Buying art in Havana

[gammanine]

Last November I visted a small gallery on Oficios, near Obrapia. There was a good selection of really well done paintings there, one of which caught my eye. The price was just under 300. Not knowing the market, or for that matter how to travel with a painting to the US, I left it hanging there. Does anyone have advice on purchasing in these small galleries? Is haggeling over the price ok? What is the best way to travel with an oil or arcrylic painting? ? Any and all info appreciated.

[Tori]

Hi, I bring back between 8-15 pieces everytime I come back. You just roll them and put poster paper around the art and carry it by hand. You just need heavy poster paper and duc-tape, or other strong tape.
My novio sells art at Paradisus Varadero, it is a hotel with a small art gallery, there are other galleries in Matanzas and Varadero that I know about. Yes, you can haggle with the price, but not major haggling, unless you are willing to pay cash on the spot for many pieces. Also, it helps to talk with the artist directly. Are you going to Cuba anytime soon? It is more expensive to buy from a gallery, as you know. IT is totally legal, for 10.00 you can bring back 5 pieces of art, I believe. Anyway, I think you can easily bring back up to 20 or 30 pieces without problem. You need to have your passport and take them to a local art office in whatever city you are in. A gallery will take care of that for you. I have brought back art without documentation and haven't gotten caught, but, it is best to be on the safe side. The USA says it is also legal, I never have had any problems.

[gammanine]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I'm only getting this info from you now. I will definitely make a purchase on my next trip though. I did some shopping while in Habana and found a few galleries that are showing pieces that suit my personal tastes. Maybe I can get to your Novio's gallery next time!

[leonardo]

;hi i have just come back from my first visit to cuba, where i was completely bowled over by some of the artwork i saw there.i bought some beautiful pieces and have brought them home to London and framed them myself a la cubana. ie on plyboard. they are so beautiful i want to go back and buy some more. i would also like to buy art to help the local artists there as i realise that buying even one piece of art can feed the artist for some time!i realise i could help fund my trips to buy art by selling the pieces to funky bars in london but i wondered if anyone knew of a way to sellcuban art in london. thanks for youtr help

[poco_pete]

In the Catedral Square, there are lots of booths/vendors selling art. The people are separated into 2 groups...formally educated artists and self taught artists. The pricing is better out there..however, there is a point the vendors will not go below.

I have a friend that sells there and he tells me that it is incredible the prices that people offer as

1. They pay top prices for materials...paint, brushes and canvases as they must come to them circuituously.

2. It costs them about $4-5/day to sell you art
10 pesos to get there
10 pesos to get home
$1 for lunch
$2 - $3 for the right to sell in Catedral Square

Due to the low number of tourists (and their miserly habits) many vendors cannot afford to sell paintings every day. I am told that many weeks, they are lucky to sell a painting......and if they got $30 and worked 5 days...the artist got a little and the vendor lost money.

If you buy 2 - 3, they may be more willing to haggle.

[CubaAmor]

The best way to export art out of Cuba (if in Havana) is to visit the offices of the "Fondos De Buenos Culturales" and pay the cheap export fee, you are given a export docuemnt the following day after you have presented the pice to the experts, contrary to what people believe,you can even take out old masters works of art,I have done it myself many times,legally with no hassles.

I just recently purchased a REAL Wilfredo Lam piece certified by Roberto Cobas,Cuba's leading Lam expert and I had no problem bringing it back to the US.

Just stay honest, the problem isnt taking art out of Cuba,the problem is that there are those who do not wish to pay the measely fees,that is when you may encounter a problem.

I also help others in obtaining, locating and exporting art out of Cuba, need help? Contact me at YoungUrbanCuban@aol.com

If you're really interested in purchasing an artist work that will rise in value,look into Cosme Proenza from Holguin,super nice guy who is well repected worldwide.

[mellisas]

remember reading something about Wilfredo Lam * * *
did a lot of traverling l think...

he's a Surrealist painter is'nt he???

must look him up on the web...

art is something we have looked at in cuba...

thanks for the invitation to email you... [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[CubaAmor]

Lam was a Surrealist artist,and is considered Cuba's Van Gogh,his artwork can reach as high as $1 million and over at auction if it's an oil on canvas.

His work defines his Afro-Cuban roots with a touch of his good friend Picasso.

Others in Cuba to look out for are:

Fabelo
Mendive
Proenza (as mentioned above)

Buy them now while you can, they are the top dogs at this moment and their prices are rising in the thousands on a yearly basis,good deals are still out there for their work.

