David Beltrán

David Beltrán

Havana, Cuba (*1978)
About Artist

David Beltrán (Havana, 1978) is a Cuban artist who works with various media such as painting, photography, and installation. He began his artistic training at the Elementary School of Visual Arts in Havana in 1989, continued at the "San Alejandro" Academy of Fine Arts between 1993 and 1997, and completed his studies at the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) in 2003. From an early stage, he showed interest in experimental and collective art.

Between 2000 and 2005, he was part of the duo Edgar & David, developing installation and site-specific works, while also participating in the Enema Collective under the guidance of artist Lázaro Saavedra, reinterpreting classic performances from a collective perspective. He also took part in the group "The Golden Theory of Popeye", which combined art, Noise music, and performative action as an expression of a critical and disenchanted generation.

Since 2007, Beltrán has worked independently, focusing on the relationship between painting and photography. In his series Fragments of Infinity, he explored images taken from reality that, when transformed by framing or scale, acquire an abstract dimension and evoke references to modern art. In 2016, he launched the project Archaeology of Color, in collaboration with the National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba and the Complutense University of Madrid, combining art and science through restoration archives to visually reinterpret classical works from a stratigraphic perspective.

Curriculum

David Beltrán (Havana, 1978) is a Cuban artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, photography, and installation. Trained at the San Alejandro Academy and the Higher Institute of Art (ISA), his early work embraced experimental and collective approaches, notably as part of the duo Edgar & David and the Enema Collective led by Lázaro Saavedra. He also participated in The Golden Theory of Popeye, a group blending art, Noise music, and performance as generational critique. Since 2007, Beltrán has worked independently, focusing on the interplay between image and abstraction. In series like Fragments of Infinity, he manipulates photographic references to evoke modernist forms. His ongoing project Archaeology of Color (since 2016), developed with the National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba and the Complutense University of Madrid, fuses art and science to reinterpret classical works through restoration archives and stratigraphic analysis.

Solo Exhibitions

  • Re-actions, Galería Artis 718, Havana, Cuba, 2024.

  • Hidden Geometry of Thoughts 2, Freijo Gallery, Madrid, Spain, 2023.

  • Hidden Geometry of Thoughts 1, Nadie Nunca Nada No, Madrid, Spain, 2023.

  • IN & OUT, Factoría Habana, Havana, Cuba, 2022.

  • Archaeology of Color, Freijo Gallery, Madrid, Spain, 2020.

  • Geometric Composition Blue, El Reino de Este Mundo Gallery, José Martí National Library, Havana, Cuba, 2018.

  • Inventory Project, Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, Cuba, 2016.

  • Fragments of Infinity, Fototeca de Cuba, Havana, Cuba, 2014.

  • Salud 762, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba, 2011.

  • Side A & Side B, Skimo Arte Gallery, Madrid, Spain, 2010.

  • Essences and/or Topographic Appearances, Ecovi Foundation, Madrid, Spain, 2008.

  • U – Tropic, San Lucas 9 Gallery, Madrid, Spain, 2006.

  • Chimeras + Works in Madrid, Luna 9 Cultural Center, Madrid, Spain, 2006.

  • Chimeras, Cuban Cinematheque, Havana, Cuba, 2005.

  • Divergences, J & L Cuban Art Gallery, Madrid, Spain, 2005.

  • Incongruous, Hotel Inglaterra Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 2004.

  • Breaking Barriers, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba, 2003.

  • Projections, "L" Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 2003.

  • The House of Dogs, Intervention in uninhabitable space, Neither Left nor Right Project, Villa Clara, 2000.

Group Exhibitions

2024

  • Praise of Simplicity (in dialogue with the work of Félix Beltrán), Galería Habana, Havana, Cuba.

  • See Italy and Live <Experiences of the Sublime> in Contemporary Cuban Art, National Museum of Fine Arts, Universal Art Building, Havana, Cuba.

2022

  • You Know Who You Are, Recent acquisitions of Cuban art from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection, El Espacio 23, Miami, USA.

  • Concreting, Design Factory, Havana, Cuba.

2021

  • Silent Specific, Virtual Exhibition, Havana, Cuba.

2020

  • So Far, So Close, Virtual Exhibition for the 10th Anniversary of Freijo Gallery, Madrid, Spain.

2019

  • Studies of Pictorial Anatomy, 13th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba.

  • From a Rockefeller Fanatic to a Khrushchev Disciple / Stories Told by Artists, Collateral Exhibition of the 13th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

2017

  • Hope, ESMoA, Pacific Standard Time, Los Angeles, USA.

  • On the Horizon, Chapter 2: Abstraction, PAMM, Miami, USA.

  • Archive Collection, National Museum of Fine Arts, Cuban Art Building, Havana, Cuba.

2016

  • Ensemble Without Organs, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba.

  • Rescue Commerce, Servando Cabrera Gallery, Havana, Cuba.

  • Serious Play – Expanded Painting, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba.

2015

  • The Observer, Evolución Gallery, Lima, Peru.

  • A Sense of Place, Mana Contemporary Wynwood, Miami, USA.

  • 4th San Juan Poly/Graphic Triennial, Museum of Art of Caguas, Puerto Rico.

  • Parallel Coordinates, Behind the Wall II Project, 12th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • I Want to Be What You Can See, Zona Franca Project, La Cabaña Fortress, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • Pulse, L Gallery, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

  • The Rabid Toy, Fucina des Artistas Studio, Havana, Cuba.

2014

  • Smoke Signals, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, 6th Contemporary Art Salon, Havana, Cuba.

