Miguel Fleitas
Miguel Fleitas | |
---|---|
Born | Miguel Angel Fleitas, Jr. June 22, 1956 Photographic art and Cuban Expressionist painting |
Notable work | Farmers of the Sea series, Gallo (Rooster) series, The Breast Project |
Movement | Cuban Expressionism |
Miguel A. Fleitas is a
Background
Miguel Angel Fleitas was born in
Among his father's many directorial film credits are the 1975 film The Smile of Victory, part of the
Early life and career
Fleitas attended primary school in Valdes Rodriguez within the city of Havana and subsequently conducted his pre-university studies at Saul Delgado high school, also in Havana. He began his professional work in media as a radio operator in the Havana Radio Station. In 1979 he transitioned from radio to film and began working in the ICAIC's Film Laboratory and training in film and photography. During this period and into the 1980s, Fleitas began participating in group exhibitions in Cuba.
Alongside his work in the arts, he spent much of his early career also gaining recognition as a film director and cameraman. His film background would influence his approach to art in photography and later painting. Fleitas studied Art History in the University of Havana while he worked as Chief Graphic Designer for MINFAR Studios Film Department and later as their Documentaries Manager for Tourism.[5] He also studied film and camera techniques in Havana with personal mentoring programs, completing his training in 1985.[5]
United States film career
Fleitas emigrated from Cuba in 1986 and subsequently joined the
During his tenure in Telemundo, Fleitas was first a cameraman, then reporter and finally editor of News Channel 51 in
Fleitas retired from film and television in 2013 to fully dedicate himself to his fine art career.[2]
Art career
Fleitas' fine art career began in the 1980s in
His notable photographic series include Stories in Time which captures stone sculptures in black and white, the nature series Quiet Moments as well as his award-winning Happy Children and Farmers of the Sea series, the latter of which was featured in the book Havana in My Heart: A celebration of Cuban Photography by Gareth Jenkins.[14]
Fleitas’ artwork is sold through several major art outlets including
Style
Fleitas is an
Fleitas' paints in oil, acrylic, and mixed-media. In contrast with his photography, color is at the forefront of his paintings which were described in his 2007
Fleitas' torso paintings make up the majority of his series titled "The Breast Project," of which another expression is his public art installation of monumental-scale inflatable breast-shaped sculptures which have been prominently featured in the "Giants in the City" exhibitions held during
In contrast with these abstracted works, his Gallo (rooster) series, focuses on roosters, a quintessential symbol of Cuba, that are frequently done in large scales with an intricately detailed style, often offsetting the hyper-detailed representations of the roosters in black-and-white sketching with selective color usage, evoking his photographic work. When interviewed by El Nuevo Herald for the 2018 “Rooster Gallo Galo Gallus” exhibition at the Milander Center for Arts, Fleitas explained the inspiration behind his Gallo series to be “I have wanted to represent this animal as a bird with great strength, courage, respect, admiration and power.”
In describing his general creative process, Fleitas has said "To me painting has always been a great mystery, like a secret and something I've always loved [...] I don’t measure myself – I express myself. I don’t think about rules, but instead I think about the moment."[29]
Exhibitions
To date, Fleitas has participated in over thirty exhibitions of his art. As both a solo artist and in group exhibitions, Fleitas has exhibited in several prominent fine art markets including New York City, the Wynwood Art District, South Beach, Coral Gables, and Coconut Grove as well as internationally in Cuba, Europe, and Latin America.[1]
Select solo exhibitions
- "EVOLUTION." Domingo Padron Gallery, Coral Gables, Fl. Exhibition of works from Fleitas' Rooster series. September 2013 [2]
- “The Maker, Back to Black.” Cafeina, Wynwood Exhibition Center, Wynwood, Fl. Exhibition of 30 Photographs. June 2013 [30]
- “Con el mayor respeto... BLACK & WHITE.” Domingo Padron Gallery, Coral Gables, Fl. Exhibited 30 Photographs within three series of work. March 2009 [5]
- "Miguel Fleitas: Retrospective." Market Grill, South Miami Beach, Fl. Retrospective exhibition of 17 acrylic and oil paintings composed between 1996–2007. February 2008 [2]
- “Private Landscapes.” Out of the Blue, Miami, Fl. Exhibition of 29 paintings. April 2007 [5]
Select group exhibitions
- “Rooster Gallo Galo Gallus.” Milander Center for Arts and Entertainment, Hialeah, Fl. Featured work from Rooster series. August 2018 [28]
- "Two Painters." Habana 305 Art Gallery, featured with Mila Pelaez. October 2015 [31]
- “Somos de la Casa.” Habana 305 Art Gallery. Featured alongside Carlos M. Galindo and Pepe Orbein. February 2015 [2]
- “Out of the Box.” Irreversible Art Space. Booth # 516. Miami Beach Convention Center. Miami Art Fair. January 2011 [2]
- "Giants in the City. Inflatable sculpture public art project. Alejandro Mendoza, Curator, Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Fl. August 2010 [2]
- “Giants in the City.” Inflatable sculpture public art project. Alejandro Mendoza, Curator. Bayfront Park, Miami, Fl. December 2009 [2]
