Tony Rodriguez
[Miami, United States]
Art Yourself Atelier is absolutely thrilled to host the solo online exhibit - "Back and Forth Allegories", featuring the exceptional work of Tony Rodríguez.
Artist's Biography
Tony Rodríguez (b. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 1980). Graduated from the Higher Technical Pedagogical
Institute of Santiago de Cuba with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Visual
Arts, and receive a Master of Science in Art Education from the University of Oriente in his native
Santiago de Cuba.
He is a painter, an illustrator, and a curator. He has been called “the painter of
reflections”. For many years Tony worked as an art professor. He also was a member of prestigious
juries in the context of the visual arts. He has exhibited extensively in Cuba, the USA, and several
countries of Latin America like the Dominican Republic, and some European countries. In Tony’s
work towers, buildings, machines and other objects can be identified to represent our world, and
the humankind history and experience. His drawing and compositions are aggressively executed.
Since year 2000, Rodriguez has won several awards. His works have been exhibited in the Havana
Biennal and many important galleries in Cuba and Europe. Rodriguez’s works are part of prestigious
collections, such as, the Luciano Benetton and the Hispanic Cultural Center in Miami. He currently
lives and works in Miami, Florida.
About the Solo Exhibition
Well, as the title of the exhibition Back and Forth Allegories describes, this is a representation of the
work carried out by the Cuban-American artist Tony Rodriguez where, despite being from different
dates, they are all interrelated.
The work of Tony Rodriguez transports us to a distant time and, at the same time close, motionless
and frantic, where objects, divers, become confused, mixing in curious shapes and connections. They
represent the internal world and its complex connections in every emotional moment. Tony is a
maker of strange worlds that cross his gaze, raising images that, although recognizable, resemble
different stages of man, tinged by an unlimited imagination that makes us travel through universes
where the present is clothed in past and future. It takes us through other dimensions and even
through the most varied cardinal points of human life... Designs from any era, invented objects,
elements of constructions from other times... emerge from the depths of the painting and the
fragments of material on the surface of the paintings that resemble "petroglyphs" and become
graffiti of the present. The passage of time, we would say, is discovered in the successive layers of
pigment, which function as reliefs, as rich in the textures of their surfaces as in their context. The
creator is never content with representing life from a unique perspective or through a technical
dimension. Lonely beings, surrounded by objects, and fragments of time and space..., the human
spirit becomes ambivalent and indomitable. And he is unified within an eroded pictorial space as his
recognizable humanity appears challenged by the future. To emphasize this, the artist creates
strange perspectives or panoramas that vary even within the same work. It is that a visual delight
comes to exist in the riotous energy of each painting, because that is the mind-thought of the
creator. The images of Tony Rodríguez's pieces are in a tense balance between opposing forces
created by veils of colors and rough textures —in many of them— and his constant metamorphosis.
1. Collapse
[2023, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in]
This artwork done in oil on canvas and measuring 24 x 20 inches is about a ship about to sink with a city. In this work he combines universal modern motifs and elements, integrating the past with the present through unique symbolic creations that represent the peace and harmony of a utopian world.
2. Elon Musk's dream
[2023, oil on canvas, 14 x 18 in]
This work is a critique and at the same time an allegory of what Elon Musk is trying to do, striving to achieve domination of space and the colonization of planets by man due to all the environmental and survival problems that our planet currently faces.
3. The challenge of the Nephilim
[2022, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in]
This work is a giant diver swimming inside a plate with cities and boats. This work belongs to the Chronicles of Water series, this series has several large-format pieces. This series talks about the importance of water for all human beings, as has been our wandering through history in the seas. Great and epic battles have been developed in the seas, great cities have been created in the seas, water surrounds us, water is life, our body is made up of 80% water. Also when you are baptized, baptism occurs with water , it is a new birth in the Faith, that is, you are a new man, you come out of that water, try to get up and you are born as a person. That is why this series is made up of divers, boats, and cities.
