Rafael López Ramos
Visual Artist. Cowry Art Studio, Project Manager and Curator
Rafael López-Ramos
Cabaiguán, Cuba, 1962
EDUCATION
1987 Four years of a MFA, Instituto Superior de Arte, La Habana (1991)
1985 Bachelor, Drawing & Painting, Academia San Alejandro, La Habana.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Flashback, Cowry Art Studio, North Miami, FL
The Dead Sea Scrolls, Cowry Art Studio, North Miami, FL.
2019 Abs-traction, Cowry Art Studio, North Miami, FL.
2017 Serendipity, two person show with Natasha Perdomo, Artium Gallery, Miami, FL.
2015 Chromatic Aporias, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL.
2013 Don't Swallow your Gum, Cuban American Phototheque, Miami, FL.
Wonderland, The Art Link, Miami, FL.
2012 Wonderland, 17 Frost Art Space, New York, NY.
2010 Mirroring Nature, Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, FL.
2009 Mirroring Nature, Synergy Space, Miami, FL.
2003 Recent Works, Petley Jones Gallery, Vancouver.
1999 Transitions, Gallery Eleven Eleven, Vancouver, BC.
1998 Trans-actions, The Whip, Vancouver, BC.
1997 Walking Beside you in the Buddhist Temple, two person show with Natasha Perdomo, Havana Gallery, Vancouver, BC.
1991 Espíritus en el mundo material, Taller de Serigrafía René Portocarrero, La Habana.
1987 Anatomía de los frutos tropicales, Casa Estudiantil, Universidad de La Habana.
1986 Versiones y Abstracciones, Casa del Joven Creador, La Habana.
1985 La realidad, referencia imprescindible, Galería Emilio Rivero Merlín, La Habana.
1980 Muestra ecléctica, Galería 10 de Octubre, La Habana.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Island in the Swirl, Galleria Ca' D'Oro, New York, NY.
2020 Democratia, Cowry Art Studio, North Miami, FL.
2019 Salt & Pepper, Cowry Art Studio, North Miami, FL.
LIPS© Chocolate Revolution Valentine's Party & Auction, Faena Forum, Miami Beach, FL.
2018 Cuban Art of the 1980s. The Reynardus Collection, Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota, FL.
Against Gravity, Collection Suites, Doral, FL.
2017 Artists in Purgatory, Kendall Art Center, Miami, FL.
Cuban Artists: The Prodigious Decade, curated by Aluna Collective, Sagamore Hotel, Miami Beach, FL.
CloseUp II, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University, PA.
Identity & Belonging, Wall Street Fine Art, Jacksonville, FL.
2016 The 29th September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, LA.
Good to the Last Drop, Artium Gallery, Miami, FL.
CloseUp, Webber Gallery, College of Central Florida, Ocala.
Cuban Fried Chicken, MAC Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
2015 Art Africa Miami Arts Fair, Historic Lyric Theatre, Miami, FL.
Ocho, 17 Frost Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.
2014 The Trojan Horse, Jorge Mendez Gallery, Palm Springs, CA.
Short Story, Juan Ruiz Gallery, Miami, FL.
Alpha & Omega, Arevalo Gallery, Miami, FL.
2013 Twelve, Jorge Mendez Gallery, Palm Springs, CA.
Stealing Base: Cuba at Bate, The 8th Floor, New York, NY.
2012 The Art of Dance, Paragon Gallery, Miami, FL.
Art Takes Times Square, ArtistsWanted.org, New York, NY.
2011 Base Paint -the auction, Ideobox Art Space, Miami, FL.
CAFÉ XII, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo, CO.
2010 Duodecad, Edge Zones Art Center, Miami, FL.
Haitian Art Relief Fund, ArteAmericas Art Fair, Miami Beach Convention Center, FL.
No Pedestrians Need Apply, Color Alternative Space, Miami, Fl.
2009 Abstractomicina, Cremata Gallery, Miami, FL.
Contemporary Cuban Art in New York (CANY), Dactyl Foundation, New York, NY.
2008 Miami: Metaphor City, West Art Gallery, Miami Dade College, FL..
Valoarte. Galería Nacional, San José, Costa Rica.
Miami: Ciudad Metáfora. Centro Cultural Español, Coral Gables, FL.
2007 Killing Time, Exit Art, New York, NY.
2006 Cuban Art outside Cuba, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY.
A Passion for wildlife, Vancouver Museum, BC, Canada.
2005 Cuatro Artistas Cubanos, Jorge Sori Fine Arts, Coral Gables, FL.
2003 Latinamerican Masters of Today and Tomorrow, Virginia Miller Gallery, Coral Gables, FL.
Café III: The Journey of Cuban Artists, West Gallery, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ.
2001 Junge Kunst aus Kuba, Museum Friedrichshof, Austria.
2000 Ojo, Pinta, Centre Gallery, Miami-Dade College.
Straight from the Heart, Alliance Française, Vancouver, BC.
1996 Group Exhibition, Grupo Li, Caracas.
1995 Utopías, Sala Alternativa, Caracas.
1er Salón de Arte Cubano Contemporáneo, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Habana.
1994 Sálvese quien pueda, Galería Habana, La Habana.
1992 Pintores Cubanos, Elaine Benson Gallery, New York.
Nacido en Cuba, Museo de Arte Moderno del Estado de Mexico, Toluca.
1991 Una Mirada Joven, Instituto Quintanarroense de Cultura, México.
Maestros de la pintura cubana, Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, La Habana.
La huella del pulgar, Galería Habana, collateral exhibit to the IV Bienal de La Habana.
Nacido en Cuba, Ateneos de Valencia y Caracas, Venezuela.
Salón de la Ciudad, Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Habana.
