Carlos Luna (Cuban, born )

Carlos Luna (Cuban, b.1969) grew up in a small rural town in Cuba. In 1991, he immigrated to Mexico, and then moved to the United States in 2002, where he currently lives and works. Luna is known for his highly decorative and powerfully shaded paintings, sculptures, and ceramics full of symbolism intrinsic to his roots in rural Cuba. Luna has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Mexico, Cuba, and abroad. His work can be seen in museums and public collections, including the New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; the Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL; the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL; El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY; the Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA; and the Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA; among others.

Timeline

1969
Born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba on January 2nd, 1969
1980–1983
Attended School of Visual Arts (Escuela Provincial de Artes Plasticas), Pinar del Rio, Cuba
1983–1984
Attended Academia de San Alejandro, Havana, Cuba
1986
Won Salón Interescolar Award; Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas and Academia de San Alejandro, Havana
1984–1987
Attended National School of Arts (Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas, ENAP), Havana, Cuba
1987
Won Honorable Mention; Salón de la Ciudad, Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery, Havana
1988
Won First Prize; Salon de la Ciudad, Luz y Oficio Gallery, Havana
1988
Won First Prize; IV Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
1989
Won First Prize; V Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas; Pinar del Rio, Cuba
1989
Won IV Salón Nacional de Premiados Award; Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
1987–1991
Attended Visual Arts College (Instituto Superior de Arte), Havana, Cuba
1991
Won First Prize; Salon de Profesores, Luz y Oficio Gallery, Havana
1991
Left Cuba
1997
Awarded Fellowship; State Government of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
1998
Awarded Fellowship; State Government of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
2001
Won Grant award; Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, NY
2001
Won Special Award U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service granted a EB-1-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) Immigrant Visa, granted to applicants who can prove outstanding artistic, scientific, athletic, community, or scholarly performance
1991–2002
Lived in Puebla, Mexico
2008
Was Artist in Residence; Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2008
Won New American Paintings; Juried Exhibition-in-Print, Number 76
Present
Resides in The United States of America since 2002 with his wife and their three children

Exhibitions

2015
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2015:
Green Machine: The Art of Carlos Luna, Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL (solo exhibition)
75 años, 75 artistas, Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico
2014
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2014:
Concept, Art Basel, Galeria Medicci, Miami, FL
FIA, XXII Feria Iberoamericana de Arte, Galeria Medicci, Caracas, Venezuela
Group Show, Heather James Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2013
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2013:
Art Wynwood Fair, Galeria Medicci, Miami, FL
FIA, XXII Feria Iberoamericana de Arte, Galeria Medicci, Caracas, Venezuela
Houston Fine Art Fair, Art Of The World, Houston, TX
2012
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2012:
Houston Fine Art Fair, Art Of The World, Houston, TX
Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Heather James Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA
LA to LA, LA Artcore Brewery Annex, Los Angeles, CA
2011
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2011:
Carlos Luna: Los Decorados, Heather James Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA (solo exhibition)
Salon d’Automne 2011: l’AlteRnaTive, Paris
Group Show, Heather James Fine Art, Jackson, WY
Cuba On My Mind, The Von Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL
Independiente, Espacio-Reforma, Oaxaca, Mexico
2010
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2010:
!Si Cuba!, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
!Latinas!, Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor, NY
Four Views from the MOLAA Permanent Collection, Museum of Latin American Art – Molaa, Long Beach, CA
Art in Embassies Program, United States Embassy El Salvador, San Salvador, 2010-2013
Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art, Flint Institute of the Arts, Flint, MI
Art Santa Fe, Osuna Art, Washington, D.C.
2009
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2009:
Pablo Picasso Ceramics | Carlos Luna Paintings, Complejo Cultural Universitario BUAP, Puebla, Mexico (solo exhibition)
Pablo Picasso Ceramics | Carlos Luna Paintings, Miramar Cultural Center – Artspark, Miramar, FL (solo exhibition)
Latinamerican Art: Classic to Contemporary, Heather James Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
Latin American Painting Now (Pintura Latino Americana de Ahora), Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL
2008
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2008:
Pablo Picasso Ceramics | Carlos Luna Paintings, Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna: El Gran Mambo, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C. (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna: El Gran Mambo, Museum of Latin American Art – Molaa, Long Beach, CA (solo exhibition)
Art in Embassies Program, United States Embassy Santiago, Chile, 2008-2011
Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art, Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Visiones: 20th Century Selections from the Nassau County Museum of Art, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
Art Santa Fe, Osuna Art, Washington, D.C.
2007
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2007:
Carlos Luna: Personal Histories, (Oil paintings) Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna: Personal Histories, (Works on amate paper) The Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery, Lebanon Valley Collage, Annville, PA (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna: Personal Histories, (Oils and works on amate paper) Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL (solo exhibition)
Art Santa Fe, Osuna Art, Washington, D.C. (solo exhibition)
Latin American Art: Myth & Reality, Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor, NY
Art Miami, Gomez Fine Art-Galeria, San Juan, PR
Arte Americas, Maxioli Gallery, Miami, FL
Group Show, Latin American Art Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Alarca, Talavera Contemporanea, El Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico DF
2006
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2006:
Naci pa’ ser feliz, Gomez Fine Art-Galeria, San Juan, PR (solo exhibition)
Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA
Diversidades. Del Caribe al Sur, Gomez Fine Art-Galeria, San Juan, PR
Group show, Lurie Fine Art Galleries, Miami, FL
2005
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2005:
Retratos de Carlos Luna, Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna, Leonard Tachmes Gallery, Miami, FL (solo exhibition)
Figuratively Speaking, Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL
Arte Americas, George Billis Gallery, Convention Center, Miami, FL
Works on paper, Osuna Art, Bethesda, Maryland
Wet, Edge Zones, Worlds Art Building, North Miami, FL
Growth Spurt, Edge Zones. Worlds Art Building, North Miami, FL
2004
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2004:
"Latin Visions": A Collector's Insight, Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor, NY
Scope Miami, Art Basel. Townhouse Hotel, Leonard Tachmes Gallery, Miami, FL
It’s for the Birds, Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Miami, FL
Summer Miami, Leonard Tachmes Gallery, Miami, FL
TONDO, Galeria Botello, Hato Rey, PR
Art Miami, Latin Collector Gallery, Miami, FL
Erase una vez en Mexico, Institute of Mexico in Miami, Miami, FL
American Dream, The Olga M. & Carlos Saladrigas Gallery,The Ignatian Center for the Arts, Miami, FL
The Soul of Latin American Art, Lurie Fine Art Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
2003
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2003:
Transfiguration, Palazzo Mediceo-Seravezza, Italy
Group Show, Latin Collector, New York, NY
Group Show Jorge M. Sori Fine Art, Miami, FL
Affordable Art Fair, Latin Collector Gallery, New York, NY
Second Year Anniversary Exhibition, Leonard Tachmes Gallery, Miami, FL
2001
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2001:
Paso a Paso, Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, Puebla, Mexico (solo exhibition)
Pequeño Formato, La Boheme Fine Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
2000
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 2000:
Una Constelación de Noches, Lopez Quiroga Gallery, Mexico DF
1999
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1999:
Talavera Contemporánea, San Francisco Cultural Center, Contemporary Art Gallery, Puebla, Mexico
Millennium, La Boheme Fine Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Pequeño Formato, La Boheme Fine Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Mixta s/papel ’99, Lyle O. Reitzel Contemporary Art, Santo Domingo, DR
Salón de Pequeño Formato, El Espacio Gallery, Mexico DF
Colección Gobierno del Estado de Puebla, Galeria de Arte Contemporaneo, Puebla, Mexico
1998
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1998:
Women of Sensuality, Amalia Mahoney Gallery, Chicago, IL (solo exhibition)
Presencia de Carlos Luna, Casa de la Cultura, Puebla, Mexico (solo exhibition)
Group Show, Drexel Gallery, Monterrey, Mexico Arte Erótico, Casa de los Muñecos, University Museum, Puebla, Mexico
1997
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1997:
Yo traigo de Todo, Casa de los Muñecos, University Museum, Puebla, Mexico (solo exhibition)
Carlos Luna, Oscar Roman Gallery, Mexico DF (solo exhibition)
Artistic Odyssey: Cuba-USA, Amalia Mahoney Gallery, Chicago, IL
1996
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1996:
Entre Gallos y Mujeres, Amalia Mahoney Gallery, Chicago, IL (solo exhibition)
Premio MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
Anatomía, Oscar Roman Gallery, Mexico DF
Artistas unidos contra el SIDA, Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico DF
El Circo, Oscar Roman Gallery; Mexico DF
Concurso Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo de Pintura Joven en México,Competition of young painters sponsored by Interamerican Development Bank in Mexico; SHCP Cultural Center, Mexico DF; Art Gallery of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
1995
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1995:
Mi Madre, Mi Patria, Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico (solo exhibition)
Advento, Group Exhibition of Contemporary Art; Tecali, Puebla, Mexico
Formas de Expresión, 180º Gallery, Puebla, Mexico
Group Exhibition, El Angel Gallery, Ciudad Mexico
Arte Contemporáneo, 180º Gallery, Puebla, Mexico
1994
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1994:
El Bestiario II, Claustro de Sor Juana, Mexico DF (solo exhibition)
One Group Show, Javier Lumbreras Fine Art, Coral Gables, FL
Ojos que no ven, In Spazio Gallery, Puebla, Mexico
Aquí y Ahora, 180º Gallery, Puebla, Mexico
1993
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1993:
El Bestiario, Javier Lumbreras Fine Arts, Coral Gables, Florida, USA (solo exhibition)
Nacidos en Cuba, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR
One Group Show, Javier Lumbreras Fine Art; Coral Gables, FL
Colectiva, La Troje de San Mateo Gallery, Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico
1992
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1992:
El Fuego Secreto, La Casita Gallery, Mexico DF (solo exhibition)
I Bienal de Pintura del Caribe, Santo Domingo, DR
VIII Bienal Iberoamericana de Arte, América Nuestro Continente, Domeq Cultural Institute, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico DF
Pabellón Cubano de las Artes, World Show, Seville 1992, Spain
La Década prodigiosa, Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico DF
1991
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1991:
Sin permiso no se puede tumba, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, NL, Mexico (solo exhibition)
IV Bienal de La Habana. El Desafío a la Conquista y Colonización, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
VIII Trienal de la India, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India
En sus marcos listos II, IV Bienal de la Havana, Havana Gallery, Havana
18 peintres de Cuba a Paris, Federation Du Val-d´Oise, Paris
Salón de profesores, Luz y Oficio Gallery, Havana
En sus Marcos Listos, Havana Gallery, Havana
Nacidos en Cuba, Universidad de Valencia, Centro de Arte de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela; Museo de Arte de Toluca, Toluca, Mexico
1990
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1990:
Andar Pinar, Luz y Oficio Gallery, Havana
V Salón de Premiados, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
Exposición Colectiva Itinerante de Serigrafía en Centros de Arte de África, School of Fine Arts, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nommo Gallery, Kampala, Uganda; National Art Museum, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; National Art Museum, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ecole de Poto-Poto, Brazzaville, Congo
1989
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1989:
De lo Abstracto, Havana Gallery, Havana Salón Nacional Asociación Hermanos Saínz, Casa del Joven Creador, Havana
Homenaje del Instituto Superior de Arte a la Casa de las Américas, Casa de las Americas, Havana
Jornada de la Cultura Cubana, Tres Mundos Gallery, Managua
III Bienal de la Habana, Instituto Superior de Arte Gallery, Havana
V Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas, Pinar del Rio Gallery, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
IV Salón de Premiados, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
1988
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1988:
Arte Cubano Joven, Art Institute of Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts
Festival de la Creación y la Investigación Artística, Instituto Superior de Arte Gallery, Havana
Jóvenes Artistas Plásticos, Abel Santamaria Museum, Santa Clara, Cuba
IV Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas Pinar del Rio Gallery, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Salón de la Ciudad, Luz y Oficio Gallery, Havana
1987
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1987:
Imágenes del Paraíso, Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas Gallery, Havana (solo exhibition)
Veintitantos Abriles, Havana Gallery, Havana
Salón de la Ciudad, Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery, Havana
III Salón Provincial de Artes Plásticas, Pinar del Rio Gallery, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
1986
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1986:
Carlos Luna II, Atilano Armenteros Ramos Gallery, San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba (solo exhibition)
Salón Interescolar, Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas and Academia de San Alejandro, Havana
1985
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1985:
Salón Nacional de Escuelas de Arte, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
1984
Carlos Luna Selected Exhibitions in 1984:
Carlos Luna, Atilano Armenteros Ramos Gallery, San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba (solo exhibition)

Public Collections

Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL

New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA

El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY

Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor, NY

Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL

Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA

Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

The Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery, Lebanon Valley Collage, Annville PA

Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL

Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico

Museo Poblano de Arte Virreinal, Puebla, Mexico

Museo Casa de los Muñecos, Puebla, Mexico

Museo de Arte Afroamericano, Caracas, Venezuela

Banco de Mexico Collection, Mexico DF

Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico Collection, Mexico DF

Gobierno del Estado de Puebla Collection, Puebla, Mexico

Casa de la Cultura, Puebla, Mexico

Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Mexico

Colección Talavera Santa Catarina, Puebla, Mexico

Talavera Uriarte Ceramics Collection, Puebla, Mexico

Alarca Museo de la Talavera, Puebla, Mexico

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana

Wifredo Lam Center, Havana

The Ludwig Foundation, Germany

The Jaime Wasch Foundation, Spain

The Miterrand Foundation, France