Cuban plastic artist Carlos Martiel wins 50 thousand dollar prize in New York

September 11, 2023

The Havana native will also be able to present an individual exhibition in 2024 at the Museo del Barrio in that U.S. city.

Cuban plastic artist Carlos Martiel received this week the first Maestro Dobel LatinX Art Prize in New York.

The award, granted by tequila brand Maestro Dobel and the Museo del Barrio, an institution that promotes Latino art in the United States, consists of 50 thousand dollars to present his own project at that center next year.

"An extraordinary night of celebration with so many friends at the Museo del Barrio gala. I feel so grateful and honored to be receiving the Maestro Dobel Latinx Art Prize. A grant of 50 thousand dollars to produce an individual exhibition of my work at the museum in spring 2024", the artist shared on Instagram.

On his profile Martiel published several photos from the awards night and also from the moment he received this important recognition.

Born in Havana in 1989 and a graduate of the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, Carlos resides and works in New York and Mexico City and a good part of his works have focused on performances that touch on topics such as race, discrimination, minorities, and injustices.

The artist usually uses his own body for his exhibitions, even naked, and through pain and self-injury transmits messages against the exploitation and violence to which human beings are subjected, especially discriminated groups.

His works have been presented on multiple occasions in North American territory and also at highly recognized events internationally such as the Bienal de Lanzarote, Spain, the Bienal de las Américas, United States, the Bienal de Vancouver, Canada, the 57th Venice Biennale, Italy, the Havana Biennial, among others.