Manuel Lopez Oliva is the epitome of an artist: he draws, writes, paints and directs. That true artistry is rarely found nowadays, but it’s very present with Lopez Oliva. His art has shifted style throughout his career, something evident by those with strong inspiration. His work ranges from Pop Art portraits to expressionist vision of the Catedral de La Habana.

 

His work as a plastic artist is widely recognized and featured in countless international magazines, catalogues, books, museums, and is currently present in exhibitions throughout many countries. He is a member of the Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) and is President of the Comité Cubano de la Asociación Internacional de Artistas Plásticos (AIAP) whose headquarters are in Cuba.

 

Solo Exhibitions / Exposiciones Personales 

2006 "Cuba, Myth and, Masquerade". John Slade Ely House Contemporary Art Center, New Haven, United States. 

2006 23 and 12 Gallery, Contemporary Art Fair ART LISBON. 

2003 "Cuba and the Desire's Theatre". Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston, Maine, United States. 

2002 "Tribute". Novo Hotel, Havana, Cuba. 

2000 "Code", 23 y 12 Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1997 "Classical Themes", Goldsmith Museum, Havana, Cuba. 

1995 "In the Scene," Wifredo Lam Center, Havana, Cuba 

1993 "No Catalog" La Acacia Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1987 "Pictorial Signs", Muses Club 13 Gallery, Szczecin, Poland. 

1983 Culture's House, Malmo, Sweden. 

1981 City Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania. 

1976 Colombia National University Gallery, Bogota, Colombia. 

1975 International Art Exhibition. Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

1973 Galiano Art Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1972 Lumiere Gallery, Paris, France. 

1970 Art Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba. 

  

  

Selected Group Exhibitions / Exposiciones Colectivas 

1968 May Salon: CityHall of the Paris Museum of Modern Art, France. 

1968 Cuban Fine Art Exhibition, Italian-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy. 

1969 Micro Painting Hall, Lumiere Gallery, Paris, France. 

1972 International Arts Exhibition, Museum of Lund, Sweden. 

Solidarity Museum, Santiago de Chile. 

1973 Twenty Cuban Painters (presented in Sweden, Norway and Denmark). 

1973 Young Artists Salon (Biennial), Grand Palais, Paris, France. 

1974 Cuban Painting in Tribute to Martí, Cuban Studies Center, New York, United States. 

International Art Exhibition, Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

1976 Contemporary Cuban Fine Art, Tertulia Museum, Cali, Colombia. 

1978 International Painting Biennial, Kosice, Czechoslovakia. 

1983 Latin American Art, Macondo Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden. 

1985 "3 Artists of Cuba". Lumaga Gallery, Bern, Switzerland. 

1986 "Art with a Smile" (30 Cuban artists who exhibited in Italian cities: Reggio Emilia, Mantova, Venice, Genoa, Turin, Florence, Rome). 

1987 Biennial of Painting and Plener, Szczecin, Poland. 

1988 Cuban Painting Exhibition, Jaume Guasch Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. 

1990 Cuban Painting Exhibition, Italo-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy. 

1994 Hall of Latin American and Caribbean Meeting of the IAA, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

1995 Contemporary Cuban Art, Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 

1996 International Contemporary Art Fair (ARCO'96), Madrid, Spain. 

1997 Contemporary Cuban Painting, Margarita Island Culture House, Venezuela. 

1998 "Cubanías". Cuban paintings. Museum of Fine Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

1999 "Cuban Imaginations". City of Girona. Spain. 

1999 Cultural Project Malecon. Extremaduran and Latin American Museum of International Contemporary Art, Extremadura, Spain. 

2001 International Painting Biennial. Cuenca, Ecuador. 

2002 "14 Cuban Painters." FP Gallery. Lisboa, Portugal. 

2012 Collective Mural, Inauguration of the Capilla del Hombre Guayasamin. Quito, Ecuador. 

2003 "Cuban Art Today". Guayasamín Foundation. Quito-Guayaquil-Cuenca, Ecuador. 

2006 Latin America 2006 International Art Exhibition for selection. Toronto, Canada. 

Selected Group Exhibitions / Exhibitions / Cuba 

1970 Room 70, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1971 Cuba-Chile, Americas' House, Havana, Cuba. 

1971 First Youth Salon of Fine Arts, National Museum of Fine Arts. Havana, Cuba. 

1972 Meeting of Latin American Fine Arts, Americas' House, Havana, Cuba. 

Young Painters Collective Exhibition, Galiano Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1973 Latin American Fine Arts Meeting, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba. 

