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    • Paper Doll from Mujeres magazine

    Vintage paper doll set with a central doll in a polka dot swimsuit surrounded by outfits including a red jumpsuit, a pink dress, and a blue coat with a matching skirt, all against a beige patterned background.
    The image displays a vintage paper doll set featuring a cut-out doll and an array of clothing items. The doll is illustrated in the center of the image with black hair styled in unbraided pigtails, wide eyes, and a small smile. She is wearing a two-piece swimsuit with a red polka dot pattern. Surrounding the doll there are various clothing items, separately drawn and colored, indicating these can be cut out and placed on the doll's figure. To the doll’s left, a long-sleeved red jumpsuit nearly spans the height of the doll and a matching pair of socks is situated between the jumpsuit and the doll. To the doll's right, a pink dress is outlined by a segmented white line to indicate pleats. There is a pair of dark blue flared pants, and a striped red and white t-shirt with white collar. Below the doll a white coat with a red bow and blue pattern is situated next to a blue skirt matching the coat. A red and blue shirt with T-shaped white stripes occupies the bottom right edge of the image. The background features a beige paper texture with faded scissor icons and dotted lines representing classic sewing patterns.
    • Title: Paper Doll from Mujeres magazine
    • Medium: Four color offset print
    • Date: December 1983
    • Dimension: n/a
    • Collection: Mujeres magazine 23, no. 12 (december 1983), p. 67. Cuba Material collection of María A. Cabrera Arús.

    Valentinas Tereshkovas (Diptych)

    A monochrome illustration of various stylized women's faces with a person wearing a Soviet cosmonaut’s helmet reading
    This black-and-white illustration features a series of stylized female faces varying in expression and hairstyle, seemingly from different eras or backgrounds, clustered together at the bottom half of the composition. At the top left, a space capsule bearing the name “Valentina” is engulfed in flames as it reenters the earth’s atmosphere. Located at the center of the composition, a person wearing a cosmonaut’s helmet with the letters “CCCP” stands behind the women’s faces. We can only see the person’s left eye. There is a small circular figure with the letters “La Luna” in between a woman’s face and the cosmonaut’s helmet. The Cuban flag with a trailing banner completes the scene in the top right corner. Text in the illustration, written in a script font and in Spanish, is intertwined with some of the faces. It reads: "Todas queremos ser como Valentina Tereshkova," [We all want to be like Valentina Tereshkova] connecting the imagery to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to have flown in space. This phrase is superimposed on the word “Che.”
    • Title: Valentinas Tereshkovas (Diptych)
    • Medium: Pencil, ink, and false eyelashes on paper
    • Date: 2004
    • Dimension: 70 cm X 100 cm 
    • Collection: Private collection, courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta

    Valentinas Tereshkovas (Diptych)

    A collection of false eyelashes in various styles displayed on paper with a Spanish phrase written in script font below. The phrase reads: “Que fue de nuestras Valentinas Tereshkovas” [What happened to our Valentinas Tereshkovas].
    Several pairs of false black eyelashes are arranged on light paper. The eyelashes vary in size and fullness, with some presenting a more dramatic and thick appearance, whereas others are more subtle and sparse. They are spread out across the image in a seemingly random yet visually balanced manner. Below the eyelashes, there is a phrase written in a script font and in Spanish. It reads: "Que fue de nuestras Valentinas Tereshkovas," connecting the imagery to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to have flown in space.
    • Title: Valentinas Tereshkovas (Diptych)
    • Medium: Pencil, ink, and false eyelashes on paper
    • Date: 2004
    • Dimension: 70 cm X 100 cm
    • Collection: Private collection, courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta

    Quinceañera with Kremlin

    Painting of a woman with a contemplative expression, her head adorned with a depiction of the Spasskaya Tower, her body wearing a predominantly white dress that flows out in every direction, becoming the background of the composition.
    In this vertical painting, a mixed-race woman in profile looks at us from the center of the composition. As we look at the woman from above her head, her body zooms away from us. The woman's face has pronounced features with detailed eyes, nose, and lips; her expression is contemplative and intense. On her head, there is an intricate illustration of what appears to be the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin in Moscow, serving as a headdress and illustrated in a way that resembles pearl strands or decorative lighting.

