y 12 Gallery, VI Havana Biennial Havana, Cuba.

1996

Las Perlas de tu Boca Gallery Serigraph Workshop, Havana, Cuba.

1995

Paladares Alternative Gallery “Espacio Estudio”, Havana, Cuba

Paladares Student Union Gallery, Jersey City State University, NJ, USA.

1994

Tropical Gallery House of Young Creator, V Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

Recent Works Arts Space Gallery, Jersey City State University, NJ, USA.

1993

Morboutopías Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

1991

El Macho Provincial Arts Center, Havana, Cuba.

¿Mami, qué será lo que quiere el negro? Art Faculty Gallery, Havana University, Havana, Cuba.

COLLECTIVE SHOWS

2023

AQUI Open Studio. Arco Art Fair, Madrid, Spain

The Table Project Madrid Design Festival, Arco Art Fair, Madrid. Spain

SPRING/BREAK Art Show LA Skylight Culver City, LA. USA. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery

La Indomable Paisaje Domestico, Madrid. Spain

2022

Calima Art VII "Le Territorie des Sens Calima Cultural Center, Valencia, Spain

XL: This is not another Latino Exhibition Thomas Jaeckel Gallery. NYC

El Pasado Mio/My Own Past: Afrodescendant Contributions to Cuban Art Cooper Gallery, Harvard. USA

3rd New York Latin Triennial Lehman College, Bronx, NYC. USA

Hampton Fine Art Fair Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

2021

Banana Craze online show hosted by Bogota University and ISLAA

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary / Art Wynwood Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

2020

SilentSpecific installations virtual show

Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami Special Online Edition, Miami, FL Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, NYC.

PintaMiami Art Fair, Miami, FL Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

Fall Breeze Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NYC, USA.

Summer Loving Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NYC, USA.

2019

Nada Personal Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Cuba.

On the Edge the Wilds Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NYC, USA.

Past Forward El Barrio Art Space, New York, NY, USA.

2018

Resilience and Resistance in African Diaspora. Museum of Black Civilizations, Dakar, Senegal.

Context Art Fair Miami Thomas Jaeckel Gallery. Miami, FL, USA.

Art NewYork Fair Pier 94, NYC, USA.

Visualidades diversales. Maniobras ecológicas desde el Sur re-existente Galeria Rectorado Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Elche, Spain.

Gabinete Art Fair Centro Cultural de la Villa, Madrid, Spain.

ArtWynwood Miami Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, Miami, FL, USA.

X Years After II Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, NY, NYC.

2017

X Years After Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, NY, NYC.

Without Masks.Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.

Memorias. Grabado Cubano 80´90´en la Colección Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, Havana, Cuba.

89 Noches Museo de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.

The Last Picture Show Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, NY, NYC.

Context Art Fair New York NY, NYC. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery

Context Art Fair Miami Miami, FL, USA. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

2016

El Silencio de Duchamp Factoría Habana, Havana, Cuba.

Desde Cuenca hasta la Habana. 50 Años de Serigrafía en España. Taller Experimental de Grabado de la Habana, Cuba.

Art Southampton 2016. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York.

Havana Design Biennial Fábrica del Arte Cubano, Havana, Cuba.

Drapetomania DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago, IL. USA.

Context New York Art Fair New York, NY, USA. 532 Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

Pórtate Bien Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Havana, Cuba.

Pulse Art Fair New York, NY, USA. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

Dos Generaciones y Media Galeria Odalys, Madrid, Spain.

Drapetomania African American Museum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA.

Context Art Fair Miami Miami, FL, USA. Thomas Jaeckel Gallery.

2015

Watermill Benefit Summer Auction NY, USA.

Flux Art Fair Harlem New York, NY, USA.

Still Running Multicultural Art Center, Cambridge, MA, USA.

En Voz Alta Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NY, USA

Drapetomania Cooper Gallery, Cambridge, MA, USA

2014

OJO=MANCHA. Serigrafias Galeria El Butron, Sevilla, Spain.

Manipulación mediática en el Arte Cubano ContemporáneoCentro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

Estrategias de la Desobediencia Galeria Punto, Valencia, Spain

Without Masks MOA, Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

All Together Now Bresse Little Gallery, London, United Kingdom.

Drapetomania The 8th Floor Gallery, New York, NY, USA.

Paintings and Sculptures Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, New York, NY. USA.