1974 Small Works, L University Extension Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1974 Meeting of Latin American Fine Arts, Americas' House, Havana, Cuba. 

1975 Hall of Graduates and Professors of the National School of Art, Exhibition Hall, National Art School, Havana, Cuba. 

1978 National Fine Arts UNEAC, National Museum of Fine Arts. 

1979 Latin American and Caribbean Fine Art, Americas' House, Havana, Cuba. 

1979 CARIFESTA, Art Center, Havana, Cuba. 

1980 Carlos Enriquez National Salon. Art Center, Havana, Cuba. 

1980 National Exhibition of Fine Arts, UNEAC'80, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1981 Young Fine Artists Retrospective, Hall Lalo Carrasco. Habana Libre Hotel, Havana, Cuba. 

1982 "Plastic in the Ballet", Gallery Havana, Havana, Cuba. 

1983 Exhibition Havana's Fine Art, Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets, Havana, Cuba. 

1983 Writers and Artists Latin Salon, American Youth. Americas' House, Havana, Cuba. 

1984 Havana Biennial, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1984 National Exhibition of Fine Arts UNEAC 84, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1985 National Fine Arts, UNEAC'85, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1986 30 Cuban Painters, Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods. Havana, Cuba. 

1988 National Fine Arts, UNEAC, Pavilion Cuba, Havana, Cuba. 

1991 National Fine Arts, UNEAC, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1994 Cuban Paintings, Imago Gallery, Grand Havana Theater, Havana, Cuba. 

1995 "Martí Images", Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba. 

National Exhibition of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

Painters Gallery, Gallery La Acacia, Havana, Cuba. 

1996 Cuban Painting, Imago Gallery, Grand Havana Theater, Havana, Cuba. 

1996 First Exhibition of Cuban Contemporary Art, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba. 

1998 "On Time", Second Hall of Cuban Contemporary Art, La Acacia Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

1998 "Seductions", Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba. 

1998 "Dance Tribute", Havana Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

2000 "Here and Now", Martí Memorial, Havana, Cuba. 

2000 Humanitarian Auction of Contemporary Art. Americas' House, Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba. 

2001 Samples of Cuban Painting Masters, City Hall, Provincial Center of Fine Arts and Design, Havana, Cuba. 

2001 EICTV: Toma1. Cuban Painting: ACTION "23 y 12 Gallery, ICAIC, Havana, Cuba. 

2002 "Smoking is a Pleasure," International Conference Center, Havana, Cuba. 

2002 "Ora pro nobis". Homage to the Virgin of Charity. San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary, Havana, Cuba. 

2002 Subastahabana.com, Online Exhibition, Havana Club Foundation, Havana, Cuba. 

2003 "Catalogue". La Acacia Gallery, Havana, Cuba. 

2003 Art and Mental Health Biennale. Convento de San Francisco de Asis, Havana, Cuba. 

2003 "Art and Fashion Project". Pious' House. Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba. 

2004 "Look Inside." 35 Cuban artists, in conjunction with the Italian photographer Alfredo Cannatello. Convento de San Francisco de Asis. Havana, Cuba. 

2005 Santa Isabel Hotel Gallery. Havana Cuba. 

  

Awards / Premios 

 
1968 Award "Adam Montparnasse", May Salon, Paris, France. 

1969 First Prize, Micro Painting Hall, Lumiere Gallery, Paris, France. 

1972 Recognition Award, House of the Press. International Art Fair, Lund Museum, Sweden. 

1973 Honorable Mention, Young Artists Salon (Biennial), Grand Palais, Paris, France. 

1974 Second Prize, International Art Exhibition, Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

1980 Honorable Mention, "Carlos Enriquez" National Hall, Havana, Cuba. 

1980 National Culture Award. Ministry of Culture of Cuba. 

Art Criticism National Prize "Guy Pérez Cisneros", National Council of Plastic Arts. 

Artistic Merit Diploma. Superior Art Institute of Cuba. 

 
 

Bibliography / Press / Web 

Baez, Miguel A. Mirrors Happen. 43 Cuban Painters. Havana, National Council of Fine Arts. 

Nuñez Jimenez, Antonio. Admiral of the 100 faces. Polytechnic University of Madrid, Caja de Madrid, 1991. 

