Alex Martínez
Alex Martínez Fresneda (Havana, 1998) is a multidisciplinary Cuban artist with a diverse academic and artistic background. He studied at the Centro Experimental de las Artes Visuales José A. Díaz Peláez and pursued architecture at the CUJAE Faculty of Architecture. His training is enriched by numerous workshops and courses in design, marketing, photography, and artistic intervention, including programs led by renowned artists and international organizations such as UNESCO and PHotoESPAÑA.
Professionally, he has worked as a designer for the 15th Havana Biennial and the Wifredo Lam Center. He is also an independent illustrator and architect with the creative collective Proyecto Espacio, contributing to projects in design, interior styling, and custom furniture fabrication. He is the founder of ilustra’dos, a platform focused on illustration and graphic design, and has collaborated with various brands and entrepreneurs on visual identity and branding projects.
His artistic career includes participation in group exhibitions in Cuba and Mexico, as well as mural interventions such as his contribution to Detrás del Muro during the 15th Havana Biennial. He has also led workshops like Creating Fantastic Characters at the Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales (CDAV). In the publishing world, he has illustrated children's books including KIKO, un sapito feliz and Sueños en una isla, and contributed to the collaborative Latin American project BÉSAME, alongside more than ten other artists from the region.
Curriculum
Educational Background:
• Artistic Preparation: Completed at the Experimental Center for Visual Arts, José A. Díaz Peláez.
• University Studies: Faculty of Architecture, CUJAE.
Completed Courses:
• Cubaemprende Workshop: Specialized training for Cuban entrepreneurs covering commercial techniques, human capital management, public relations, business administration, accounting, marketing, and advertising.
• Basic Design Workshop: Faculty of Architecture, CUJAE.
• Photography Course: Creative Photography School of Havana (EFCH).
• Online Course: Simple Marketing Strategies, BEMASTER.
• Scholarship Online Course: Sales and Marketing Management, Transcultura Program UNESCO.
• ArtExchangeFestival 2023: Mural Intervention Workshop led by Spanish artist Belin.
• ArtExchangeFestival 2023: Collective Installation Workshop led by Spanish artist Gonzalo Borondo.
• ArtExchangeFestival 2024: Street Sketching Workshop led by Spanish artists Los Bravú.
• ArtExchangeFestival 2024: "Where Monsters Are Born" Workshop led by Spanish artist Arturo Garrido.
• ArtExchangeFestival 2024: Dossier Creation Workshop led by Diana Vilera (Academic Director of Master PHotoESPAÑA).
Professional Experience:
• Designer: 15th Havana Biennial.
• Designer: Centro Wiredo Lam (2024-present).
• Illustrator: Ongoing collaboration under the name fuckyellow (2020-present) with commissions and partnerships with entrepreneurs and brands.
• Founder: iustra'dos Project / @ilustrados (July 2024-present).
• Architect: Creative group Proyecto Espacio (providing turnkey architecture services, ambiance design, graphics, and furniture manufacturing) (2023-present).
• Business Identity and Visual Design Specialist.
Exhibitions:
• Collective Exhibition: "7 Caminos," 2021.
• Collective Exhibition: Galería el Alarán, Mexico, 2022.
• Collective Exhibition: colectiVa (organized by V de Vendutta during the 15th Biennial), 2024.
• Collective Mural: "Punto de Encuentro" project for Detrás del Muro at the 15th Havana Biennial.
• Workshop Facilitator: "Taller de la Alegría," CDAV 2024, creating fantastic characters.
Illustrated Books:
• "KIKO: A Happy Little Frog."
• "Dreams on an Island."
Collaborative Project:
• BÉSAME Project: Collaboration with over 10 Latin American artists.
