Cuban Art - Michel Mirabal

Carrera de Relevo (Relay Race), 2014
Serie Banderas (The Series Flags)
Michel Mirabal

EXHIBIT by Michel Mirabal, "The History Behind The Sheets", was on view at the Kansas City Museum, from July 14th to September 25th, with a selection of the pieces the artist has created during his recent visits to Kansas City.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MIDWEST

We had the visits in Kansas City of the internationally acclaimed Cuban artist Michel Mirabal, known for his thought-provoking paintings of flags. During his visits, he worked on several pieces in different formats, inspired by his previous series and by the relationship between Kansas City and his Cuban roots.

CATALOG of the pieces created in Kansas City is available HERE.

CONTACT US for full access to the art catalog and prices

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michel Mirabal is a graduate of Visual Arts from the Fine Arts National Academy San Alejandro in 1996 (Cuba) and holds a specialized degree in Industrial Design from the High Institute of Design in Havana. Awarded with the Rockefeller Scholarship after graduating and later, with 2 other residency creation programs in Italy and Morocco. Michel started his career as a scenery painter for the Cuban National Ballet Company and in the Production Department of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC).

His work has been included in several private and public collections around the world. He has created 12 series over his career, being the Serie Banderas (The Series Flags), the one that has given him more international recognition.

His art comes in the shape of drawings, painting, photography, and mixed media pieces. He uses elements such as rice, beans, petals, and barbed wire as metaphors in his art.

His work is internationally applauded for its ability to express both the beautiful and harsh sides of our global reality. Its resilience resonates all over the world.

Michel’s work has been purchased by world leaders, CEOs, celebrities, and many others lucky enough to be called "Mirabal collectors", between them we can name: King of Spain (Felipe VI), Gabriel García Márquez, Barack Obama, Muhammad Alí, and more...

He was contacted by Barack Obama to create a piece to be displayed behind Obama, during his speech in Cuba, when Obama talked about the reestablishment of the relationships between the 2 countries in 2016.

In 2016 he opened his own studio “Finca Calunga”, where Michel said, "his dream became a reality". Finca Calunga became the home of Michel's art, and of his community project, supporting financially and educating for better life opportunities, orphans, youth without parents' support, and low-income families in Havana, Cuba.

Michel has managed to make his way in life through art, despite coming from a marginal neighborhood and from a very low-income family. His achievements have recently gotten the attention of the major producer Netflix, who will be producing a TV Show about his life and career.

“I know there are people who would like to use art to escape from reality, but that is not my case. I take you reflectively into reality because you have to keep your feet on the ground. I think it's great that there are things that decorate your surroundings, but I decorate with reality..."

Michel Mirabal

We would like to thank the sponsors that have made Michel Mirabal's visit to Kansas City possible: