Carlos Garaicoa

Carlos Garaicoa, born in Habana (Cuba) in 1967, studied thermodynamics and later painting at the Instituto Superior de Arte, Havana (1989 - 1994). He currently lives and works between Havana and Madrid.

Garaicoa has developed a dialogue between art and urban space through which investigates the social structure of our cities in terms of their architecture. He employs a multi-disciplinary approach to address issues of culture and politics, particularly Cuban, through the study of architecture, urbanism and history. His chief subject has always been the city of Havana. By playing with sculptures, drawings, videos and photographs centred around irony and hopelessness, Garaicoa has found in his installations, for which he often uses a wide variety of materials, a way to criticize modernist Utopian architecture and the collapse of the 20th century ideologies, by going deeper into the concept of the city as a symbolic space.

Among his most important solo shows we can highlight those at the Rocca Maggiore of Assisi (2024), Brownstone Foundation, Paris (2022), PEM Peadoby Essex Museum, Salem (2021), SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah (2020);  Lunds Konsthall and Skissernass Museum, Lund (2019); Parasol Unit Foundation, London (2018); Fondazione Merz, Torino (2017); MAAT, Lisbon (2017); Azkuna Zentroa, Bilbao (2017); Museum Villa Stuck, Munich (2016); Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo (2015); CA2M Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Móstoles, Madrid (2014); Fundación Botín, Santander (2014); NC-Arte and FLORA ars + natura, Bogotá (2014); Kunsthaus Baselland Muttenz, Basel(2012); Kunstverein Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany (2012); Contemporary Art Museum, Institute for Research in Art, Tampa (2007); H.F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (2011); Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (SMBA), Amsterdam (2010); Centre d’Art la Panera, Lérida (2011); Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Caja de Burgos (CAB), Burgos (2011); National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), Athens (2011); Inhotim Instituto de Arte Contemporáneo, Brumadinho (2012); Caixa Cultural, Río de Janeiro (2008); Museo ICO (2012) and Matadero (2010), Madrid; IMMA, Dublin (2010); Palau de la Virreina, Barcelona (2006); Museum of Contemporary Art (M.O.C.A), Los Angeles (2005);  M.O.M.A, NewYork, US (2005); Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, Bogotá (2000).

He has participated in prestigious international events such as: the Biennal of Cuenca (2023),  the Biennials of Havana (1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015), Shanghai (2010), São Paulo (1998, 2004), Venice (2009, 2005), Johannesburg (1995), Liverpool (2006) and Moscow (2005), the Triennials of Auckland (2007), San Juan (2004), Yokohama (2001) and Echigo-Tsumari (2012); Documenta 11 (2003) and 14 (2017) and PhotoEspaña 12 (2012). 

He received PEM Prize 2021 and in 2005 he received the XXXIX International Contemporary Art Prize - Foundation Prince Pierre de Monaco, and the Katherine S. Marmor Award in Los Angeles.