    The woman is adorned with intricate jewelry, her ears graced with earrings and her neck adorned with a necklace, both embellished with what appears to be pearls or precious stones. She holds a bouquet of light yellow flowers with a few dark leaves. She wears a flowing garment or dress, painted with a mix of creamy white, harsh streaks of paint, and warm tones. The woman’s dress seamlessly flows out in every direction, becoming the background of the composition.
    • Title: Quinceañera with Kremlin
    • Medium: Charcoal with touches of oil on canvas
    • Date: 2004
    • Dimension: 198 cm  x 154 cm
    • Collection: Track 16 Gallery

    Mulata tropical

    A sepia-toned image of a serene, resting face is imprinted on a large draped fabric, highlighted by overhead lights. Numerous lit candles are arranged on the floor in front of it.
    This art installation features a large, draped fabric hanging on a wall with a sepia-toned image imprinted on it. The image on the fabric is of a mixed-race woman’s face in a peaceful or sleeping state, with the eyes closed and the head tilted to one side. The fabric is textured, creating soft folds and drapes. It is displayed unframed, with its edges freely hanging. The image's coloration is monochrome and ranges from darker sepia tones to darker brown shadows, accentuating the contours of the depicted face.

    The fabric is hung in a room with a visible ceiling grid that supports several industrial lights. Some of these lights are cast directly on the artwork, highlighting it and contributing to the mood of the setting. Below the fabric art and on the floor in front of the artwork, numerous white, cylindrical candles of varying heights are lit and spread out, creating a warm ambiance.
    • Title: Mulata tropical
    • Medium: Asphalt on mosquito netting
    • Date: 1996
    • Dimension: approximately 350 cm X 220 cm
    • Collection: The Watch Hill Collection

    Las dos Gertrudis

    A sepia-toned oil painting depicts two women seated side by side. One holds an apple while the other holds a cigarette. The women are set against a background of lush foliage and an urban skyline.
    The image is a large format horizontal oil painting that features two women seated side by side against a backdrop that mixes natural and urban elements. The woman on the left is wearing a draped gown with a ruffled collar and a hem with stripes at the base. Her breasts are visible through her clothing. She holds an apple in her outstretched right hand. Her hair is dark, and her expression is neutral. The woman on the right sits with her legs crossed, holding a cigarette in her left hand, her right hand holding the other woman’s left hand. Her attire includes a blouse with ornate patterns, bell-bottomed trousers, and black, high-heeled shoes. Her face is detailed, with visible earrings and a calm demeanor. Behind the figures is a stark contrast: to the left, behind the woman with a draped gown, a natural setting with dense foliage, and to the right, behind the woman in high-heeled shoes, a stylized urban skyline with a busy street that zooms away from us into the top right edge of the painting. The overall tone of the painting is sepia, with the color palette dominated by browns, blacks, and gold.
    • Title: Las dos Gertrudis 
    • Medium: Street asphalt (tar), drawing, and varnish on canvas
    • Date: 2003
    • Dimension: 198 cm X 145 cm
    • Collection: Courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta

    Cepero Brito

    A plan for an installation that has not yet been realized, this watercolor painting features an indistinct person within a rectangular frame surrounded by red, pink, blue, and purple flores in glass vases.
    This watercolor painting is a plan for an installation that has not yet been realized. The watercolor depicts a person within a rectangular frame, surrounded by colorful flowers. The individual's face is not defined and we can only see them from the torso up. The vibrant blooms surround the frame from both sides, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The paint strokes are spontaneous and fluid, creating a loose and expressive technique. The left side of the painting is dominated by vivid red, pink, and violet flowers, while the right side features blue and purple blossoms, creating a harmonious balance of warm and cool tones. The flowers are arranged in four glass vases of different heights on a table portrayed in a simplified form, using shades of brown and gray, while the figure is painted in muted browns and grays. In the top corners of the painting, the unpainted white of the paper is visible, adorned with handwritten text in a delicate script. 

