Currently living and working between Paris and La Habana.
Andrés Montalván, born in Havana in 1966, is a prominent Cuban artist who specializes in sculpture and drawing. He studied at the Escuela Nacional de Arte, the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, and the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, where he graduated in 2000. Montalván has lived and worked in Paris for the past two decades, establishing himself as one of the most important Cuban artists of the 1990s generation, which was largely dominated by painters, photographers, and performance artists.
Montalván is known for his innovation, mastery of materials, and non-linear artistic evolution. He rejects mainstream art world norms and market pressures, believing that art should not be confined to concepts or progress but should instead offer new insights and reflections. He views art as a spiritual and often mystical pursuit, aimed at connecting with deeper human experiences and essential truths. For Montalván, art is not merely aesthetic; it is about exploring time, space, and the forces of existence.
Reflecting on his own life, Montalván recalls a childhood in a modest neighborhood in Havana, where his family was one of the few to own a television and telephone. His interest in art began early, drawing inspiration from his father, an architect, and the television programs of his youth. He was encouraged to pursue art professionally by family friends, and after studying at various art institutions in Cuba, he became a teacher before focusing on his personal artistic practice.
Throughout his career, Montalván has embraced a wide range of materials and techniques, from wood and metal to resins and oxides. His art is marked by constant exploration and evolution, often moving between different media while remaining rooted in sculpture. He does not create with a specific audience in mind but instead follows his own instinct and vision, finding inspiration in everyday observations and experiences.
Montalván's relationship with the art market is distant; he sees it as a necessary but separate aspect of being an artist. He values critical feedback but remains focused on creating work that is personally meaningful rather than conforming to external expectations. His views on art are deeply influenced by his connection to Cuba, which remains central to both his identity and his work, even though he now lives in France. Despite his physical distance from Cuba, his connection to the country is enduring, and his experiences there continue to inform his artistic practice.