1990 El Objeto Esculturado, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Habana.
1989 La Plástica Joven se Dedica al Béisbol, Stadium Jose A. Echeverría, Habana.
Es sólo lo que ves (abstract art), Habana.
I Festival de la Creación Artística, Instituto Superior de Arte, Habana.
El ISA en Casa, Casa de las Américas, Habana.
1988 No por Mucho Madrugar Amanece más Temprano, Fototeca de Cuba, Habana.
Suave y Fresca, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
MEDITAR, Plaza de la Revolución, Habana.
Salón de la Ciudad, Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Habana.
1987 I Festival de la Creación Artística, Instituto Superior de Arte.
1986 Salón Centro Habana, Galería Galiano, Habana.
Salón 13 de Marzo, Galería L, Habana.
1985 Salón Playa, Galería Servando Cabrera, Habana.
PASSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
LORENZO RAMOS, Yoandra: "Chomatic Aporias", Art OnCuba Magazine online
GARCÍA, Hugo "Chromatic Aporias: insularity and nation on canvas", exhibition catalog, MOCA, North Miami
ROSADO, Jesús: "Chromatic Aporias. Rafael López-Ramos en el MOCA de Miami", Nagari Magazine online.
MENÉNDEZ, Aldo: "Rafael López-Ramos, lejos de la complacencia", El Nuevo Herald, Miami, 01/05/14, p. 6D.
BATET, Janet: "Rafael Lopez-Ramos, The Art Link Gallery", ArtNexus Magazine, Miami, Issue 91, Dec - Feb 2014, p. 132.
BADAJOZ, Joaquín "Wonderland, the Many Images of Misrepresentation", Art District Magazine, Miami, August - September, 2013, pp. 16-17.
BATET, Janet: "Bienvenido al país de las maravillas", Revista Nagari, Miami, # 3, p.p. 162-165.
CESARCZYK, Michael: “Sex and Awe at 17 Frost”, The Greenpoint Gazette, New York, Jul 12, 2012.
MENENDEZ-CONDE, Ernesto: “Lopez Ramos, 17 Frost Art Space, New York”, Revista Arte al Día, # 140 Aug, Sep, Oct 2012, Miami.
DE LA PAZ, Luis, "5 preguntas a Rafael López Ramos",¨Diario Las Americas, Miami, 07-28-2012
DOMINGUEZ, Jorge I.: “Rafael López Ramos: las bodas del deseo”, Blog Tersites, New York, Friday, July 13, 2012.
O'REILLY HERRERA, Andrea: “Cuban Artists Across the Diaspora: Setting the Tent Against the House”, University of Texas Press, [ilus], 2011.
IGLESIAS, Elena: “Rafael López Ramos: reflejos y reflexiones”, El Nuevo Herald, Aplausos suplement, Miami, 09.23.10, p.9
ROSADO, Jesús: "Autos, cromos y otras vitrinas", Cubaencuentro, Madrid, 15/10/ 2009.
TRIFF, Alfredo: “How a barren world seen as reflected by mirrors, fenders, chassis, and other shining surfaces, become a focal point”, Exhibition Catalog, Mirroring Nature, Synergy Project, Wynwood, Miami, October 2009, p.2.
MUÑOZ, Gerardo: “Mirroring Nature”, Art Districts, Miami [ilus], Volume 1 No.2, October-November 2009, pp.10-11.
GRACIA, Jorge J. E,: Interview for the project Cuban Art Outside Cuba, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 2006.
LEONIN, Mia: “Viva the Evolution!” Miami New Times, Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2000, p. 65.
RIVERO, Raúl: “Ojo, Pinta”. Ediciones Imprimatur [ilus], Miami, 2000.
UNGER, GERD: “Die neue Szene Havannas”. Passagen, Mannheim [ilus], No.39, Juli/August 1996, pp.55-58.
1er Salón de Arte Cubano Contemporáneo. cat. Centro de Desarrollo de lasArtes Visuales, La Habana, [ilus] 1995.
SUAZO, F. & SOMOZA, A.: “Nacido en Cuba”. cat. Nacido en Cuba, Universidad de Carabobo, Venezuela, [ilus] 1991.
VASILIEVA, Svetlana: “Reflejar la Verdad de la Vida”. América Latina, Moscow [ilus], No.12, 1988, pp.44-49.
ALVAREZ, Enrique: “Ojo con la Información”. Revolución y Cultura, La Habana [ilus], No.6, 1988, pp.69-71.
LOPEZ OLIVA, Manuel: “¿Arte Contra el Arte?”, Granma, La Habana, 12-4-88, p.3.
PEREZ OLIVARES, José: “Ajiaco Criollo”. cat. Anatomía de los Frutos Tropicales, Universidad de La Habana, 1987.
AWARDS
2020 MAS Grant, Jorge Perez Family Foundation & Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, FL.
Oolite Arts Relief, Oolite Arts, Miami, FL.
2012 Artist Access Grant, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
1989 Prize on Installation, II Festival de la Creación Artística, I.S.A..
CONFERENCES & CURATORIAL WORK
2010 Past is History, Future is Mystery, Miami Dade College Freedom Tower, FL
No Pedestrians Need Apply, Color Alternative Space, Miami, FL
2009 8 de la 8, InterAmerican Gallery, Miami Dade College, FL
By Design: 20 Brands by Felix Beltrán, West Gallery, Miami Dade College, FL
2007 Killing Time, panel discussion, Exit Art, New York.
1994 Conference Estética y Mercado, Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, Havana.
1990 Conference Arte, Institución y Sociedad, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana.
Member of the Paideia Project, advocating for changes on official cultural policies.
1989 Specialist at the Education Services Department, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
1988 Presided the Visual Arts section (Ciudad Habana) of Asociación Hermanos Saíz.
Organized and curated Suave y Fresca, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana.