Leal Spengler, Eusebio. Poetry and Speech. Volume I, Havana, Editorial Letras Cubanas, ICL, 2002. 

Hernández Plasencia, Arelys. "López Oliva: Classical and Contemporary." In: Magazine Revolution and Culture (La Habana), No 6 / 97.año 36, p. 63. 

Castellanos, Lazara. "López Oliva's Classic Subjects". In: Magazine ARTECUBANO (Havana) No1 / 1998, p. 66. 

Castellanos, Lazara. "Manuel Lopez Oliva or Creation as Plural phenomenon." In: Magazine Union (Havana) No30 / 1998, p. 80. 

Bermudez, Jorge R. "From cathedrals and masks." In: magazine Opus Habana (Havana) OHCH, No1 / 1999, p. 41. 

Lugo, Reynaldo. "López Oliva halfway." In: Sol y Son (Havana) No1 / 2001. 

Piñera, Tony. "López Oliva: Life's pictorial metaphors." In: Magazine More Cuba (Havana), No 3 year.11, p. 104. 

Tribute to the artist for his 53 anniversary. In: Magazine ARTECUBANO (Havana), No2 / 2000, p. 47. 

Ysla Herrera, Nelson. "The Painting's Turn" In: Magazine ARTECUBANO (Havana), No 2-3 / 2002, p. 46. 

Gold Donna. "Manuel López Oliva: Cuba and the Theatre's Desire". In Magazine Art New England (USA), December 2003 / January 2004. p.19. 

Paquita Armas: "Theatre and Desire in López Oliva". In: The Cayman Bearded magazine. (Havana), not 319 years 37. November-December 2003, pp. 9-11 

Article on López Oliva. In: Nelson Herrera Ysla. Reflections from Looking. Ediciones Avila. Ciego de Avila. Cuba. 2004. pp. 112-119 

David Mateo. "Judge and jury" (Interview with López Oliva) Words in wait. Almargen editions. Pinewood of the river. Cuba. pp. 125-129. 

main Catalogs 

1984 1st Biennial of Havana. Havana, Ministry of Culture. 

1986 Art with a smile. 30 Cuban painters. Editorial Vangelista Italy, Milano. 

1995 First Exhibition of Contemporary Cuban Art. Havana, National Museum of Fine Arts. 

1995 Contemporary Cuban Art. Museum of Modern Art in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

López Oliva. Paintings. Havana, Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods. 

1996 Fifty artists. Havana, Editions Union, UNEAC. 

  

  

2000 Manuel López Oliva. Repertoire. Havana, Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods. 

2001 Humanitarian Auction. Contemporary Cuban Art. Havana, Americas' House. 

2002 VII International Cuenca Painting Biennial, Ecuador. 

14 Cuban painters. Lisbon Gallery FP. 

Rolling Project Gallery. Pontoon editions Caribbean S.A. National Council of Plastic Arts. 

2003 Manuel López Oliva: Cuba and the Theatre of desire. Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston, Maine, United States. 

2004 I know a giant painter. Marti in Cuban art. Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba. 

Alfredo Cannatello. Interior look. 35 Cuban artists. Opus editions, Havana. 

2006 Manuel López Oliva: Cuba, Myth & Masquerade. Ediciones Yale University, United States. 

  

  

Collections / Colecciones  

Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, France. 

Cultural Center Espace Carpeaux, Paris, France. 

Museum of Modern Art in Texas, United States. 

Contemporary Painting. Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, Madrid, Spain. 

Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Rodriguez Aguilera Collection, Barcelona, Spain. Palazzo Grassi American Art Fund, Venice, Italy. 

National Gallery in Prague, Czechoslovakia. 

Italo-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy. 

Collection Kejl Olsen, Oslo, Norway. 

The collection Breweries Navarra, Viana, Spain. 

Wifredo Lam Center, Havana, Cuba. 

Bates Museum of Art.Lewiston. Maine, USA. 

Hecht Collection. U.S. 

Latin American Art Collection. Museum of Modern Art in Connecticut, USA. UU. 

Kenney collection. New York, USA. 

Tyson Collection. Maine, USA. 

Other private collections in Colombia, United States, Panama, Chile, Italy, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and Poland. 

 

Organizations / Organizaciones a que pertenece 

He is a member of the National Council of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and the International Association of Artists. (IAA).