Octavio Cuellar
I am an artist who has dedicated himself to investigate, through sculpture, the forms in which art approaches the human themes. Concepts such as farewell, loss, mourning, assimilation, longing, joy, beauty and immortality are present in my artistic production because it is an entirely humanist work. These concepts I transfer to my work and treat them as energy, essence, and human spirit, which allow me to create a figuration absent from figuration, where the viewer is in charge of supplementing those omissions.
In my work, various topics are present: Universal Culture and Immigration, Essence and Human Spirituality and Decontextualization of the Object, something I call “Desnomination”.
In the first one, Universal Culture and Immigration, I integrate the element that migrates (not only do individuals emigrate, culture, ideas also migrate) and distribute symbologies belonging to ancient cultures which help me reinforce losses and presences throughout the history of humanity. An example of this is the Palimpsest series.
In the second one, Essences and Spirituality I reflect the human interior and work themes such as music and dance seen as states of creation. The religious theme is posed with images of monks as introspective entities.
In the third topic, Desnomination of the Object, I decontextualize the object and contextualize it metamorphosed in a new one. An example is the Hedonism series.
The influences in my art are marked by Giorgio de Chirico and Fidelio Ponce de Leon, the first gave me the concept, and the second closed the figuration. Impressionist sculptor Medardo Rosso, in the treatment of works, Salvador Dali with metamorphosed forms and neorealism in human absence and the presence of objects.
I have always worked using noble metals such as copper, brass, bronze, silver, gold in a traditional way because I believe in the beauty of the trade of classical masters. Each blow, each welding allows me to extract from one sheet unrepeatable lights and shadows, textures, beautiful traces of defects and inaccuracy, obtaining works of a strong visual apprehension with the timeless halo that used objects acquire.
My proposal as an artist is to impact the public, provoking visual confusion to provoke reflection and mental processes of thought that without assuming a religion, a specific political or cultural framework, the viewer can discover the spiritual part of what we are as humanity.
OCTAVIO CUELLAR (b. 1964, Czech Republic/Cuba)
Place of residency: Miami, Florida, USA
AFFILIATION: National Sculpture Society, New York, NY
EDUCATION
BA 1988- 1992 Graduated of Sculpture and Drawing, “San Alejandro” National Academy of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba
AWARDS
First Prize of Sculpture, Art Fest @Doral, Carlos Albizu University, Miami, FL, USA (2011)
Second Place, Erotic Art Salon, Gallery La Acacia, Havana, Cuba (2000)
First Place, Small Sculpture Competition Format Fernando Boada, Havana, Cuba (1993)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013 Tautology, Miami River Drive Art Fair, James L Knight Miami Convention Center, Brickell, Miami FL, USA (Dec 5-8)
Hedonism, Viceroy Hotel at Icon Brickell, Miami FL, USA
2010 Palimpsest, Gallery-Studio o2c-Art, Art Basel, Wynwood, Art District, Miami, FL, USA (Oct 6-9)
2005 To exhale, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club, New York, NY, U S A
2002 The Art of Octavio Cuellar, J.L.S. Contemporary Art Gallery, Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico, Mexico
2001 Fugitive Spirit, La BOOM Show Center, Mexico City, Mexico
1999 Escaping of my body, Cigar Smokers Country Club and Habano Tobacco House. Istanbul, Turkey
Upside down Century. Travelling exhibition in Greece. May, Piraeus Municipal Gallery; July, Cultural Center of the Kephalonia Island’s government and Museum of the University of Athens
1997 In silence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), Havana, Cuba
Eyes that prefer to imagine, Gallery La Acacia, Havana, Cuba (Nov 18-Dec 15)
Things of the soul, Andalucía Plaza Hotel, Puerto Banus, Andalucía, Spain
1995 The essential is invisible to the eyes, Octavio Cuellar sculptures, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, Havana, Cuba (Sep 20-Oct 21)
1993 Spiritual, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, Havana, Cuba (Apr)
1992 Reflections, Art Center 23 y 12, Havana, Cuba (Jul)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Culture & Identity of our America, curated by Anaibis Yero, project Latin American Art Pavilion at Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Pompano Beach, FL, USA. Oct14-Jan3
