Kadir López Nieves

Kadir López Nieves (B. 1972, Die Thunfische, Kuba) is a prominent Cuban visual artist recognized for his strong academic background and innovative approach to contemporary art. He graduated from the Instituto Superior de Arte (IST EIN) in Havanna in 1995, after completing his training at the Professional School of Art in Camagüey and the “El Cucalambé” Elementary School of Art in his hometown.

His artistic practice has evolved from painting and sculpture to contemporary mediums such as urban art, Installationen, and neon. Deeply rooted in symbolism and history, his work explores themes of memory, the city, and identity.

Während seiner gesamten Karriere, López has participated in multiple international artist residencies in the United States, including the Palos Verdes Art Center in California, the West Palm Beach Photographic Centre in Florida, and a program in Philadelphia, where he further developed neon as an expressive medium.

Blending architecture, archival materials, and visual narratives, his creative vision reflects a critical perspective on time, cultural memory, and urban transformation. These international experiences have shaped his distinctive retro-futuristic style, merging vintage aesthetics with contemporary urban contexts.

López has presented more than 30 solo exhibitions in cities such as New York, Die Engel, Hong Kong, Havanna, and Caracas, and has actively participated in the Havana Biennial since 1994.

Recent solo shows includeILLUMINATIO (2024, Havanna), 212 (2022, New York), Havana Plaza (2019, Die Engel), UndHavana Noir (2016, Kalifornien).

He has also been featured in over 60 group exhibitions worldwide, including major art fairs and museums in Morocco, Mexiko, Südkorea, Deutschland, Spanien, Schweiz, Kanada, and across Latin America, reaffirming his international projection.

López’s works are part of prestigious collections such as the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Museum of Latin American Art (GESEGNET) in Kalifornien, the Museum of Finest Cuban Arts in Vienna, and private collections including Donald Rubin, Richard Guggenheim, and Art Nexus, unter anderen.

Heute, Kadir López is considered one of the most recognizable voices in Cuban contemporary art, combining social critique, retro-futuristic aesthetics, and a profound engagement with Cuba’s historical and cultural memory.