Título desconocido (Title Unknown), 1963, Woodcut /Linocut

Francisco (Pancho) Antigua- Sculpture and Engraver. La Havana, Cuba1920-2983. He studied art at San Alejandro Academy from 1938 to 1942, and again from 1956 to 1959.  He was a founding member of the seminal Group “The Eleven,” (“Los Once”), a collective of painters and sculptors who pioneered a new style of poetic abstraction and non-figurative art in Cuba. This cadre of artists was active from 1953 to 1962, placing this mid-1950’s sculptural work by Francisco Antigua firmly in the most important period for this cultural movement.  In parallel, he was a member of the AGC from 1958 to 1968.

Since 1961, he was a founding member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

Cabeza de mujer con tela (Head of a Woman with a Veil, 1962, Woodcut

Osvaldo Cabrera del Valle- Painter and Printmaker.   Born in Zaza del Medio, Las Villas 1926 – La Habana 1975.  He began studying woodcuts at the Las Villas School of Plastic Arts.  His engraving teacher was Carmelo Gonzalez.  He went on to study at San Alejandro, National School of Fine Arts in Havana.  In 1954, he received a Prize in Woodcuts at the National Hall of Painting, Engraving, Sculpture, Architecture and Decorative and Applied Arts at the Second Hispanic American Art Biennial.  In 1956, he won the First Prize “Roberto Diago” in the Second Annual Exhibition of Painting, Drawing, Sculpture and Engraving Competition.  In 1960, he presented his solo exhibition, "Exhibition of engravings" in Camagüey, CUBA.  Additionally, he exhibited in many group & solo exhibitions.  Osvaldo also participated in biennals.  From 1962 until 1966, he was a professor of engraving at the National School for Art Instructors in Havana.  His works are in public collections.

Serie: El camasito (Series: The little bed), 1964, Etching

Antonio Canet- Painter and Printmaker.  La Habana 1942 - 2008.  The genre that he cultivated the most was engraving.  His work is characterized by a strong, intense black line in his engravings, giving unique drama and strength to what he wants to express in his art.  In 1959, he finished his study in woodcuts and was appointed head of Plastic Arts in the Instruction department.  He has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions internationally.

In 1962, he co-founded with other colleagues the Taller Experimental de Grafica workshop in Havana and began lithography (Stone Engraving). 

In 1964, he joined the Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba, where he won an engraving prize. During these years, he worked on the graphic production of numerous works.

Patio del Ayuntamiento (Courtyard of the Town Hall), ca 1949-1960 Lithograph

Enrique Caravia y Montenegro- Enrique Caravia- Noted painter, mosaicist and Printmaker. Portrait painter of merit, creator of various highly colorful pictorial compositions. (La Habana 1905 – 1992).

He held many notable positions at institutions and exhibited long before the establishment of the AGC. He was made Honorary President Emeritus of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba due to his historic contributions in printmaking and the art world.

Israel Cordova (FOUNDER)– Sculptor and Printmaker. (La Habana 1919 – 2011). He studied in Villate and San Alejandro from where he graduated. He has participated in several group exhibitions. He took part in the Third National Painting and Sculpture Exhibition in 1946. In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. The same year, he exhibited at V Salón Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado, Centro Asturiano, La Habana. He executed a monument to the Mothers located in San Antonio de los Baños. He was a Professor at the Santa Clara School of Plastic Arts, "Leopoldo Romañach". He also exhibited at Salón de Bellas Artes, Círculo de Bellas Artes, La Habana in 1950 and 1958.

Luis Peñalver Collazo (FOUNDER)- Painter and Printmaker. (La Habana 1927 – 2000). He studied at San Alejandro. He has participated in four group exhibitions and won four awards.  He was one of three Cuban Printmakers from AGC who created the historical large-scale prints called "Three Murals" from the Revolutionary Cuba” alongside with Carmelo González and Lesbia Vent Dumois.  His prints focused on Surrealism, Mysticism, and Spirituality.  In the first Salon of Cuban Woodcuts (1952) organized by the Directorate of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Penalver obtained an award with his woodblock print entitled "Velorio".