4. The encounter
[2020, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in]
This work is a diver swimming in the depths with a camera and a flashlight in search of something. This work belongs to the Chronicles of Water series, this series has several large-format pieces. This series talks about the importance of water for all human beings, as has been our wandering through history in the seas. Great and epic battles have been developed in the seas, great cities have been created in the seas, water surrounds us, water is life, our body is made up of 80% water. Also when you are baptized, baptism occurs with water , it is a new birth in the Faith, that is, you are a new man, you come out of that water, try to get up and you are born as a person. That is why this series is made up of divers, boats, and cities.
5. The intruders
[2020, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in]
In this work you can see 2 divers swimming silently to try to enter a city. This series talks about the importance of water for all human beings, as has been our wandering through history in the seas. Great and epic battles have been developed in the seas, great cities have been created in the seas, water surrounds us, water is life, our body is made up of 80% water. Also when you are baptized, baptism occurs with water , it is a new birth in the Faith, that is, you are a new man, you come out of that water, try to get up and you are born as a person. That is why this series is made up of divers, boats, and cities. This work can also be interpreted as the entry of immigrants into the United States, who look for any way to achieve their dreams.
6. The lesson
[2020, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in]
This work tells us about the legacy of humanity to future generations. It is about a post apocalyptic world, where practically 60% of life on earth perished but where as human beings that survived we cannot make the same mistakes that previous generations made that led us to self-destruction and that is why we teach how to be different for each other. a reconstruction of civilization.
7. The watchman
[2020, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in]
A diver taking care of a city. This work belongs to the series Chronicles of water. This series talks about the importance of water for all human beings, as has been our wandering through history in the seas. Great and epic battles have been developed in the seas, great cities have been created in the seas, water surrounds us, water is life, our body is made up of 80% water. Also when you are baptized, baptism occurs with water , it is a new birth in the Faith, that is, you are a new man, you come out of that water, try to get up and you are born as a person. That is why this series is made up of divers, boats, and cities. This work can also be interpreted as the entry of immigrants into the United States, who look for any way to achieve their dreams.
8. Why do you escape from the unknown, do you not have Faith
[2021, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in]
This painting is composed of a glass and inside the glass the city. This work is inspired by ancient world philosophies, poems, nature and modern society. Here ancient motifs and universal modern elements are combined, the past is integrated with the present through unique symbolic creations that represent the peace and harmony of a utopian world. History and human experience come together and tell us about how humanity would react to the unknown.
His Collective Exhibition Experience
2022: "Spectrum Art Fair" Mana Wynwood Convention Center, Miami, Fl. USA
2022: "Situation of Coexistence". Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center, Miami, Fl. USA
2022: "Fine Arts on the Plate". Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS), Daytona Beach, Fl. USA
2021: "Fine Arts on the Plate". Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fl. USA
2020: "Fine Arts on the Plate". Kendall Art Center, Miami, Fl. USA
2019: "Open discourse. Archbishop John C. Favalora Museum", St Thomas University, Fl. USA
2018: "Red Dot Art Fair, Blink Group Gallery", Mana Wynwood 2217 NW 5th Avenue, Miami, Fl. USA
2018: "Visiones de Cuba. 50 Artistas cubanos en Cayo Hueso", Eduardo Gato Cigar Factory, Key West, Fl. USA
2017: "Spectrum Art Fair, Kendall Art Center", Mana Wynwood 2217 NW 5th Avenue Miami, Fl. USA
2017: "Transfiguration", Kendall Art Center, Miami. Fl. USA.
2017: "LA Art Show, Los Angeles Modern Contemporary Art Show with Blink Group Gallery", Los Angeles Convention Center. LA, California. USA
2016: "Art Spectrum Miami with Blink Group Gallery", Mana Wynwood 2217 NW 5th Avenue, Miami, Fl. USA
2016: "The Afterlife of Color ". Milander Art Center . Hialeah, Miami. Fl
2015: "Retratos, Paisajes y Cotidianidades. Miradas intimas de Cuba", Edificio Cataluña de la Residencia Cardenal Cisneros, de la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares , España.
2015: " Mapa del Nuevo Arte" (Imago Mundi Art, Benetton Collection)GIORGIO CINI ,Isla de San Giorgio Maggiore, Venecia. Italia
2015: "Wish you were here" (Proyecto Un- Send) en el Mississippi Kunst og Kultur Hvidbjerg , Thyholm - Dinamarca .
