El Grabado: Contemporary Cuban Printmaking

Exhibit Details

December 8, 2018 - March 17, 2019
Opening Reception: December 7, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Eldredge, Spratlen, and Armstrong Galleries

This exhibition presents over 70 prints by thirty-three Cuban artists who have all worked, at one time or another, at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica de Habana – the oldest, continuously running print workshop in Cuba. The Taller was established in 1962 by muralist Orlando Suarez with the help of Che Guevara, who was then Cuba’s Minister of Industry. From its inception, the workshop has focused on connecting artists with traditional printmaking techniques and fostering a dynamic artistic community based on the sharing and exchange of ideas, experimentation, and art criticism. This supportive community has allowed Cuban artists a relative freedom of expression, even amid the country’s larger political and cultural issues. It continues to be one of the most important workshops in Cuba.

The exhibition is pulled entirely from the collection of Drs. Antonio and Luz Racela.

El Grabado Cubano Contemporáneo

Diciembre 8, 2018 – Marzo 17, 2019

 Esta exposición presenta más de 70 grabados de treinta y tres artistas cubanos que han trabajado, en un momento u otro, en el Taller Experimental de Gráfica de Habana– el taller en funcionamiento más antiguo de Cuba. El Taller fue establecido en 1962 por el muralista Orlando Sánchez con el apoyo del Che Guevara, entonces Ministro de Industria de Cuba.  Desde su inicio, el taller se ha centrado en conectar a los artistas con las técnicas tradicionales de grabado y fomentar una comunidad artística dinámica basada en compartir e intercambiar  las ideas, la experimentación y la crítica de arte. Esta comunidad de apoyo ha permitido a los artistas cubanos una relativa libertad de expresión, incluso en medio de los asuntos políticos y culturales más grandes del país. Sigue siendo uno de los talleres más importantes en Cuba.

La exhibición se ha extraído completamente de la colección de Drs. Antonio y Luz Racela.

Exhibit Resources

View the Exhibition Preview Video

Related Programs

Collagraph Printmaking Workshop
Saturday, Feb. 16 or March 2, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Collagraphy is a DIY technique that allows an artist to be very experimental with a variety of materials. Participants will build their own collaged plates, and then ink and print the plates. You will leave with an original collagraph plate, prints, and insight into the creative process seen in the current special exhibition and elsewhere in the Museum’s collection. Pre-registration is required.

Cost: $15, materials provided. Ages 16+

Featured Works

A black and white logo that says Missouri Arts Council with an outline of the state of Missouri in t

Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.