David Beltrán

David Beltrán

la Habana, Cuba (*1978)
Acerca del artista

David Beltrán (la Habana, 1978) is a Cuban artist who works with various media such as painting, fotografía, 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 y 1997, and completed his studies at the Higher Institute of Art (ES UN) en 2003. From an early stage, he showed interest in experimental and collective art.

Entre 2000 y 2005, he was part of the duoEdgar & David, developing installation and site-specific works, while also participating in theEnema 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.

Desde 2007, Beltrán has worked independently, focusing on the relationship between painting and photography. en su serieFragments 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. En 2016, he launched the projectArchaeology 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.

Plan de estudios

David Beltrán (la Habana, 1978) is a Cuban artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, fotografía, and installation. Trained at the San Alejandro Academy and the Higher Institute of Art (ES UN), his early work embraced experimental and collective approaches, notably as part of the duo Edgar & David y el 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. Desde 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 (ya que 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.

Exposiciones individuales

  • Reacciones, Galería Artis 718, la Habana, Cuba, 2024.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Inventory Project, Fundación Ludwig de Cuba, la Habana, Cuba, 2016.

  • Fragments of Infinity, Fototeca de Cuba, la Habana, Cuba, 2014.

  • Salud 762, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, la Habana, Cuba, 2011.

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

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

  • U – Tropic, San Lucas 9 Galería, Madrid, España, 2006.

  • Chimeras + Works in Madrid, Luna 9 Centro Cultural, Madrid, España, 2006.

  • Chimeras, Cuban Cinematheque, la Habana, Cuba, 2005.

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

  • Incongruous, Hotel Inglaterra Gallery, la Habana, Cuba, 2004.

  • Breaking Barriers, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, la Habana, Cuba, 2003.

  • Projections, "l" Galería, la Habana, Cuba, 2003.

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

Exposiciones colectivas

2024

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

  • See Italy and Live <Experiences of the Sublime> in Contemporary Cuban Art, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Universal Art Building, la Habana, Cuba.

2022

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

  • Concreting, Fábrica de Diseño, la Habana, Cuba.

2021

  • Silencioso específico, Exposición virtual, la Habana, Cuba.

2020

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

2019

  • Studies of Pictorial Anatomy, 13a Bienal de La Habana, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, la Habana, Cuba.

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

2017

  • Esperanza, ESMoA, Pacific Standard Time, Los Angeles, Estados Unidos.

  • On the Horizon, Capítulo 2: Abstracción, PAMM, Miami, Estados Unidos.

  • Archive Collection, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Edificio de Arte Cubano, la Habana, Cuba.

2016

  • Ensemble Without Organs, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Rescue Commerce, Servando Cabrera Gallery, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Serious Play – Expanded Painting, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, la Habana, Cuba.

2015

  • The Observer, Evolución Gallery, Lima, Perú.

  • Un sentido de lugar, Mana Contemporary Wynwood, Miami, Estados Unidos.

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

  • Parallel Coordinates, Behind the Wall II Proyecto, 12a Bienal de La Habana, Cuba.

  • I Want to Be What You Can See, Zona Franca Project, La Cabaña Fortress, Colateral a la XII Bienal de La Habana, Cuba.

  • Pulse, L Gallery, Colateral a la XII Bienal de La Habana, la Habana, Cuba.

  • The Rabid Toy, Fucina des Artistas Studio, la Habana, Cuba.

2014

  • Smoke Signals, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, 6a Salón de Arte Contemporáneo, la Habana, Cuba.

2012

  • Enema, Book launch and exhibition, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center and Higher Institute of Art (ES UN), 11a Bienal de La Habana, Cuba.

  • Entropy, Espacio Naranjo, Madrid, España.

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

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

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

2011

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

2008

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

2007

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

  • Family Visit, San Lucas 9 Galería, Madrid, España.

2006

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

2005

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

2004

  • Fluorescence, Facultad de Artes y Letras, Universidad de la Habana, Cuba.

  • Recuerdos, Present and Utopia: la Habana 485 Years Later, Convent of San Francisco of Assisi, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • Printmaking Encounter 2004, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, la Habana, Cuba.

2003

  • Ways to Invent a Smile, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Garantía a la 8ª Bienal de la Habana, Cuba.

  • Morcilla, Collective Performance ENEMA (Octubre 29), Documentation presented at Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, 8a Bienal de La Habana, Cuba.

  • 4D, Pabellón Cuba, Garantía a la 8ª Bienal de la Habana, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Record Güines, Performance by ENEMA Collective and Tata Güines (Distance traveled from Güines to Havana – 4D Pavilion), 8a Bienal de La Habana.

  • This Side of the Horizon, Convent of San Francisco of Assisi, Garantía a la 8ª Bienal de la Habana, la Habana, Cuba.

  • From a Black Hole, Centro cultural español, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Immersed in Time, Centro cultural español, la Habana, Cuba.

2002

  • From a Black Hole, Son Space, España / De Miguel Gallery, Munich, Alemania / Christian Dam Gallery, Copenhagen, Dinamarca.

  • Another Look, Contemporary Cuban Art Exhibition, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, la Habana, Cuba.

  • The Lender and the Debtor, Performance in homage to Joseph Beuys, IV Meeting of Latin American Students and Professors, ES UN, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Human Resources, Galería Habana, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • Registered Trademark, ENEMA Collective, Collateral to La Huella Múltiple, 23 y 12 Centro de Arte, la Habana, Cuba.

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

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

  • Derechos De Autor, Video Art Show, Notinema II and performance documentation by ENEMA Collective, Centro cultural español, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Pulp, Multimedia event for the launch of ENEMA magazine No. 4, Centro Wfredo Lam, la Habana, Cuba.

2001

  • Flat Ground, Collective Performance, diciembre 17, Santiago de las Vegas – Rincón, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • Notinema II, Virtual TV Channel, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • Inquietud, Exposición de arte abstracto, Centro para el Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales.

  • ENEMA, Exposición colectiva, Fundación Ludwig de Cuba, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Denim, Collective Performance, Fundación Ludwig de Cuba, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • ENEMA vs Guests, ENEMA Collective Performance, Latinoamericano Stadium, la Habana, Cuba.

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

  • Sarayeye, Collective Performance, Instituto Superior de Arte, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Breaking the Ice, Collective Performance, Instituto Superior de Arte, la Habana, Cuba.

2000

  • Expo Habana–ISA–Club, Remodeling Project, 7a Bienal de La Habana, Cuba.

  • NOTINEMA, Virtual TV Channel, 7a Bienal de La Habana, ENEMA Collective, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Exposición de viaje, ENEMA Collective Performance, Opening of the 7th Havana Biennial, la Habana, Cuba.

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

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

  • North Coast, ENEMA Collective Performance, Marianao Beaches, la Habana, Cuba.

  • Creative Space, ENEMA Collective Performance, ES UN, la Habana, Cuba.

  • ENEMA No. 1, Multimedia event launching the first issue of ENEMA Magazine, ES UN, la Habana, Cuba.

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

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