Arturo Montoto Echevarría

Cuban painter, engraver, muralist and photographer. He is a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) and of the Experimental Workshop of Graphic Arts in Havana. In 1984 he graduated from the Surikov Academy in Moscow, where he obtained the degree of "Master of Fine Arts" in the specialty of Mural Painting.

He began his studies at the School of Art in Pinar del Río between 1968 and 1972. From 1973 to 1977 he studied at the National School of Art (ENA), where he received advice, teachings and experiences from the professors.

In 1977 he attended the Higher Institute of Art in Havana and after graduating, in 1978 he obtained a scholarship to study at the V. I. Súrikov State Institute of Arts in Moscow, where he obtained in 1984 the degree of "Master of Fine Arts" in the specialty of Mural Painting.

After 16 years of professional career, he decided to focus on fruits and objects, literature and a perennial obsession with finding titles for his works.

From then on he continued his artistic career with intelligent and provocative proposals and although he has successfully cultivated several genres, in the case of painting, he seeks the way to incite in the observer numerous reflections on life and art.

He has given lectures on his work at institutes, academies and universities in Cuba and abroad. In 1999 he gave a lecture at the School of Art, Babel'99, Romerías de mayo, Holguín, Cuba; in 2000 at the Academy of San Alejandro, Havana, Cuba; in 2001 at the School of Art Instructors in Pinar del Río, Cuba and in 2002 at Bowdoin College, Brunswick/College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor/Farnsworth Museum, Rockland/University of New England, Portland, April, Maine, United States.

From 1986 to 1993 he was Professor at the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, holding the position of Head of the Painting Department from 1990. Between 1996 and 1997 he taught several theoretical-practical courses of his own authorship to professional artists in Chile and in 2002 he was invited to a residency at University of Maine at Augusta in the United States where he taught painting and drawing workshops and lectures on his work.

He has also worked in sculpture and installations, and served as a judge in salons and events on Contemporary Cuban Art.

In August 2001 he was part of the Judging Panel of the Tiburcio Lorenzo Salon, UNEAC, in Pinar del Río and the Judging Panel of the City Salon 2001, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design in Havana.

For 2002 he presides over the Judging Panel of the December 14 Salon, Arturo Regueiro Gallery, Pinar del Río and is part of the Judging Panel of UNEAC at the VIII National Salon of Award Winners, CDAV, in Old Havana.

Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
He has 40 solo exhibitions to his credit and has participated in more than 100 group exhibitions. His works have been presented in the city of Pinar del Río and City of Havana, Cuba; French Guiana, Viña del Mar, Chile; Miami, United States; Panama City, France, Spain.

Permanent Collections
Basílica Museum of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, Havana, Cuba
The Vatican, at the PROA Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Museum of History of Pinar del Río, Cuba
The Society of Hispanic-American Friendship in French Guiana.
Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana, Cuba
National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba
Lowe Art Museum, Florida, United States
Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), California, United States
Museum of the University of Virginia, United States
Private Collections
Private collections from Argentina
Costa Rica
Colombia
United States
Brazil
Bolivia
Mexico
France
Spain
Russia
Italy
Switzerland
Honduras
Dominican Republic
Panama
Peru
Puerto Rico
Cuba
Chile

Other Aspects
As a Photographer
His work in photography is interesting, a passion that began in the early eighties, when he was a master's student in art at the Surikov Academy in Moscow. His first exhibition of photographic works was held in the provincial city of Pinar del Río. In 1985 he obtained the second Prize and in 1986 Mention of Photography at the National Salon of Award Winners of the National Museum of Fine Arts.

As a Writer
Arturo Montoto has published texts and translations on topics related to art theory in magazines such as Dédalo and La Gaceta de Cuba.

Arturo Montoto made his first sculptures in the summer of 2005 in Verona during his stay in Italy and became associated with the Filippini Firm for the creation of exclusive jewelry in artist editions.

His works are found in the collections of the Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center and the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, the Lowe Art Museum in Florida, the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) in Long Beach, California, the Museum of the University of Virginia, United States and the Vatican Museum in Rome, where his work "Here in peace..." is located, received by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

He has given lectures on his work and reflections on art at institutes, academies and universities in Cuba and abroad. He has been part of juries at important salons of the plastic arts and other events on contemporary Cuban art. In 2003 the book Tantalus Facing the Pond. The Painting of Arturo Montoto, authored by art critic and theorist Rufo Caballero, was published by the Letras Cubanas publishing house in its Cuban Artists collection. At this time a historiographical book is being prepared by art critic David Mateo.

Montoto holds the Distinction for National Culture and the Diploma for Artistic Merit for the significance of his work, granted by the Higher Institute of Art in Havana. From this institution he received.

Recognition
1985

First and Second Prize in Photography, III Salon of Plastic Arts, Pinar del Río, Cuba.
1986

Mention of Photography, National Salon of Award Winners, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
2000

Certificate of Appreciation (Latin American Art Association Contemporary Artists Dictionary), for his contribution to the development of Hispanic culture in the United States; Florida, United States.
2001

Diploma for Artistic Merit for the significance of his work, Higher Institute of Art and Ministry of Culture, City of Havana, Cuba.
Recognition for his valuable artistic trajectory and his involvement in the cultural management of the institution, granted by the Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design, City of Havana, Cuba.
2002
Medal of the Territory granted by the Council of the Administration of Guanabacoa, City of Havana, Cuba.
Diploma in honor of his notable artistic trajectory granted by the Municipal Department of Culture and the Council of the Administration of Guanabacoa in the month of June, City of Havana, Cuba.
National Award for Curatorship 2001 with David Mateo for his solo exhibition Chamber Painting, National Council of Plastic Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.

In 2007 he obtained the Category of Consultant Professor of the Higher Institute of Art in Havana. That same year he received the "World Food Day" medal that was awarded to him by the FAO Representation in Cuba, for his contribution to the fight against hunger in the world.