
Pavel Acosta Cuban, b. 1975
Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird by Frida Kahlo From the series: 'Stolen from Harry Ransom Center in The University of Texas at Austin', 2017
Watercolor on paper
47 3/4 x 44 1/2 in
121.3 x 113 cm
121.3 x 113 cm
ACO 014
Copyright The Artist
Cuban artist Pavel Acosta makes stylized reproductions of globally significant paintings, but roots them in something uniquely local to his own surroundings. His technique originated from the days when dried...
Cuban artist Pavel Acosta makes stylized reproductions of globally significant paintings, but roots them in something uniquely local to his own surroundings. His technique originated from the days when dried paint chips from the crumbling city walls and the nearby objects in Cuba were the only materials available to him. Now, he uses that same technique to make detailed copies of masterpieces from museum collections. As such, Acosta 'Caribbeanizes' the masters of European art history through his materials, grounding the hegemon in his own visual and material language, and reconfiguring himself as a creator.