Narratives in Latin-American Art, curated by Anaibis Yero, project Latin American Art Pavilion at ArtServe, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Oct13-Dec30
2019 Visions of Cuba, Historic Cuban Cigar Factory “Eduardo Gato”, Key West, FL, USA (Feb 1-May 3)
2018 I’m Icon, Icon Brickell Residences Tower II, Miami, FL, USA (Dec 3-9)
2017 Memories & Challenges of Contemporary Latin American Art, Magnetic Pompano, Creative City Collaborative & Pompano Citi Centre, Pompano Beach, FL, USA (Aug 14-Sep 17)
Dreams, Sarcasm, Cynicism, Art & Design Gallery, Miami, FL, USA (May 4-29)
2016 Intangible Flight, curated by Anaibis Yero to Art & Design Gallery, Miami, FL, USA (Feb 18- Mar 14)
2015 Celebration of the Rich Traditions of Hispanic Heritage, Ansin Family Art Gallery @ Miramar Cultural Center, Broward, FL, USA (Sep 3-Oct 30)
2014 Three talents, three artists, Museo Casa de Piedra, Tlaxcala, Mexico (May 14-Jun 16)
2012 Biennial Visual Art LNVA, Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at the University of Connecticut’s, Avery Point Campus, CT, USA (Sept 15- Oct 26)
2010 RUTA 2010, International Juried Exhibition with the mission of honoring Mexico’s Bicentennial of its Independence from Spain in 1810. Inaugurated by Mexican Ambassador in Miami, Juan Miguel Gutierrez Tinoco, Audrey Love Gallery, Bakehouse Art Complex, Wynwood Art District, Miami, FL, USA (Sep 10- Oct 1)
2007 Europe-Latin America Meeting, Galeria J.L.S. , Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico, Mexico (Jun 2-30)
2004 Sin fin, sin contén, sin medida, Gallery Espuela de Plata, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba (Apr 14)
2001 Fifth Cuban-Mexican Visual Arts Salon, Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Mexico, México City, Mexico
2000 First Erotic Art Salon, Gallery La Acacia, Havana, Cuba (Mar 30-Apr 30)
1999 Contemporary Cuban Exhibition, Cuban Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia (Jun-Nov)
1998 Czech Culture Week Exhibition, Gallery Galiano-Concordia Art Center, Havana, Cuba
1993 Salon Pequeño Formato (Small Format Salon), Gallery L, Havana, Cuba
1992 La muestra del año (The show of the year), Gallery La Acacia, Havana, Cuba
ART FAIRS/BIENNALS
2016 Art Medellin’16, stand Latin American Art Pavilion (LAAP). Curated space by Anaibis Yero and named “Trazos de Identidad” (Strokes of identity), Plaza Mayor, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia (Sep 16-19)
2015 Red Dot Art Fair, Stand Latin America Art Pavilion, Gallery-room Space, Art Basel week, Downtown Miami FL, USA (Dec 1-6)
2011 Art Naples International Contemporary Art Fair, Miami Wave Project (booth), Naples International Pavilion, FL, USA (Mar 18-21)
2004 Second National Biennial of Visual Arts of Yucatan, Center of Visual Arts, Yucatan, Mexico
2000 Third Biennial of Sculpture, Teodoro Ramos Blanco Gallery, Havana, Cuba
CODEMA 2000, Cuban Contemporary Sculpture Salon, International Forum of Environmental Sculpture, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba
1994 Fifth Havana Biennial, Contemporary Cuban Sculpture, Mariano Rodríguez Gallery, Havana, Cuba (May 6-Jun 30)
1992 ARCO’92, Exhibit on the occasion of the Meeting between Two Cultures, Madrid, Spain (Feb 13-18)
COMMISSIONS
2020 Private Art Commission, Virgin of Loreto, sculpture 40H x 30W x 29D inches, copper, Miami residence house, FL, USA
Private Art Commission, Ka (Theater characters), sculpture 74H x 24W x 31D inches, copper, Miami Country Day School, Building Center for the Arts, Miami, FL, USA
2019 Private Art Commission, Set Up (photographer), sculpture 70H x 41W x 28D inches, copper, Miami Country Day School, Building Center for the Arts, Miami, FL, USA
2018 Private Art Commission, Cambré (classical ballet feminine dancer), sculpture 62 H x 40 W x 32 D inches, copper, Miami Country Day School, Building Center for the Arts, Miami, FL, USA
2017 Private Art Commission, Contra Bass Musician, sculpture 77 H x 34 W x 32 D inches, copper, Miami Country Day School, Building Center for the Arts, Miami, FL, USA
2002 Private Art Commission, Espiritu prófugo (Spirit fugitive), twenty sculptures on human scale, copper, Rincon Dorado, Cuernavaca, Morelos State, Mexico
2000 Corporate Art Commission, Luego existo (Then I exist), three sculptures on human scale, copper, Hostel Los Frailes, Old Havana, Cuba