2012

  • Enema, Book launch and exhibition, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center and Higher Institute of Art (ISA), 11th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • Entropy, Espacio Naranjo, Madrid, Spain.

  • Young Creators Facing Crisis, Julián Besteiro School (UGT), Madrid, Spain.

  • On a Silver Platter Project, ART MADRID Contemporary Art Fair, with Estampa Gallery, Madrid, Spain.

  • Flag Project, ESTAMPA Contemporary Art Fair, Estampa Gallery, Madrid, Spain / Antonio Pérez Foundation, Graphic Art Museum, Cuenca, Spain.

2011

  • Contemporary Ibero-American Art Show, Skimo Arte Gallery, Madrid, Spain.

2008

  • Contemporary Cuba / My Island Is a City, Museum of Contemporary Art, Triennale Bovisa, Milan, Italy.

2007

  • Bestiary, European Institute of Design, Madrid, Spain.

  • Family Visit, San Lucas 9 Gallery, Madrid, Spain.

2006

  • La Huella Múltiple 2006, Futuro, Convent of San Francisco of Assisi, Havana, Cuba.

2005

  • PAPER, Artecovi Gallery, Ecovi Foundation, Madrid, Spain.

2004

  • Fluorescence, Faculty of Arts and Letters, University of Havana, Cuba.

  • Memories, Present and Utopia: Havana 485 Years Later, Convent of San Francisco of Assisi, Havana, Cuba.

  • E.C.R.O (Conceptual, Referential, and Operational Scheme), Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

  • Printmaking Encounter 2004, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba.

2003

  • Ways to Invent a Smile, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Collateral to the 8th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • Morcilla, Collective Performance ENEMA (October 29), Documentation presented at Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, 8th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • 4D, Cuba Pavilion, Collateral to the 8th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

  • Record Güines, Performance by ENEMA Collective and Tata Güines (Distance traveled from Güines to Havana – 4D Pavilion), 8th Havana Biennial.

  • This Side of the Horizon, Convent of San Francisco of Assisi, Collateral to the 8th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

  • From a Black Hole, Spanish Cultural Center, Havana, Cuba.

  • Immersed in Time, Spanish Cultural Center, Havana, Cuba.

2002

  • From a Black Hole, Son Space, Spain / De Miguel Gallery, Munich, Germany / Christian Dam Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Another Look, Contemporary Cuban Art Exhibition, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba.

  • The Lender and the Debtor, Performance in homage to Joseph Beuys, IV Meeting of Latin American Students and Professors, ISA, Havana, Cuba.

  • Human Resources, Galería Habana, Havana, Cuba.

  • Drawing in 13 Stages, ENEMA Collective performance with Fernando Rodríguez, La Huella Múltiple, La Casona, Havana, Cuba.

  • Registered Trademark, ENEMA Collective, Collateral to La Huella Múltiple, 23 y 12 Art Center, Havana, Cuba.

  • The Drawn Idea, Contemporary Cuban Art Show, Collateral to the 25th São Paulo Biennial, Brazil.

  • The Acted Idea, Notinema II, ENEMA Collective, Collateral to the 25th São Paulo Biennial, Brazil.

  • Copyright, Video Art Show, Notinema II and performance documentation by ENEMA Collective, Spanish Cultural Center, Havana, Cuba.

  • Pulp, Multimedia event for the launch of ENEMA magazine No. 4, Wifredo Lam Center, Havana, Cuba.

2001

  • Flat Ground, Collective Performance, December 17, Santiago de las Vegas – Rincón, Havana, Cuba.

  • The Drawn Idea, III Cuban Contemporary Art Salon, Fototeca de Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

  • Notinema II, Virtual TV Channel, Center for the Development of Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba.

  • Paladar el Arte Cubano, Collective Performance, Paladar La Mona Lisa, Cerro, Havana, Cuba.

  • Restlessness, Abstract Art Exhibition, Center for the Development of Visual Arts.

  • ENEMA, Group Exhibition, Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

  • Denim, Collective Performance, Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

  • Tied Together, ENEMA Collective Performance, Romerías de Mayo, Holguín, Cuba.

  • ENEMA vs Guests, ENEMA Collective Performance, Latinoamericano Stadium, Havana, Cuba.

  • Drawing in Nine Stages, Collective Performance, 1st Trinidad Biennial of Visual Arts, Trinidad, Cuba.

  • Sarayeye, Collective Performance, Higher Institute of Art, Havana, Cuba.

  • Breaking the Ice, Collective Performance, Higher Institute of Art, Havana, Cuba.

2000

  • Expo Habana–ISA–Club, Remodeling Project, 7th Havana Biennial, Cuba.

  • NOTINEMA, Virtual TV Channel, 7th Havana Biennial, ENEMA Collective, Havana, Cuba.

  • Traveling Exhibition, ENEMA Collective Performance, Opening of the 7th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.

  • ENEMA No. 2 & 3, Multimedia event for the launch of ENEMA Magazine.

  • Homage to Lázaro, ENEMA Collective Performance, Mariano No. 213, Havana, Cuba.

  • North Coast, ENEMA Collective Performance, Marianao Beaches, Havana, Cuba.

  • Creative Space, ENEMA Collective Performance, ISA, Havana, Cuba.

  • ENEMA No. 1, Multimedia event launching the first issue of ENEMA Magazine, ISA, Havana, Cuba.

  • 23 y 25, Belkys Ayón Gallery, Experimental Center for Visual Arts “José A. Díaz Peláez,” Havana, Cuba.

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