He has participated in numerous group exhibitions and won several awards.  He is a founder of the Association of Engravers of Cuba.  He has exhibited in Mexico, Spain, and other foreign countries. In the first National Salon of Cuban Woodcuts, he obtained the Second Prize for woodcut engraving.  In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. 

He received an award at the II Biennial of Hispanic American Art (for the Cuban and Spanish section).

Angel Marti Denis (FOUNDER)- Painter and Printmaker. (La Habana 1927).  He studied at San Alejandro where he graduated.  He has participated in group exhibitions, such as: Menores de 30 años, 1947. Annual Exhibition of Drawings, Watercolors and Engravings of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, 1949, and others.  In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. 

He was professor of Drawing at the Prevocational School of the Civil Military Institute (formerly Cangrejeras).

Título desconocido (Title Unknown) (Cabeza con flores/ Head with Flowers) Colored reduction woodcut 1964

Lesbia Vent Dumois- Painter and Printmaker.  (Villa Clara 1932 –  ).  She received the National Curatorial Award for her intense work at the Casa de las Americas.  In the years, 1958 and 1960, at the 1st and 2nd Inter-American Biennial of Painting and Engraving at National Museum of Plastic Arts, Mexico City (Mexico).  In 1961, she exhibited at the VI Biennial of São Paulo, Museum of Modern Art at Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo (Brazil).  In 1963 and 1965, at the First and Second American Engraving Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art, University of Chile, Santiago de Chile (Chile).  She has exhibited in various group and solo exhibitions internationally. She has won numerous awards over the years.

In 2019, she received Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas. 

Sin título (Untitled), ca 1954-1956Sin título (Untitled)

Odenia Vent Dumois – Printmaker.  (Las Villas 1935 – La Habana 1956).  Graduated from the Santa Clara School of Plastic Arts.  She has participated in several exhibitions. She has made several admirable color engravings, in the Japanese style. She was a student of Carmelo González and sister of Lesbia Vent Dumois.

Diablito (Devil), 1950, Woodcut using degame wood matrix

Armando Fernández (FOUNDER)- Sculptor and Printmaker.  (Tampa, Florida 1922 – La Habana 1997).  He studied at San Alejandro where he graduated.  He has participated in several group exhibitions.  In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. 

He was a Professor at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas San Alejandro, La Habana, and Santa Clara School of Plastic Arts, "Leopoldo Romañach". 

La Familia (The Family), ca 1962, Woodcut

Carlos Manuel Díaz Gámez- Draftsman, Painter, and Printmaker (La Habana 1926 2009). Studied: 1952-1953 School of Plastic Arts Leopoldo Romañach, Santa Clara.   San Alejandro National School of Plastic Arts, Havana. Has exhibited in solo and group exhibition. He continued to create at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica (Havana).

Grabador dentro de su taller (Printmaker in his workshop) ca 1954, Woodcut

Carmelo González Iglesias (FOUNDER) - Painter and Printmaker.  (La Habana 1920 – 1990). He studied at the Free School for Painters and Sculptors, at San Alejandro, where he graduated.  Upon graduating, he won the “Travel Bag” scholarship, in which he traveled throughout the United States. Prior to traveling to the US, he provided a tour to James Amos Porter, Professor from Howard University, considered the “Father of African-American Art History.”   The award led to him studying printmaking at “The Art Student League of New York”, where he was a member for several years.  Upon returning to Cuba, Carmelo led the Founding of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba. 

He has won a prize at the Third National Hall.  In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts.  He has participated in many group exhibitions and has held personal exhibitions containing Paintings, Drawings, and Engravings.   He has exhibited in Mexico, Honduras, New York, and Washington D.C. on various occasions.  He was a Professor at the Santa Clara School of Plastic Arts.  His works have been acquired by many international institutions and have garnered significant awards

Interior (Interior),1955, Woodcut

Ana Rosa Gutiérrez Martinez (FOUNDER)- Painter, Printmaker, and Pedagogy. (La Habana 1925 – 2005).  She studied at San Alejandro.  She has visited the museums in the United States where she resided for several years to deepen her art experience & knowledge.  She was the only Female Founding Member of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba.  She exhibited internationally and won numerous awards.  She won the Bronze Medulla with an engraving at the University of Tampa.  In the first National Salon of Cuban Woodcuts, she obtained the Second Prize in color engraving and the third prize in engraving for the head wood section.  In 1951, she produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts.  At the Second Biennial of Hispanic American Art held in Havana, she won an award for the Engraving section. (Cuban Salon)

She studied in other countries around Europe visiting Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, etc.

