Wifredo Lam is one of the most eminent Cuban artists. His works reflect on the spiritual side of Cuban life and myths particularly connected to the African-inhabited area of Santeria and its many rituals. His works redefined the Western idea of “primitive” art, turning it into a narrative about the complex Cuban history of oppression and struggle.
Early Works
The artist was born in 1902 in Sagua La Grande in Cuba, as Wifredo Oscar de la Concepción Lam. His father was a Chinese immigrant, while his mother was a descendant of Afro-Cuban and Spanish origin. This mixed Chinese, European, Indian, and African origin, had significantly influenced his works, as the artist merged a variety of elements into pieces that simultaneously appear familiar and surreal.
When the painter was only 14, his family relocated to Havana, the capital of Cuba where he began to study law. However, Wifredo decided to pursue an art career instead, and enrolled himself into the Escuela de Bellas Artes. He quickly gained recognition in the country, by exhibiting in numerous salons, (most famously in the Salón de la Asociación de Pintores y Escultores).