    Text: Text is written in delicate cursive handwriting on the painting's top and bottom. Transcription of this text might not be accurate due to the artistic style of the handwriting:

    Center top: “Una tele de estas super guays y modernas, en contraste con lo que se emite” [One of these super cool and modern TVs, in contrast to what is broadcast] 

    Top right: “Un video de Cepero Brito y delante una repisa de madera. (tengo que pensar mejor el material) y llena de búcaros de cristal” [A video of Cepero Brito and in front of it a wooden shelf. (I have to think more about the material) full of glass vases]. 

    Bottom right:  ““Cepero Brito” 2017 Un recuerdo raro” [“Cepero Brito” 2017 A strange memory]
    • Title: Cepero Brito
    • Medium: Watercolor on paper [Plan for an installation that has not yet been executed]
    • Date: 2017
    • Collection: Courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta

    Cepero Brito

    A watercolor painting depicting a corner of a room with light shading and a sepia-toned image. Handwritten text in Spanish and English overlays parts of the soft blue and white background.
    This watercolor painting uses light and shadow to create the impression of a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. This is a plan for an installation that has not yet been executed. In the upper-left corner of the painting is a watercolor painting that features a sepia-toned image within a dark frame. The painting has a pale, neutral background suggestive of an interior wall and ceiling. This background occupies most of the canvas and has subtle shading, giving the impression of depth and corners within a room. A part of the room is washed in gentle sunlight, possibly hinting at the presence of a nearby window outside the canvas's view. To the right side of the painting, handwritten text in faint blue ink overlaps the painted surface. The overall palette is minimalistic, consisting mainly of blues, whites, and sepia tones in the framed image.

    Text Transcription: The painting contains handwritten text in both Spanish and English, which reads as follows:

    Un video del noticiero ICAIC o del Canal 6, donde se hable de los logros de la revolución, del día a día, y luego intercalarlo con imágenes reales de lo que está sucediendo. 

    Lo más importante allí es la ficción que vive el gobierno y la ficción de los beneficios a la población, NO SON REALES Y TODO EL MUNDO LO SABE. Es como el autodenominado profeta que viola a las mujeres de sus fieles y les quita los dineros a sus maridos y para colmo la gente le sigue creyendo. No le encuentro explicación a este comportamiento. 

    Una idea para Galería Habana en 2018. 

    “In the roof”

    “On the roof”

    “¿De qué estamos hablando?”

    [A video of the ICAIC newscast or Channel 6, where they talk about the achievements of the revolution, the day to day, and then intersperse it with real images of what is happening. 

    The most important thing there is the fiction lived by the government and the fiction of the benefits to the population, THE ARE NOT REAL AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT. It is like the self-proclaimed prophet who rapes the wives of his followers, takes the money from their husbands, and to top it off people continue to believe him. I find no explanation for this behavior.

    An idea for Galería Habana in 2018 

    “In the roof”

    “On the roof”

    What are we talking about?
    • Title: Cepero Brito
    • Medium: Watercolor on paper [Plan for an installation that has not yet been executed]
    • Date: 2017
    • Collection: Courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta

    Dandy dangeroso

    A sepia-toned drawing of a man in a light suit and straw hat standing in front of a wall plastered with newspapers and posters. A figure is seated to his right, reading a newspaper.
    This painting consists of charcoal on canvas and depicts a vintage scene in faded colors, featuring a man as the central figure. He is wearing a light-colored suit and a straw hat, with his gaze directed towards us, holding what appears to be a cigar in his right hand. His facial expression is stern. Behind him, the background is filled with newspaper clippings and posters covering a wall, suggesting an urban setting. Another figure can only partially be seen on the right side of the image, engrossed in reading a newspaper. The visible part of the second figure shows their bowed head and a portion of the newspaper in their hands. Architectural features, possibly part of a column or building, are faintly visible in the top right.
    • Title: Dandy dangeroso
    • Medium: charcoal on canvas
    • Date: 1996
    • Dimension: 198 cm.  X 160 cm.
    • Collection: Private collection, courtesy of Gertrudis Rivalta