She continued printmaking at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica in Havana for the rest of her career.

José López (FOUNDER) - Painter and Printmaker. Outstanding Cuban plastic artist specializing in painting and sculpture. (La Habana 1924 – 2011).  He studied at the San Alejandro National School of Painting and Sculpture, where he graduated in 1945.   Since the same year of his graduation, he has been participating in different national and international exhibitions.  He has exhibited in several important exhibitions, among them in the National Salon of 1946. He had a solo exhibition at the Lyceum Lawn Tennis Club in 1949.

Buho (Owl), Buho (Owl), ca 1950 - 1964, Woodcut

Tomás Marais- Painter and Printmaker. (Matanzas 1931 – Tampa, Florida 2004).  Trained by Cuban masters at Havana’s academy of art, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de San Alejandro.  This is where he began to develop his printmaking technique.  Marais’ work is an excellent example of art rooted in the culture of Cuba but developed in exile.  Marais has worked in a variety of media, from painting, drawing and printmaking to collage and sculpture, and exhibited his works regularly.

Venceremos (Overcome), 1960, Aquatint

César Mazola Alvarez- Draftsman, Painter, Sculpturer, Printmaker and Graphic Designer.  (La Habana 1939 – México 2021).  Graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in 1960, with degrees in drawing, painting, sculpture, and engraving.  He contributed to the important AGC portfolio “Declaración de la Habana” in 1961.  In 1965-66 he studied graphic poster design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland, for nine months.  There are more than fifty mentions and awards he obtained, in addition to recognitions, the last one being the National Design Award awarded in 2019 by the Plastic Arts Section of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, of which he was a founding member.

El Toro (The Bull), ca. 1950 - 1960s, Colored Aquatint

Umberto Pena Garriga – Draftsman, Painter, Printmaker, and Graphic Designer.  (La Habana 1937 – Salamanca, Spain 2023).  He studied at the Academia San Alejandro from 1954 to 1958.  In 1959, he began to exhibit his work publicly, at the Salón Nacional de Cuba and at the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico.  In 1959, he joined the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba.  In 1960, he printed the mural woodcut on 10 blocks “The Dictatorships of America”, the same year in which he held his first personal exhibition, at the Center for Contemporary Mexican Art, in Mexico City.  In July of 1964, he held his first personal exhibition at the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba Workshop, entitled 12 Litografías (12 Lithographs), an exhibition which later travelled to Prague.  During these years, Peña's international recognition grew, and his works were shown in England, Canada, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, and Poland.  In 1964 he received his first major recognition, the Lithography Prize at the Havana Exhibition, and in 1967 he was selected as one of the young painters to represent Cuba at the V Biennale de la Jeune Peinture in France.

Man Carrying Fruit and Fish (Hombre llevando frutas y pescado), 1964, Woodcut

Miguel Angel Peñate- rintmaker (Santiago de Cuba 1935 – La Habana 2014) Member of the Association of Cuban Engravers, participated in the First National Engraving Salon on themes of the Revolution at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Cuba, in 1960. He exhibited works in Kubanische revolutionäre Graphik in 1962. He participated in various group and solo exhibitions.

Retrato de una anciana (Portrait of an Older Woman), ca 1955, Linoleum

Armando Posse Valuherdis (FOUNDER)- Goldsmith and Printmaker. (La Habana 1917 2005). He was a self-taught engraver with an obsession for the medium.

He participated in the Cuban woodcut exhibitions held in Havana; Matanzas, Santa Clara, Camaguey, Pinar del Rio, México, and Barcelona from 1950 to 1953.  He has engraved on wood, metal, and linoleum.   He received the prizes: Medal of Honor at the University of Tampa and Second prize of wood engraving of head in the 1st. National Salon of Cuban Woodcuts (1952), etc.