2014: "Imago Mundi" (Benetton Collection). The Art of Humanity.Casa Dei Carraresi. Treviso, Italia
2014: "8th Art Exhibit Hispanic Heritage" ,Orlando City Hall. Orlando, Fl. USA
2014: "Art Exhibit La Mano Hispana". Milander Center for Arts. Hialeah, Miami, Fl. USA
2014: "Mona Lisa Reinterpretations". Obrapia Fine Art Gallery, Miami, Fl.USA
2013: "The Magic of a Magic Time". Magnetism Art Gallery. Calle 8 Miami, Fl. USA
2013: "Art Exhibit La Mano Hispana". Milander Center For Arts .Hialeah, Fl. Miami.USA
2013: "Collective Exhibition Unique Artist, Paint and Sculpt". Cocunut Grove. Miami, Fl.USA
2013: "INCOGNITO at Friends of Art 2013". Naples Museum of Art,Naples.Fl USA.
2012: "The 17 annual INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL OF MIAMI", Paragon Gallery. WINWOOD. Miami, FL USA
2012: "Un cortadito en la Calle 8", Cremata Gallery. Cafe the cuban diaspora project. Miami, Fl. USA
2012: "Homenaje Al Quijote" ,Galindo & Chuy Gallery. Miami, Fl.USA
2012: "Masterworks .International Contemporary Art", Artopia Art Center. Miami, Fl.USA
2012: "Gallery Night Sauma Art Gallery", Bird Road. Miami, Fl. USA
2012: "Artist of New Generation", Coral Gables Museum. Miami, Fl. USA
2011. "International Art Show". Lizarran Restaurant. Coral Gables . Fl.USA
2011. "International Art Show". Hotel Internacional del Aeropuerto de la Ciudad de Miami. Doral. Miami. Fl.USA
2011. "Cuban and Latin America Show". Artopia Art Center.Miami, Fl. USA
2011: "Festival Internacional de Arte en la ciudad del Doral". Universidad Carlos Albizu. Miami, Fl. USA
2011: "Muestra de Arte Cubano en el exterior". Galería Conceptos y Formas. Hialeah .Fl. USA
2011: "Landscapes". Light Space & Time Gallery . Miami, Fl. USA
2009: "Proyecto sobre José Martí" auspiciado por la Oficina Del Conservador de Ciudad de la Habana conjuntamente con el programa Arte Video de la TV Cubana.
2009: "Alrededor del Mundo", L'Artchipel , Escena Nacional de Guadalupe, Maracaibo. Venezuela.
2009: "Los del Norte"... ,Galeria Kajasov, Moscú. Rusia
2008: "A pesar de" .Galería de Arte Universal. Consejo de las Artes Plásticas Provincial. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba 2008: "Lo mejor de la plástica santiaguera contemporánea" "Palacio Salcines" Guantánamo.
2007: "Todo o Nada" .Galería Paralelo 23, Sao Paulo. Brasil
2007: "Salón de la Ciudad de Santiago de Cuba" en Homenaje a la cultura santiaguera y al Festival del Caribe. Galería Oriente. Cuba
2007. 1er Salón Nacional "Para una imagen de Antonio Maceo". Biblioteca Provincial Elvira Cape. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2007. "Mi paisaje Interior". Galería Modena. Italia.
2007. "Salón Provincial de Paisaje". Galería de arte Universal. Santiago de Cuba
2007. "Los que vienen conmigo". Galería Palacio del Conde de Casa de Lombillo. Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba
2006: "Los Guardianes". Galería Oriente. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2006: "Salón provincial de paisaje" junto a artistas representativos de la plástica Santiaguera. galería de arte Universal. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2006: "Exposición Colectiva "en la galería de la Escuela de Instructores de Arte "Pepito Tey". Santiago de Cuba.