Old Tin Cutlery Before the Invention of the Fork Breese Little Gallery, London, United Kingdom

2013

Citizens of the World. Cuba in Queens Queens Museum, NYC, NY. USA.

Drapetomania Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

Drapetomania Centro Provincial de Artes. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

2012

Queloides. Raza y Racismo en el Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Rudenstine Gallery. Du Bois Institute for African and Afro American Research, Cambridge. MA, USA.

Queloides. Raza y Racismo en el Arte Cubano Contemporáneo The 8th Floor Gallery, New York, NY, USA.

2011

Ya se Leer. Imagen y Texto en el Arte Latinoamericano Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, Havana, Cuba.

2010

Queloides. Raza y Racismo en el Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Mattress Factory Art Museum, Pittsburgh, PA. USA.

Gold Prints, Cuban Contemporary Prints London Print Studio, London, United Kingdom.

Without Masks Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Queloides. Raza y Racismo en el Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, Havana, Cuba

2009

Art Jaén 2009 Feria International de Arte, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain

Genero (Trans)Genero y los Degenerados X Bienal de la Habana. Centro Cultural Bertold Berth, Havana. Cuba

Proyecto Banderas ExpoCuba, Havana, Cuba

Alta Tension Galeria Fernando Pradilla, Madrid, Spain

2008

Arte Contemporáneo Español. Obra Gráfica Galeria Espace Mercerie. Lausana, Switzerland.

We are Porno, Si! Galeria Aglutinador, Havana, Cuba.

Ghost Posters Galeria 23 y 12, Havana, Cuba.

Terapia de Grupo Galeria Fernando Pradilla, Madrid, Spain.

2007

Art and Satire, Subversion: The Power of Parody. 5 Iberoamerican Visions Casa de America. Madrid, Spain.

Christian Walter, Dos Décadas de Serigrafía Centro Cultural Caja Granada San Antón, Granada, Spain.

AfroCuba: Works on Papers, 1968-2003 Lowe Art Museum, FL, USA.

Estampa 2007 International Print Fair Centro de Exposiciones, Madrid, Spain.

IVAM Electra 2007 Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Valencia, IVAM, Spain.

La Mirada Perversa Galeria Aural. Alicante, Spain.

2006

Enjoy! IX Havana Biennial. Performance and Video International Event. Salon La Tropical, Havana, Cuba.

Estampa 2006 Internacional Print Fair Centro de Exposiciones, Madrid, Spain (Stand Christian Walter).

2005

!LA CUBANIDAD! Cuban Posters 1940/2004 MAK Works on Paper Room, Austria

AfroCuba: Works on Papers, 1968-2003 San Francisco State University Fine Arts Gallery, San Francisco, L.A. / Kennesaw State University, Georgia/ Indianapolis Museum of Art/ Lowe Art Museum, USA.

2004

Cuban Posters Track 16 Gallery, Santa Mónica, LA, USA.

Labores Domesticas Centro Provincial de Arte, Pinar del Río/ Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

La Escuela de Columbia Galeria “Mariano Rodríguez”, Villa Panamericana, Havana, Cuba.

2002

Arte Contemporáneo de Cuba Memorial de Latinoamérica , Biennial of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo. Brazil.

Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

2001

III Salón de Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Centro Wifredo Lam, Havana, Cuba.

La Isla Infinita Centro Cultural La Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tenía que ser Negro Rush Arts Gallery, New York, NY, USA.

2000

Arriba la Carpa VII Biennial Havana (performances project), Plaza Vieja, Havana, Cuba. (curator)

Arte Contemporánea Cubana Centro de Exposiciones Prefectura Santo Andrés, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Subasta de Arte Cubano Contemporáneo VII Havana Biennial, Casa de las Americas, Havana, Cuba.

La Tentación Museo Nacional de Artes, Puerto Príncipe, Haití.

International Young Art 2000 Sotheby's Tel Aviv, Israel / Sotheby's Chicago, EUA / Sotheby's Vienna, Austria

1999

Cinq Artistes de Cuba Mussanta ee Ianchelevici, La Louviere, Belgium.

La Huella Múltiple Convento de Santa Clara, CENCREM. Havana, Cuba.

Queloides Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

1998

II Salón de Arte Contemporáneo Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

Arte Cubano de Fin de Siglo Baluarte de la Candelaria. Festival Iberoamericano de Cádiz, Spain.

El Cuerpo, Poder y Carnaval en la Pintura Cubana de los 90s Festival Afrocaribeño del Instituto de Cultura de Veracruz, México.

1997

Ni músicos ni Deportistas Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Havana, Cuba.

A mitad del Sueño II Casa de Cultura de Celaya, Guanajuato, México.

Havana/Newark’97 Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, Newark, NJ, USA. (Curator)

Queloides I Parte Casa de Africa, Havana, Cuba.

Realidades Virtuales Pabellón Cuba. VI Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba. (Curator)

1996

Havana/Newark’96 Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, Newark, NJ, USA. (Curator)

¡Cuba! Art & Revolution Southside Gallery, Oxford. MS, USA.

Cinque Gallery, New York, NY, USA.

Latin American Art in the 90’s St. John’s University, Queens, NY, USA.

Giros de Tuerca Taller de Serigrafía “René Portocarrero”, Havana, Cuba.

I Salón de Arte Cubano Contemporáneo Fototeca de Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

1995

El Tema Histórico en la Pintura Cubana Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.

La Boheme Fine Arts Gallery, Miami, FL, USA.

1994

Bratton Gallery, New York, N.Y., USA.

II Bienal Internacional de Pintura del Caribe y Centroamérica Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic .

1992

Arte Cubano. Nuevas Tendencias, Nuevos Creadores Galeria Casa Golferichs, Barcelona City Hall, Spain.

Cambio de Bola Galeria Habana, Havana, Cuba.

1991

El Humor en la Plástica Joven VII Biennial del Humor, San Antonio de los Baños, Havana, Cuba.

En sus Marcos…Listos! Galeria Habana, Havana, Cuba.

La Huella del Pulgar Galeria Habana, IV Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

Olor a Tinta Galeria Habana , Havana, Cuba.

Plástica Cubana Actual IV Havana Biennial, Galeria Panamericana, Havana, Cuba.

1990

El Objeto Esculturado Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba.

1er Salon National de Sátira y Humor San Antonio de los Baños. Havana, Cuba.

1989

National Salon of Small Format Las Tunas, Cuba.

¿Arte Sexo? Facultad de Artes , Universidad Havana. III Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba

1988

Suave y Fresco Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.

Centro Habana Salon Galeria Galiano, Havana, Cuba.

1987

1st Festival of Creation and Artistic Investigation ISA, Havana,Cuba.

1986

Relevo II Havana Biennial. ISA, Havana, Cuba.


COLLECTIONS

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.

Jersey City State University, USA.

Cuban Embassy, China.

Hainaut City Hall, Belgium.

Museo del Humor, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba.

Bratton Gallery, New York, N.Y., USA.

Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS, USA.

La Boheme Fine arts Gallery, Miami, FL, USA.

Cinque Gallery, New York, N.Y., USA.

Center for Cuban Studies, New York, NY, USA.

Arte y Naturaleza, Madrid, Spain

Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, Cuba.

Peggy Crafitz Collection, Washington DC, USA.

Chris Von Christierson Collection, London, UK.

The Shelley & Donald Rubin Collection, New York, NY, USA.

Du Bois Institute for African and Afro American Research, Cambridge. MA, USA.


LECTURES

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba. (May 2017)

Swarthmore College, Philadelphia, USA (March. 2016)

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (Feb. 2015)

New York University, NYC, NY, USA. (Nov. 2010)

CUNY. Graduate Center. New York University, NYC. USA. (Nov. 2007)

Connecticut University, Hartford, Connecticut. USA. (Oct. 2007, Nov 2010)

Pittsburgh University, Pittsburgh. USA. (Oct. 2007, Nov 2010)

Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Habana, Cuba (March. 1997)

Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba (Sept. 1998)

Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA, USA. (Oct. 2001)

University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA (Nov. 2001/Oct. 2002/Nov 2007)

Hunter College, New York, NYC, USA (Sept. 1995)

Rutgers State University, Newark, NJ. USA. (March. 1996)

Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ, USA (1995/96/97/2000/2002)

Mississippi University, Oxford, MS, USA (1998)

Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. (Oct. 2001)

Sumei Interdisciplinary Arts Center, Newark, NJ, USA (1995/1996)

Universidad de Artes “Miguel Hernández”, Altea, Alicante, Spain. (Oct. 2005)

Du Bois Institute for African and Afro American Research, Cambridge. MA, USA. (May 2012)