Cuba
• 1902
- 1982
140 followers
Painting is a universal language.
Biography
Wifredo Lam was born in 1902 in Sagua la Grande (Cuba). He studied Law before leaving his island in 1923 for Spain.
Wifredo Lam joined the Artcollege of Madrid where he would work in the painter Fernando Alvarez de Sotomayor's atelier. His first personal exhibition was organized in 1928. The work of Wifredo Lam was in its halfcaste history (China, Africa, and the Antilles). The artist was notably inspired by Africans who brought in Cuba "their primitive culture, their magic religion, and its mystic aspect".
During the Spanish civil war, Wifredo Lam fought for the republicans. He was obliged to take refuge in France in 1937; there, he met Picasso who helped him to find his place in the Parisian artistic environment and introduced him to his friends (Michel Leiris, Paul Eluard, Tristan Tzara, Léger, Braque, Miro, Christian Zervos, Matisse, etc.). In 1939, he joined André Breton and the surrealist movement.
Wifredo Lam died in Paris in 1982. According to the painter's will, his ashes were transferred in Cuba, where was created in posthumous honoring, the "Centre Wifredo Lam" for the promotion and the study of the Third World-Plastic Arts.
Nationality
Categories
Artistic movements
Themes
Wifredo Lam
Fine Art Drawings - 21.9 x 16.9 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$38,365
Wifredo Lam
Sculpture - 26.7 x 14 x 8.9 cm Sculpture - 10.5 x 5.5 x 3.5 inch
$7,463
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.05 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,798
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.05 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,798
Wifredo Lam
Print - 50 x 36 x 4 cm Print - 19.7 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch
$3,357
Wifredo Lam
Print - 56 x 76 x 1 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch
$959
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.05 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,158
Wifredo Lam
Print - 76.2 x 55.2 cm Print - 30 x 21.75 inch
$3,000
Wifredo Lam
Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 21.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.7 x 8.6 x 0.1 inch
$38,365
Wifredo Lam
Print - 50 x 71 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 28 x 0.1 inch
$480
Wifredo Lam
Print - 50 x 71 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 28 x 0.1 inch
$480 $432
Wifredo Lam
Sculpture - 26 x 28 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 11 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.05 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 59 x 80 cm Print - 23.2 x 31.5 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Sculpture - 27 x 28 x 14 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 11 x 5.5 inch
Sold
Wifredo Lam
Print - 50 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 14 x 0.1 inch
Sold
Exhibitions dedicated to Wifredo Lam
Discover the movements linked to Wifredo Lam
Discover similar artists
Keith Haring
United States
Valerio Adami
Italy
Robert Combas
France
Eduardo Arroyo
Spain
Joseph Beuys
Germany
Larry Rivers
United States
Jean Cocteau
France
Alexis Gorodine
France
Discover our selections of works by artists
Need help finding your favorite? Consult our selection pages made for you.
Need to know more?
What was Wifredo Lam known for?
Wifredo Lam was known for blending Afro-Cuban culture with Surrealism and Cubism in his paintings. His iconic work, "The Jungle," reflects his unique fusion of modernist styles and Caribbean spiritual symbolism.
How many children did Wifredo Lam have?
Wifredo Lam had one son, Eskil Lam, born in 1959 with his third wife, Swedish artist Lou Laurin-Lam. Eskil Lam is also involved in the arts.
What does the jungle by Wifredo Lam represent?
The Jungle by Wifredo Lam represents the complex identity of Afro-Cuban culture, blending African, Caribbean, and Surrealist influences. The painting critiques colonialism and explores themes of spirituality, hybridity, and cultural transformation.
Who was the Cuban artist like Picasso?
Wifredo Lam is often considered the Cuban artist most comparable to Picasso. His work blends Afro-Cuban culture with modernist styles, and he was influenced by Picasso during his time in Paris.