2006: "Exposición Colectiva" con artistas representantes de la ciudad de Santiago de Cuba. Ateneo Cultural Antonio Bravo Correoso. Cuba
2006: "Exposición Colectiva" en la Galería de la Universidad de Oriente. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2005: "Exposición Colectiva Seminario Nacional Juvenil Martiano" en la Galería de la Escuela Instructores de Arte. Cienfuegos
2005: "El arte de la apropiación" . Galería Servando Cabrera. Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba
2005: "Salón Provincial Martiano" en la Galería de la Universidad de Oriente. Santiago de Cuba.Cuba
2005: "Exposición Colectiva junto a artistas representativos de la vieja plástica santiaguera", Galería Oriente. Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2005: "Salón Provincial 30 de noviembre", Galería de Arte Universal, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2005: "Salón de pequeño Formato", Galería El Zaguán, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2004: "Expo colectiva", Librería José Antonio Echeverría, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2004: "Salón de Artes Plásticas ", Galería Francisco Martínez Anaya , Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2004: "Exposición en la Asociación Hermanos Saíz", Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2004: "Del Lobo un Pelo", Galería La Acacia, Ciudad de la Habana, Proyecto Génesis. Cuba
2003: "Expo colectiva", Librería José Antonio Echeverría, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2003: "Expo colectiva 13 de marzo", Teatro Heredia, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2003: "Exposición por la jornada de la Cultura Cubana", Teatro Heredia, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2002: "Expo colectiva" , Galería La Confronta UNEAC , Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2002: "Expo colectiva de Arte Joven Latinoamericano", Fordham Gallery, Londres. Inglaterra
2001: "Muestra colectiva de Serigrafía", Calle Heredia, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
1999: "Salón 7 de diciembre" de Artes Plásticas Galería Enrique Marañón, ISP Frank País García, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
His Personal Exhibition Experience
2023: "Chronicles of the soul", Saphira & Ventura Gallery, New York, USA.
2021: "Back and Forth Allegories", International Ballet Festival of Miami, Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center, Miami, Fl. USA
2015: "Nuevos Mundos", Sala de Teatro Galería El umbral de Primavera, Lavapiés, Madrid. España
2013: "Visiones Alternativas", Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center, Miami, Fl. USA
2011: "Mundos Paralelos", Galindo & Chuy Gallery. Calle 8. Miami, Fl. USA
2010: "Nada es Imposible", Hillary Framming Gallery. Miami, Fl. USA
2010: "El ultimo festejo", World Art Gallery, Key West, Fl. USA
2010: "Siglo XXI. Evolución", Galería de Arte Universal, Consejo de las Artes Plásticas Provincial Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
2010: "La vida en rosa", Zabriskie Gallery, Varsovia. Polonia
2009: "Refugios del tiempo". Colateral a la 10 Bienal de la Habana, Galería Ciudades del Mundo, Vedado, Municipio Plaza de la Revolución, Ciudad Habana. Cuba
2008: "Estructuraciones del paisaje futuro", Galería de arte Universal, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba.
2008: "Viaje al Centro de la Tierra", Galería Consejo de las Artes Plásticas, Ciego de Avila. Cuba
2008: "El viaje de una ciudad", Galería Saint Honore, París. Francia
2008: "El viaje de una ciudad", Centro de Arte Munich, Alemania.
2007: "Cuando caen los Ángeles", Escuela Instructores de Arte, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2007: "Caligrafías", Galería Charles Chaplin, Ciudad Habana. Cuba
2006: "Desde mis adentros", Castillo del Morro San Pedro de la Roca, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2006: "Mis ciudades", Galería Weiss, Kassel, Alemania.
2005: "Aché pa tí " , Ateneo cultural Antonio Bravo Correoso, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2005: "Seres extremos", Alianza Francesa Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2005: "Esfinges de la guerra ". Casa de la Cultura de Playa, Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba.
2004: "La Sombra de Los Acordes", Biblioteca Provincial Elvira Cape, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2004: "El Fin justifica los Medios ", Galería La Confronta UNEAC, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2002: "Vuelve pero no me lleves", Galería Enrique Marañón, ISP Frank País García, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
2000: "Muestra personal Performance ", Galería Enrique Marañón, ISP Frank País García, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba