Late Cuban Collographer Belkis Ayón’s current exhibit at UCLA's Fowler Museum is a wonderful and breathtaking benefit of our soon to be dearly missed President Obama’s cultural and diplomatic détente with Cuba.
“It’s an important moment,” Fowler Director Marla Berns says. “At this time of reopening of diplomatic relations between America and Cuba, it’s important for people to learn more about Cuban culture and artists of great talent that they may never have heard of before because of the limited access we’ve had to Cuba. A larger American audience will now become aware of Belkis Ayón, both as an Afro-Cuban artist and one of the most accomplished contemporary printmakers anywhere.”
Count me as part of that Americano audience that was unaware of her work, which I find astonishing, beautiful and timely. For her work combines in a powerful way the symbolism and archetypes of ancient and epic struggles against racism and sexism that have bubbled to a froth in contemporary America.
Join me below the fold for more of her story and more of her dazzling art.