The Return of Eduardo Abela

The Latin Art Core Gallery presents a historic exhibition dedicated to Eduardo Abela, one of the great exponents of Cuba’s First Vanguard movement. This showcase marks the first exhibition of his work in forty years, offering the public the opportunity to rediscover his artistic legacy.

Eduardo Abela honors the collection of Isaac and Betty Rudman, who have assembled one of the most comprehensive Latin American art collections of the 21st century. The exhibition is open to the public at the Latin Art Core Gallery, located in Little Havana, Miami, and will be on view until May 30, 2025.

Abela, recognized alongside figures such as Amelia Peláez, Víctor Manuel, and Carlos Enríquez, played a key role in redefining Cuban artistic identity in the early 20th century. His work, which oscillates between the satirical and the poetic, reflects a unique fusion of modernist influences with Cuban cultural elements. His participation in Revista de Avance led him to create El Bobo, a cartoon character that became a symbol of social criticism.

The exhibition offers an overview of more than four decades of Abela’s artistic production, highlighting his stylistic evolution from the 1920s to the 1960s. The Isaac and Betty Rudman collection includes a total of 65 pieces by the artist, 40 of which have been reintroduced into the Cuban art market, granting them new relevance in the contemporary context.

During the 1950s, Abela’s work took on a more intimate and dreamlike tone, exploring a lyrical and almost mystical dimension. However, his art never lost the essence of his critical perspective or his ability to engage in dialogue with the history and culture of his country. The fact that his production was not particularly prolific makes each of his works an invaluable testament to Cuba’s artistic history.

Thanks to the vision of Isaac and Betty Rudman, this exhibition enables a reunion between the past and present of Cuban art. The showcase at the Latin Art Core Gallery represents a unique opportunity to appreciate Abela’s work as a whole and recognize his impact on the development of Latin American art.