If anyone is interested I have a Fabelo certified by the artist for sale,cost $2500.

[beardouk]

Hey CA - is that Fabelo one of his empty bowls ? Or something more interesting ?

[beardouk]

I like Portocarrero's stuff.

[YoungCuban]

Portocarrero is awesome!

I have a Raul Milian for sale,Milian was a good friend of Rene Portocarrero who never studied art and only worked with watercolors,but for someone who never took lessons his works are great as well and you can also see a little Portocarrero's influence in Milian's works.

Is that your Portocarrero piece,do you own it?

I may soon have a Portocarrero with a certificate from Ramon Vasquez up for sale as well as many others,just ironing out some details as the works I will soon have were once owned by another great Cuban artist Rita Longa.

[YoungCuban]

Was waiting for you to say that Portocarrero was yours as I know where it's from SubastaHabana...lol

I just recently got a real certified Portocarrero from 1945 if interested I can send anyone photos of it.

[beardouk]

Not mine sadly, but I know who bought it.

As you say it was in last year's subasta (auction) - www.subastahabana.com (http://www.subastahabana.com/)

I also like this by Moises Finale

[beardouk]

And this by Mijares

[YoungCuban]

Very nice pieces,that Mijare looks familiar,was it bought in Santo Domingo or Panama?

If you like perhaps we can talk,I deal with many pieces and only with REAL ones and none of those fakes floating around.

How much did your friend get the Portocarrero for?

[CubaManiac]

In my opinion Cosme Proenza and Roberto Fabelo....are the 2 most talented artists living in Cuba today!!

I own 2 works of Cosme's...

this oil on canvas ...

http://artcubana.com/images/cosme%20images/misticity.jpg

better pics to follow....

and a watercolor of his as well....pics coming soon!!

Here is another Cosme..

http://www.cubarte.cult.cu/eng/documento/cos5.jpg


Other Cuban artists I really like are Vicente Hernandez....

http://artcubana.com/images/vicente%20images/vicente12.jpg




Ruben Alpizar...


http://artcubana.com/images/Alpizar%20images/No%20solo%20del%20pan.JPG





Hector Perez... Jesus Bettancourt...and Carlito!!


pics to follow....

[CubaManiac]

Unfortunately...I own no Fabelo as of yet....

but here is one of his works

http://www.subastahabana.com/media/photo/263161692004_38.jpg

[CubaManiac]

ahhhhh

and i surprise myself... but i like the work of Arturo Montoto...

I own this tryptch of hemingway by Montoto!!

http://artcubana.com/images/thumbs/thummon1.jpg

http://artcubana.com/images/thumbs/thummon2.jpg

http://artcubana.com/images/thumbs/thummon4.jpg

[CubaManiac]

but this is more along the lines of Montoto's work!!


http://www.cubarte.cult.cu/eng/documento/mon2.jpg


http://www.cubarte.cult.cu/eng/documento/mon11.jpg

[YoungCuban]

Cosme is awesome and not to mention a wonderful person,I am lucky enough to have two of the 250 plates designed for the Habana Collection by Cosme of "Otono",he also signed the plates for me with a black marker,I am selling one if anyone is interested,only 250 of the plates were made and given away,they are very hard to find,nearly impossible at that!

I have a Fabelo drawing.....wish I knew how to up pics on here,but I dont,someone help!

[mellisas]

wowowowowowow what fantastic paintings..

looking forward to seeing the water colours cm...l must say l am drawn more to water colours...softer...imo :)

[CubaManiac]

River of Tears.... by Carlito

http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/landfaces.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/landfaces1.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/landfaces3.jpg

[CubaManiac]

Exodus... by Carlito

http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII01.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII02.jpg

[CubaManiac]

more of Exodus..

http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII03.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII04.jpg


http://artcubana.com/images/carlito%20images/exodusII06.jpg

[CubaManiac]

I agree...Cosme is a very special person also.... I had the pleasure to meet him at his Casa in Holguin..... a highlight of that trip without a doubt!!

[YoungCuban]

Those are super! Wow very nice stuff by Carlito.

[beardouk]

The Mijares was from the subasta, too.

How about this by Diago:

[beardouk]

Or this by Rancaño (apologies for the poor quality reproduction):

[YoungCuban]

That Rancano is awesome!

I'd name that piece after an Edgar Allen Poe poem, "The Raven" lol

Any chance you have Lou Lam's contact info? Really need it bad!

[beardouk]

Lou Lam - sorry, no.

[YoungCuban]

I got Lou & Elskie Lam's info just yesterday!