- “The Wizard,” Miami, Fl. Collaboration project with Frank Hyder. December 2009 [2]
- “Diosa del Mar”. Domingo Padron Gallery, Coral Gables, Fl. Exhibition of paintings. August 2009 [2]
- “Voice for Children.” Exhibition and Live Auction. Coconut Grove, Miami, Fl. March 2009 [32]
- Clearcast Digital Media & Redd Post, Miami, Fl. Art Basel & Art Miami. 2007.[2]
- International Peru Expo. Sheraton Hotel Miami, Miami, Fl. 2007 [5]
- "Hispanic Heritage in America," Museum of the Americas, Doral, Fl. 2007.[5]
- Doral Country Club’s 3rd Art Exhibition, exhibited paintings and photography. Awarded 2nd place for Best Photography. Doral, Fl. 2007 [5]
- "100th Anniversary of the Independence of Cuba" exhibition. SONO Art Gallery, New York, NY. 2002 [5][1]
- Peace World Photography, Poland, Europe. Exhibited Happy Children series, photography. Awarded 6th place internationally for photography. 1985 [5]
- "Cuban Photographers Present...", Pabellón Cuba, Havana, Cuba. Exhibited Farmers of the Sea series, photography. 1982 [5]
Recognition and reputation
Fleitas has participated in multiple high-profile art events including
Fleitas has been closely affiliated with prominent South Florida art figures including curator Alejandro Mendoza, who organized and spearheaded the long-running “Giants in the City” public art installations, as well as Marcos and Josefina Pinedo, whose Cuban art collection features several works by Fleitas.[14][32]
When Fleitas retired from film to focus on his art, journalist Juan Manuel Cao wrote “[Fleitas] has returned to his roots, because now his palette has broadened, even when doing black and white, and because he sees what the rest of do not: shadows, shades, unforeseen places.” On his photography, Cao stated: “Fleitas’ magic lens grants a poetic dignity [...] And this is, perhaps, the responsibility of true artists: to light up the corners of life which otherwise would have remained unnoticed.”[32] In discussing Fleitas' work, writer Rubén Géller stated “Even though Miguel Fleitas insists on exhibiting life in black and white, the onlooker feels the colors and gets into the diversion of completing the visual rainbow. [Fleitas] is a detector of essences.” [30]
Fleitas was included in the Irreversible project magazine along with
His art is also featured in literature and books of Cuban art, including Havana in My Heart: A Celebration of Cuban Photography, (republished in English and French in 2004),[14] and Mujer Desnuda (2012)[36]
Personal life
Fleitas was named after his father, Miguel Fleitas Sr. (1926-2002), who was also a noted Cuban artist and film director.[citation needed]
He has two children, a son, Hiram Fleitas, and daughter Ana Laura Fleitas, both fine art collectors and dealers.
Fleitas currently works and resides in Miami, Florida.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Arias-Polo, Arturo (26 April 2007). "Miguel Fleitas y sus torsos provocadores". El Nuevo Herald. p. 9D.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Miguel Fleitas". Saatchi Art.
- S2CID 142629073.
- ^ "Etiopia Diario de una Victoria; Eduardo Munoz Bachs (Cuban, 1937-2001); 1979; EC... on eHive". eHive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Resume". May 23, 2013.
- ^ Santiago, Ana (17 February 1997). "Zayon en acción". El Nuevo Herald. p. 2C.
- ^ "Moore College of Art & Design – Frank Hyder: Giants in the City 2009". moore.edu.
- ^ "Inflatables Archives | Page 3 of 5".
- ^ "Giants in the City at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden | Miami Art Guide". July 21, 2010.
- ^ Estrada-Montalvan, Joaquin. "(Miami) Miguel Rodez expone en Coral Gables".
- ^ a b c Levin, Jordan (1 August 2010). "The Big View". The Miami Herald. p. 2M.
- ^ a b "Giants in Miami | Arte por Excelencias". www.arteporexcelencias.com.
- ^ "Giants In The City 11/30/11 – 12/4/11". The Soul Of Miami. November 25, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-1840722000.
- ^ "Miguel Fleitas | artnet". www.artnet.com.
- ^ "Miguel FLEITAS (1956)". Artprice.com.
- ^ "Miguel Fleitas | Artist Profile with Bio". www.mutualart.com.
- ^ "Miguel Fleitas Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Miguel Fleitas Art Value Price Guide". www.invaluable.com.
- ^ "Mi Yunta price". www.saatchiart.com. Saatchi Art.
- ^ "Breast Project price result". www.saatchiart.com. Saatchi Art.
- ^ "The Breast Project Auction Results". www.liveauctioneers.com. 2002-2021 LiveAuctioneers.
- ^ "Breast Project auction result". www.liveauctioneers.com. 2002-2021 LiveAuctioneers.
- ^ "Miguel Fleitas - Bio, Artworks, Exhibitions and more - Artland". www.artland.com.
- ^ "My vision expressionist". May 27, 2013.
- ^ a b "Giants in the city". May 27, 2013.
- ^ "The Breast Project Sculpture by Miguel Fleitas | Saatchi Art". www.saatchiart.com.
- ^ "Giants in Miami | Arte por Excelencias". www.arteporexcelencias.com.
- ^ a b c d e Olmos, Isabel (25 August 2018). "La exposición de gallos más concurrida del sur de la Florida". El Nuevo Herald. pp. 3A–4A.
- ^ "Artist statement of Miguel Fleitas". May 28, 2013.
- ^ a b "ART WALK + After Party | June 2013, Miami, US". The DJ List | Learn about DJs around the world.
- ^ Staff (31 January 2016). "Exposición colectiva: Habana 305". El Nuevo Herald. p. 6D.
- ^ a b c d "Hello Magazine".
- ^ "IRREVERSIBLE Pablo Cano". Issuu.
- ^ Staff (10 May 2009). "Exposición fotográfico de Miguel Fleitas". El Nuevo Herald. p. 2D.
- ^ ""Pensar en grande", un proyecto en Miami". Voice of America.
- ISBN 9781463320829.