Rosniel Abril

Rosniel Abril is a prominent Cuban visual artist and teacher at the San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts, where he graduated with a gold registration (matrícula de oro). Since his first recognitions as a student, his work faced censorship in Cuba because of its strong symbolism, which led him to establish himself as a creator in exile. His work "Norma de Cuba" is inspired by Pop Art and Andy Warhol and invites the viewer to imagine what it would have been like if Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood's most famous actress, had lived in the Caribbean island and smoked a cigar in Cuba. The piece also pays tribute to Cuban women, shown with their hair gathered in a "moño de trapo" that evokes the traditional headdresses of santeras. He has exhibited at prestigious institutions and galleries, including the Fundación Ludwig, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, and the Art Wanson Gallery at the Marbella Club as part of the "Warhol 30th anniversary". With a direct and visually striking style, Rosniel Abril has established himself as a young and courageous voice of contemporary Cuban art in exile, able to interweave social critique, global references and a deeply rooted cultural identity.