Public Art Commission, Tourists, three sculptures on human scale, copper, Arenas Doradas Hotel, Varadero, Cuba
1999 Corporate Art Commission, The Monk, sculpture, copper, Basilica Minor of the San Francisco de Assisi Convent, Old Havana, Cuba
Public Art Commission, The Rhythm of Silence, four sculptures, variable dimensions, copper, Jazz Café, Havana, Cuba
1997 Private Art Commission, Spainair Traveler, sculpture, copper, Spanair S.A. headquarter in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Private Art Commission, Slow Passage, sculpture, copper, Andalucía Plaza Hotel, Puerto Banus, Andalucía, Spain
Public Art Commission, Appearance, sculpture, copper, Hotel Sotavento, Varadero, Cuba
1996 Public Art Commission, Presence, sculpture, copper, Hotel Arenas Doradas, Varadero, Cuba
COLLECTIONS
Corporate Collection
CUBA Office of the City historian Eusebio Leal Spengler, Basilica of the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, Old Havana
Hostal Los Frailes, Old Havana
Hotel del Tejadillo, Old Havana
Havana Jazz Café, Havana
Paseo Galleries, Havana
Hotel Arenas Doradas, Varadero, Matanzas
Hotel Sotavento, Varadero, Matanzas
Hotel Turquesa, Varadero, Matanzas
Private Collection
CANADA Gordon Viberg, Victoria, British Columbia
ECUADOR Galo Roggiero, Guayaquil
ENGLAND Halvor Astrup, London
GUATEMALARicardo Arjona, Guatemala City
MEXICO Slim Family, Mexico City
Hank González, Mexico City
De la Parra Family, Cuernavaca
SPAIN Luis Callejon Family, Puerto Banú
SYRIA Prince Faisal Abdula, Damascus
USA Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Oregon
Carl Landegger, New York, NY
Isaac del Sol, Miami, FL
Hernandez family, Miami, FL
Institutional Collection
USA Miami Country Day School, Miami Shores, FL
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tesis
Alvarez Hernandez, Analays, “La escultura publica habanera (1990-2005)”, Mentor Maria de los Angeles Pereira, 2005, Universidad de La Habana
Print Media
Garcia, Nelson, “Octavio Cuellar”, section Arte divino Arte, Palabra Nueva Magazine, Year XXV, July-August 2016, No.216, p.74
Wifredo Lam Bulletin, “No pisotear lo hecho con el Corazon” (Do not trample on what is done with the Heart), 10th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Center, 2009, Old Havana, Cuba.
Newspaper Editor, “Iddar de la Parra promueve al escultor Cubano Octavio Cuellar” (Iddar de la Parra promotes the Cuban sculptor Octavio Cuellar), El Heraldo de Mexico newspaper, September 2001
Perez, Yanet, “La vestimenta de un pecador” (The vestment of a sinner), Opus Habana
Magazine, Vol. III, No. 3-4, November 30, 1999
Diaz Romay, Alexis Raul, “ Soliloquio de Octavio Cuellar. (Una explicacion necesaria)”, Revista cubana Habanera, Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos(I.C.A.P.), La Habana, Año 4, No. 11, 1998, pg. 76-78
Diaz Romay, Alexis Raul, “El mago de Oz”, Habanera Magazine, 1997, Havana, Cuba.
“Crítica de la obra del escultor Octavio Cuéllar” (Critique of the work of the sculptor Octavio Cuéllar), Eyes that prefer to imagine exhibition, catalogue, words by the art history Professor Antonio Alejo, Gallery The Acacia, 1997, Havana, Cuba
“Octavio Cuellar: como la materia hecha flor”, Lo esencial es invisible para los ojos exhibition, Catalogue, words by Lino Betancourt Molina, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, 1995, Havana, Cuba
“Spiritual”, Spiritual exhibition, catalogue, words by the Cuban painter Cesar Lela Jimenez, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, 1993, Havana, Cuba
Website Publications
“Meet Octavio Cuellar of Hands on Metal in North East”, VoyageMIA magazine, Miami City Guide, Sep 15, 2020
http://voyagemia.com/interview/meet-octavio-cuellar-hands-metal-north-east/
Octavio Cuellar, “Observe”, Youtube, April 10, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlDHw5DnHfY
https://www.ecured.cu/index.php/Octavio_Cu%C3%A9llar_Campos, 2011
Art Naples & Octavio Cuellar, Naples, FL, USA, 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ktic0OiSs
“Octavio Cuellar”, The Cuban Art Project website, 2011.https://thecubanartproject.com/artists-2/octavio-cuellar/
Garcia Tapia, Hugo “Muestra Octavio Cuellar su nueva obra escultórica”, El Universal newspaper, September 26, 2001, Mexico. http://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/estilos/17297.html
Perez, Yanet, “La vestimenta de un pecador” (The vestment of a sinner), taken from Opus Habana Magazine, Vol. III, No. 3-4, November 30, 1999. http://www.opushabana.cu/index.php/articulos/29-articulos-artes-visuales/478-