CV
Born in La Habana, Cuba. In 2011, graduated with a BFA from the San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts in Havana. A year later, Jiménez Guerra opened a studio gallery in Old Havana and used the space to exhibit his work, create art in collaboration with other artists, and hold workshops for children in the community.
In 2013, Jiménez Guerra traveled to the USA as part of an artist collective called “The Wall” to collaborate with the American collective “Arte Libre.” He has lived and worked in between Havana and New York ever since. As a visual artist he has had works exhibited nationally and internationally. Esteban has been invited to art fairs, symposiums, talks, and workshops in institutions such Detour Gallery (New Jersey), the Cuban Art Space Gallery (New York), the Children’s Museum of the Arts (New York), the University of Massachusetts (Boston), Montevallo University (Alabama), and the University of Essex (London). Articles about his work has been published in Green Beauty mangazine, Venü magazine, The Faber foundation and Cuban Art News.
Artist Statement
Esteban is a multi-disciplinary artist who works with mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography. His art practice tackles concepts of 'otherness' pervasive in popular culture. Through his transformative and empowering representations of the human body, he seeks to contextualize these pre-constructed notions. Esteban perceives the body as a vessel bearing the intricate imprints of past traumas and shaped by personal lived experiences.
Drawing inspiration from philosophies rooted in Afro-Cuban spiritual practices (Abakua, Lucumi, and Regla Kimbisa), he endeavors to redefine the narratives and contemporary systems that perpetuate racism and sexism. Esteban's paintings are characterized by their mystical nature, centered around the Black experience. The characters in his works often appear layered with symbols and textures resembling magical beings.
Education
2017/ CE, SVA (School of Visual Arts), New York.
2011/ BFA, San Alejandro Fine Art Academy, Havana.
Group Exhibitions
2025/ Habaneando, The Clemente Latea Theater, New York.
2023/ Giving Light/Bidding for Change, Bronx Art space Gallery, Bronx.
2023/ The necessity of seduction: Cuba and Eros, Echo Contemporary Art Gallery, Atlanta.
2021/ The necessity of seduction: Cuba and Eros, Glass Gallery, Fort Lauderdale.
2021/ AfreeCan, Chaschama Gallery, New York city, NY.
2020/ Blue Waters exhibition, Montevallo University of Alabama, Atlanta.
2019/ Blue Show, Julio Larramendi’s Gallery, Havana.
2019/ Exhibit at Afro-Latino Fest, Brooklyn venue, New York.
2018/ Exhibition at Boston International Printmaking Workshop, Boston.
2018/ Relocated, El Barrio Artspace PS109, New York.
2018/ Fundraiser exhibition for the victims of the tornado in Cuba, New York.
2018/ eMeLe-K, Martin L. King week, Latea theater, New York.
2018/ JCAST, Headquarters Gallery, Jersey City.
2017/ Fundraising art show: The Light of Faith Foundation, Harlem.
2017/ Utopias: Contemporary Latin American, Local Project Art Space. Long Island City.
2017/ RE America, Detour gallery, New Jersey.
2016/ Mediating reflections, Spiff Space Gallery, New York.
2015/ Artceleration: ART BASEL MIAMI, Macaya Gallery, Fort Lauderdale.
2015/ Merge art, M1-5 Gallery, NYC.
2015/ Nocturne, LITM Gallery, Jersey City.
2015/ Transcendence: Artists Making Changes Foundation, The Bitcoin Center, New York City.
2015/ Bronx Speaks: Making Place, The Bronx Arts Alliance, Bronx Museum, Bronx.
2014/ Orlando’s Bru variety show, Hablando con Bru show, New Jersey.
2014/ Cuban Independence Day Cultural Program, Theater of Jose Marti School, New Jersey.
2014/ Cuban show, City Hall Gallery, New Jersey.
2014/ The Bridge: Artist Making Changes Foundation, Learning Center gallery, New York.
2014/ Bronx Museum Show, Bronx.
2013/ Up against the wall, Cuban Art Space Gallery, New York.
2013/ Artworks in The Fashion, W Hotel Gallery, New Orleans.
2013/ One Dirty Linen Night Festiva, Cassell Gallery, New Orleans.
2013/ HavaNola exhibition, Willow Street gallery, New Orleans.
2013/ PA’lante! International School of Medicine Gallery, Havana.
2012/ Itinerant show, Havana.
2012/ Wings. Arabian Castle Space, Havana.
2011/ 11th Biennial de La Habana, San Alejandro’s Academy Gallery, Havana.
2011/ Transmutations, Cuban Cultural Affairs Center Gallery, Havana.
2008/ Cuban connections, The University of Essex Gallery, London.
2008/ Between friends, Mariano Rodriguez Gallery, Havana.
2007/ Incoherent, The Cultural House Gallery, Havana.
2003/ Muestra Joven, Frida Kahlo Gallery, Havana.
Selected Residencies, Awards & Grants
2024/ BRIOC ( Bronx Recognizes Its Own Artist Award 2024) Bronx.
2024/ BCA ( Bronx Council of the Arts): SU-CASA 2024, Artist Residency, Bronx.
2021/ City Arts Corp Grant, New York.
2020/ Blue Waters Symposium, Artist Residency, Montevallo University, Alabama.
2018/ Artist Residency, The 3rd University of Massachusetts Boston International Printmaking Workshop 2018, University of Boston, Boston.
2016/ Problematizing The New Man concept: Visibilizing, the work of Belkis Ayon, Hampshire College, Massachusets.
Selected Artist Talks & Workshops
2023/ Reimagining materials workshop, Dream Yard organization, Bronx.
2023/ Artist talk at closing reception for Giving Light/Bidding for Change, Bronx Art space Gallery, Bronx.
2021/ Artist talk at closing reception, The necessity of seduction: Cuba and Eros, Glass gallery, Fort Lauderdale.
Bibliography & Press
Venü magazine: Issue 46. “Then necessity of seduction: Cuba and Eros”, (Page 74- 76).
The Faber foundation. Cuban Art News: In conversation with “The La Pared collective” https://cubanartnewsarchive.org/2013/12/31/in-conversation-the-la-pared-collective/
A Green magazine: Issue 3 (page 30-31). “Broken English” interview.
https://issuu.com/agreenbeauty/docs/issue_3_teaser