He has had multiple solo exhibitions in Havana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara.
One of the first prizes in his career he received was at the Second Biennial of Hispanic American Art in the Engraving section.

Mujer en la hamaca (Woman in a Hammock,ca. 1949–1962, Linocut

Jorge Juan Rigol Lomba- Illustrator, Draftsman, Printmaker, Art Historian and Professor at the National School of Art.  (Guantánamo 1910 – La Habana 1991).  In 1937, he traveled to Mexico, attracted by muralism and with the idea of ​​devoting himself to painting.  But there his plans changed, as he joined the Taller de Gráfica Popular taught by Leopoldo Méndez and Alfredo Zalce, which would mark his career in printmaking.  In the 8 years that he remained in the Aztec nation, he created much of his graphic work.  He illustrated in many magazines and books in Mexico and Cuba. 

He has won several awards and traveled in Europe.

Title Unknown (Título desconocido) (Woman seated / Mujer Sentada) 1950, Lithograph

Eugenio Rodriguez (FOUNDER)- Sculptor and Printmaker.  (La Habana 1917- 1968). He studied at the Estudio Libre de Pintores y Escultores and at San Alejandro from where he graduated.  He has visited Mexico and New York. He exhibited in 300 years of Art in Cuba, Hispanic Cuban Culture, Prado Gallery, Presence of 6 Sculptors, Spring Exhibition at Clay Club, N.Y., Contemporary Cuban Art, Honduras, and 3rd. National Hall of Painting and Sculpture, in which he obtained 2nd. Place Prize.

In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. 

He has exhibited in the Cuban Xylography salons held in Cuba, Mexico, University of Tampa, Austria, etc.  He was a professor of Modeling at the School of Plastic Arts of Camaguey.

Patriota republicano (Republican Patriot), ca 1955-1962, Woodcut

Juan Sánchez Sánchez- Draftsman, Painter, and Printmaker. (Cienfuegos 1929 La Habana 2010).  He was an artist, journalist, and art critic.

In his youth, he cultivated engraving, a profession in which he followed in the footsteps of his friend, Carmelo González.  He was director of the San Alejandro Academy of Plastic Arts.  He has participated in several national and foreign exhibitions. He won a stimulus award at the First National Salon of Cuban Woodcuts, sponsored by the Ministry of Education. He is professor of Drawing at the Prevocational School of the Civil Military Institute (formerly Cangrejeras).  Engraving Award at the Second Hispanic American Biennial (Cuban Salon)

Later, and for many years, he served as head of Cultural Information and Historian of the Bohemia magazine.  Awards and honors for journalism and artworks.  He produced the monumental book titled “Engraving in Cuba”.

He has been elected Vice-President of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba.

Rolando Santana (FOUNDER)- Sculptor and Printmaker. (La Habana 1921 -).  He studied at San Alejandro.  He has participated in various group exhibitions.  He has visited Central America and the United States.  He won a national award at the First Cuban Woodcuts Salon convened by the Ministry of Education.

In 1951, he produced works for the Cuban Nationally recognized book Cubana Woodcuts. 

Prejucios (Prejudicies), 1962, Woodcut

Alfredo Sosabravo- Painter, Sculpter, Ceramist, and Printmaker.  (Sagua la Grande, Las Villas 1930 –  ).  He began painting as a hobby until enrolling in the evening course at the Annex School of the San Alejandro Academy between 1955 and 1957.  These were the only years of formal training he had, but his friend Ángel Acosta León guided him in the profound learning of painting and later in engraving. His dedication to the engraving specialty was such that when in 1962 the first Art Instructors School, based in the Comodoro Hotel, was founded, Armando Posse asked him to be a professor. 

Over the next five years, he painted and made woodcuts, receiving successive awards in the latter.  He became a member of the Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba and taught various drawing and engraving courses at the National School of Art Instructors. In 1997, he was awarded the National Prize for Visual Arts in Havana.  He has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions around the world

Belkis Ayón produced masterful black and white prints that mined the mythology of the Afro-Cuban fraternal society Abakuá to create an independent and powerful visual iconography.

She studied engraving at the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana (ISA), and joined its faculty after graduation.

