10 Years of The Cuban Arts Group: Voices from Artists, Curators, and Collaborators

Testimony by Daniela Fernández

Daniela Fernández photographed by Aurelia Casse

My first encounter with The Rice Collection goes back to my days in Havana, when I worked as an assistant at Esterio Segura’s studio. It was through the curatorial vision of Gabriela Azcuy that I first connected with the beautiful initiative of The Cuban Arts Group.

These ten years have traced a path of dedication and care toward Cuban art in all its generations—its complexities, transformations, and the new voices emerging and working from the Cuban diaspora across Europe and the United States.

Thanks to their support, we brought to life the interactive exhibition “Biblioteca para Lomolectorxs” in Paris, with Lester Álvarez and Kevin Ávila. It was very special to receive the support of an organization that also saw potential in the development of ephemeral and site-specific projects, and that allowed me, as a young curator, to expand my practice—this being the second activation of a then almost-emerging curatorial platform: Hiatal.

More recently, within the framework of Apertura Madrid, we presented “Para ver, cierro los ojos” with Odey Curbelo and Kmilo Morales—a project that invited reflection on the act of seeing and imagining. Once again, TCAG’s support made it possible to create a space for dialogue between Cuban artists living in different geographies, opening new paths of resonance and encounter.

Grateful for the journey shared so far—and for all the projects still waiting to be dreamed.

Project Biblioteca para Lomolectorxs. Shmorévaz, Paris, 2023. Co-curated with Salomé Burstein

Project Para ver, cierro los ojos. El Arco Azul, Madrid, 2025. Co-curated with Claudia Pérez