ABOUT ME

In the warm and vibrant streets of Cuba, in a home where humility wove the stories of each day, I was born—a dreamer whose hands yearned to paint the world with the colors of his soul. From a young age, my life was marked by art and music, two passions that, although they seemed to take different paths, were destined to intertwine in my fate.
 
My youth in Cuba was marked by adversity and challenge. At 16, my rebellious spirit and my quest for expression led me to a pivotal moment: I was expelled from art school for wearing a T-shirt with a religious message. That day, sitting on the curb outside the school, the tears rolling down my cheeks were not just of sadness but also of determination. I promised myself that I would never allow the chains of a regime to stifle my creative spirit.
 
Far from classrooms and dogmas, I embarked on a self-taught journey, exploring museums, absorbing the wisdom of seasoned artists, and immersing myself in the vast ocean of art. It was on this personal pilgrimage that I met my mentor, a philosopher of art who taught me the theory 'from verse to canvas.' Under his tutelage, I discovered how each brushstroke could dance to the rhythm of a melody, how each color could resonate with the note of a hidden music. My art was not just visual; it was a symphony of experiences, emotions, and narratives.
 
In 1998, defying censorship and oppression, I presented my series 'The Apocalypse of Abisay,' a collection that, although marginalized by the government, resonated in the hearts of those who yearned for freedom and beauty in its purest form. This series was not just art; it was a manifesto, a declaration that even in the deepest darkness, the human spirit can shine brightly.
 
Finally, in 2010, with my family by my side and my dreams in my heart, I crossed the waters that separated oppression from freedom. In Syracuse, New York, I found a new canvas for my life and my art. Here, in the land of liberty, my art has flourished, evolving not only into paintings but into a luxury for the soul, an experience reserved for those who understand its value and depth.
 
My art is not for everyone; it is for those who see beyond the surface, who feel the hidden music in each stroke, and who value the narrative of a spirit that never gave up. Each piece I create is a fragment of my story, a symphony of struggle, passion, and unbreakable beauty, destined to be appreciated by those who seek more than just an image, by those who wish to hear the music of the soul.
 
Thus, my story becomes art, and my art becomes a tale of value, resilience, and unbreakable beauty, a legacy that transcends borders and time, reserved for the discerning collector, for the connoisseur who understands that what I have to offer is not merely art, but a door to a transformative experience.

Solo Shows

  • 2022 (March-19)- Exhibit at the Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY, US.
  • 2014- Exhibit at La Casita Cultural Center Gallery, Syracuse, NY, US.
  • 2012- Exhibit at Ann Felton Multicultural Center, OCC (Onondaga Community College), Syracuse, NY, US.
  • 2011- Exhibit at Lamar Dodd Art Center, entitled "Lamentations of Abisay" LaGrange, GA, US.
  • 2008- Exhibit at Her-Car Gallery, Havana, Cuba
  • 2002- Exhibit at Museo de la Ciudad (City´s Museum), Havana, Cuba
  • 2001- Exhibit at Hermanos Saiz Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
  • 1999- Exhibit at HER-CAR Gallery, Havana, Cuba.

Group Shows

  • 2023- Exhibit at Memorial Art Gallery (University of Rochester) 2023 Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition, Rochester, NY.
  • 2022– Exhibit at Equity Gallery, New York, NY
  • Exhibit at Arnot Art Museum: The 76th Regional Exhibition. Elmira, NY, US.
  • Exhibit at Binghamton University Art Museum: Visions and Imagination, Cuban-American and Argentinian Art. Binghamton, NY, US. 2018
  • Exhibit at Cristine Frechard Gallery: INCUBATION, Pittsburg, PA, US. 2017
  • Exhibit at Monmouth Museum of Art: "Hope for the Holidays" art show. N.J, US.
  • Exhibit at Point of Contact Gallery, collaboration with the UK artist Susan Stockwell in the project: Boite-En-Valise: Generate. Syracuse, NY, U.S.
  • Exhibit at BAYart Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio, US. - Exhibit at The Monmouth Museum of Art, January to March. New Jersey, U.S. 2016
  • Exhibit at Point of Contact Gallery: 40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force. Syracuse, NY, US. - Exhibit at Dowling Art Center, Syracuse, NY, US. 2015
  • Exhibit at Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY, US. 2013
  • Exhibit at Edith Langley Barrett Art Gallery with Juan Cruz, Utica College, NY, US. 2012
  • Exhibit at the Biennial: TONY, the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, US.
  • Exhibit at Syracuse Stage, Syracuse, NY, US. 2011- Exhibit at “La Casita Cultural Center Gallery,” Syracuse, NY, US. 2004
  • Exhibit at “Origenes Gallery,” Havana, Cuba. 2003
  • Exhibit at “La Acacia Gallery,” Havana, Cuba - Exhibit at “L Gallery,” Havana, Cuba 2001
  • Exhibition with “Proyecto Horizontal,” at “10 de Octubre Gallery”, Havana, Cuba. 2000
  • Exhibition with "Proyecto Horizontal," at "Morro Gallery," Havana, Cuba.


Public and Corporate Collection:

  • Cuban Art Collection at Binghamton University Art Museum, NY, US.
  • Art Collection at the Magazine “CdeCuba,” Barcelona, Spain. - Larry B. Duncan, WestPoint, GA, US.
  • Lamar Dodd Art Center, LaGrange, GA, US.
  • The Charalampous Art Collection, Houston, TX, US.

Public and Corporate Commissions:

- “Save the Rain,” Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI), and Onondaga Earth Corps. 2011.

Awards and Honors:

2013 -1stPlace Artwork Award at “Tech Garden Gallery,” Syracuse, NY, US. 2007

-Award for ten years making art, of La Acacia Gallery, at Carlos Enrique Museum (Huron Azul) Havana, Cuba. 1998

-X Art Competition: Drawing Award, "Mirta Cerra Gallery,” Havana, Cuba.

-1st Place Artwork Award: "Combate," at Her-Car Gallery, Havana, Cuba.

Collaborations:

  • -Composing Music and Making a Video to Carlos Esteves´s Artworks. Work in Progres.
  • -Collaboration with Susan Stockwell, at Point of Contact Gallery, Syracuse, NY, US, 2017.
  • -Composed Music and made a Video to Tomás Sanchez's Artworks, “Journey in Gm,” 2017.
  • - Composed Music and made a Video to Jake Fernandez´ Artworks, “Con la Mirada de Niño”, 2017.
  • - Composed Music and made a Videos to Juan Miranda´s Artworks, “Contemplación II” and “Juan Miranda´s Art,” 2016 - 2017.

Bibliography:

  • Hypermedia Magazine: Abisay Puentes: La manzana en la cabeza. By Andrés Isaac Santana.
  • AAL: Angustia | Abisay Puentes. by Andrés Isaac Santana.
  • CdeCuba: La pintura el mejor sonido en el silencio. Por Liannys Lisset Peña Rodríguez
  • Carl Mellor, “Exhibit Offers A Cuban Sandwich Of Styles.” Syracuse NewTimes. Dawling Art Center, Syracuse, NY, 2016.
  • Barrett Art Gallery, “Journeys to Individual Voices: Caribbean Artists in America. Juan Cruz and Abisay Puentes”, Utica College, Utica, NY, 2013.
  • TONY 2012, Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY, 2012.
  • Rafael Grillo, “ABISAY PUENTES. MEDITATE.” CUBARTE Gallery, (Website) 2006.