Over the years, her work drifted towards greater monumentality and compositional complexity, opting for designs in collage and Colographies in which mixtures and relationships with Abakua and Christian religious imagery were increasingly recurrent. In conceptual and, if possible, in psycho-historical terms, Ayón's work was, more than anything else, a collection of feelings and archetypes manifested through art regarding the repression and inequality of women. 

She has exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions.  Additionally, has been acknowledge for her contribution to art and further enhancing printmaking.  Her works are in many public and private collections.

Her Nkame (Retrospective) exhiition premiered at the Fowler Museum at UCLA in 2016. Over the years, the exhibition has been hosted at El Museo del Barrio in New York, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum at the University of Oregon, Chicago Cultural Center, and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Belkis Ayón curated an exhibition in 1989 in honor of the Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba.

CARMELO GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ

Artist, writer, graphic design, cartoonist, and photographer. Born in Havana, Cuba.  His parents are Founding Members of the Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba, Ana Rosa Gutierrez and Carmelo Gonzalez, both leading figures of the Cuban visual arts.  Since 1976 he worked as a cartoonist (comic artist) in the Directorate of Publications PRENSA LATINA, until 1986.  That year, focused on graphic designer and advertising of the Company for Foreign Trade Publications Ediciones Cubanas, until 1998, since then has used the law of Independent Artists Cultural Property Fund.

He worked on printmaking and was taught printmaking by his father, Carmelo, and his Godfather Luis Penalver, who was a Founding Member of the Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba.  He remarked on the spiritual, mysticism and surrealism of Luis Penalver when he worked on printmaking.

He was had solo and group exhibitions in Cuba and internationally.  He has received awards for his contributions to the arts.

He has taught classes in the US and internationally on art and Yoruba culture.

Yamilys Brito Jorge

At a very early age exhibited creativity for visual arts.  In elementary school, she received an award by Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba Founding Member Ana Rosa Gutierrez.  She indicated, “From that day, I knew I was going to be an artist!”  She went on to work with Ana Rosa at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica de la Habana (Experimental Graphics Workshop of Havana).  She is currently the Director of Cuba’s Taller Experimental de Gráfica de la Habana.

By piecing together symbols and images related to the history of Cuba as well as its architecture, folklore, and traditions, she creates mixed media prints that explore concepts that range from memory, isolation, and nostalgia to homeland and national identity. Britos’ work has been exhibited in Cuba, the United States, Haiti, Spain, France, Germany and many other international destinations.

She has won numerous awards for her creations and professionalism.  She continues to collaborate with international printmakers and create exquisite prints.

Enrique “Tente” Miralles (Havana, Cuba, 1972)

Engraver. In 1995 he graduated from the San Alejandro School of Plastic Arts in Havana, Cuba. Subsequently, in 2001 he took workshops at the Brandy Wine Workshop at Lehigh University, Philadelphia, USA and an experimental graphic workshop in Havana, Cuba. He has exhibited his work at the Havana Biennial and in various exhibition spaces in Cuba, including Casa de Las Americas, Taller Experimental de la Grafica, Fayad Jamís Gallery, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales and internationally in Mexico, Spain and Argentina, Portugal, Colombia, Germany and the United States.

He studied under Asociacíon de Grabadores de Cuba Founding Member Armando Posse.

Eduardo Roca Salazar (Choco)- Painter, engraver and sculptor. Born in 1949 in  Santiago de Cuba. Graduated from Cuban National Art School 1970. Studied Literature and Art faculty at Havana University. Member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) The Experimental Graphic Studio of Havana and  The International Association of Art (IAA). Choco was inspired by the technique and skill of Armando Posse which influenced his practice.

Awards and Mentions 2017: National Plastic Arts Award, Havana, Cuba. Numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally.

Collections: Fine Art Museum of Havana, Cuba. Africa Museum, Chicago, USA.
Engraving Museum, Mexico City, Mexico. Queretaro Museum, Mexico. Miro Foundation, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.  Ludwing Foundation, Germany.Tama University Museum, Japan. Collection « Arte de Nuestra America » Haydee Santamaria Gallery, Casa de las Americas, Havana, Cuba, International Center of Printmaking, URDLA, Lyon, France; Bnf, Paris, France;