Rafael Miranda San Juan

Rafael was born in the city of La Habana, Cuba in November of 1973. His academic preparation is broad and versatile since, in addition to having graduated from the Academia de Bellas Artes San Alejandro in Cuba, he has other studies in Art Design, Scenic Design, Ceramics, a diploma in Teaching and Learning of the Plastic Arts and a postgraduate degree in Human Anatomy.

This vast knowledge is reflected in the projection of his works that range from monumental sculptures to scenic designs for theatrical works.

From the beginning, the use of sculpture, supported with elements of installations and performance, were the first immediate tools as a mode of exhibition. The influence as a scenic designer took a leading role in sculptural work. Currently, these terms coexist. His work in recent years has moved more toward public and urban sculpture; for his own interests in reaching society in general, a proposal and provoking reflections. Changing and creating new contexts, beyond the legitimized spaces for art. The materials have progressed from traditional stone, metal, bronze, concrete, to more immediate ones such as wood, ceramics, natural fibers.

He currently resides and works in the city of Guadalajara in Mexico.

Studies Completed
2001: Diploma in Scenic Design / organized by the Fundación Ludwig
1998: Diploma in Teaching and Learning of the Plastic Arts / Instituto Superior de Arte de Cuba
1996: Graduated from Academia de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, Cuba
1993: Post Graduate Degree in Human Anatomy / Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas Salvador Allende, Cuba
1991: Diploma in Ceramics organized by the Museo Nacional de la República de Cuba

Works Installed
2015: Desierto de los Leones, Ciudad de México / Torre Península / Steel Sculpture 5.30 x 2.70 x 2.60
2015: XXII Bienal de la Habana, Cuba, Shaped and welded steel sculpture, installed at the Malecón de la Habana and Galiano, 8.30 x 3.60 x 2.00

2013: Sculptural ensemble of 5 pieces in shaped steel of 5.50 meters each, from the series "Otoño", Central Park Guadalajara, Mexico

2011: Sculptural ensemble of 3 pieces of 8.00 meters in ferrocement from the series "Vientos Al Norte" installed at Torre Península by Arq. Teodoro González, CDMX, Mexico
2008: Sculptural ensemble of 12 pieces, Campo de Golf Country Club Tapalpa, steel and concrete from 3.00 to 7.00 meters, Jalisco, Mexico
2007: Éxodo, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Driftwood and steel, 9.00 x 3.00 x 1.78 meters.
2004: Monumental Sculptural Project "Holocausto", bronze 5.30 x 7.50m Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
2002: Bust of Mayor General Ignacio Agramonte, Centro Nacional de Excombatiente de la Revolución, Cuba
2001: A Heart for Cayo Mármol, ceramic 2.30 x 1.10 x .70 meters, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba
1999: Tribute Project to Gertrudis Gómez Gómez de Avellaneda, bronze 3.80 meters, Teatro Nacional de Cuba
1998: Bronze Suit "Fabio" at Hotel Copacabana, Cuba

Individual Exhibitions
2012: "The Death of a Project" Installation with human remains / variable dimensions, XXI Bienal de la Habana, Cuba
2009: "Bindings" Painting Exhibition, Guadalajara Country Club, Guadalajara, Mexico
Containment Sculpture Exhibition, X Bienal de la Habana, Cuba at Museo Nacional de la Cerámica, Cuba
2008: "Perpetual Systole" Sculpture Exhibition, Centro Cultural San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico
2006: "Origins" Sculpture Exhibition at the Old Temple of San Antonio within the framework of the Festival de la Luna in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico

2004: "Holocausto" Exhibition of monumental bronze model at the Museo de Arte Moderno Raúl Anguiano, Guadalajara, Jal. Mexico

2002: Design and realization of the Cuba Pavilion, International Book Fair FIL, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico "Struggle, An Eternal Ideology" Clay Studio, Philadelphia, U.S.A. "Muscular Hollow", Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Museo Nacional de la Cerámica Contemporánea cubana, Cuba
2001: "Reunions" Galería Fayad Jamis, Cuba
2000: "Homeland" Instituto Superior de Arte, Valencia, Spain
1999: "Traces of Time" Teatro Nacional de Cuba / Fabio Another Dimension Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Cuba
1996: "Behind Closed Doors" Centro Provincial de Artes Plásticas y Diseño, Cuba
1995: "Lines" Centro de Prensa, Maracaibo, Venezuela "Terribly Innocent" Shared with Zaida del Río, Gran Teatro de la Habana García Lorca, Cuba
1993: "Beginnings" Galería René Portocarrero, Cuba

Group Exhibitions
2010: Multiple Option, Fundación Arte San Juan Headquarters, Plaza del Arte, Guadalajara Mexico "Black is a Color", Galería Punto Cero, Mexico, D.F / Mexico
2009: Irrational Relation, First Symposium of Installations, Centro Cultural San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico
Black is a Color, Fundación Arte San Juan Headquarters / Plaza del Arte / Guadalajara, Mexico
ARS Latina / center for the development of visual arts "Evolution?" Museo Lezama, Lima / La Habana Cuba
First Symposium of Monumental Sculpture / Centro Cultural San Pancho / Nayarit, Mexico CODEMA, at the Biennial, Collateral Exhibition Tenth Bienal de La Habana, Cuba
2008: Art Fest / Guadalajara / Mexico
Galería IDA Victoria, San del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico Galería Ocho, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico Sun and Moon, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2007: ARS Latina, Centro Estatal de las Artes, Mexicali, Baja California Norte / Mexico
2006: Cow Parade, Guadalajara / Gdl, Mexico
2005: Group Exhibition "Heading to the Guggenheim" at the Museo de Arte Moderno Raúl Anguiano / Gdl, Mexico
Group Exhibition Ana Frank, Museo de Arte de Zapopán, MAZ, Zapopan Mexico
2001: VI International Biennial of Ceramics at the Museo de la Cerámica in La Habana, Cuba
VII Bienal de la Habana, at the Museo de la Cerámica
2001: Group Exhibition Cuban Art, Blue Circule Gallery, Chicago, U.S.A.
1999: Group Exhibition "Culture and Development" at Palacio de las Convenciones in Cuba
Group Exhibition Habana-San Francisco, Cuba-U.S.A.

1998: Group Exhibition "First Meeting of Graduates" at Academia de Bellas Artes, Cuba
1997: Exhibit and Donation Fundación Lezama Lima in Cuba
Participation in the VI Bienal de La Habana, Cuba
1996: Sculpture Exhibited at the Permanent Gallery of Fundación Ludwig in Cuba
1992: Shared Exhibition at Galería René Portocarrero in Cuba
1991: Group Exhibition at Galería René Portocarrero in Cuba

International Workshops
2002: Delivers lecture in the cycle "Utopia and Change" / Educare-Omnilife / Gdl, Jalisco, Mexico
Teaches Scenic Design workshop / Foro de Arte y Cultura / Gdl, Jalisco, Mexico

2001: International Workshop "Mármol Sol" in Cayo Largo del Sur / Organized by the Consejo Nacional de las Artes Plásticas / Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba

2000: International Workshop Marble Carving "The Gate of Friendship" / Academia de Bellas Artes San Alejandro / Cuba

Most Important Awards
2002: Award for the ensemble "Eternal Struggle Ideology" / Festival Cubano / Clay Studio / Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Recognition for the Sculptural Installation "The Wheel and the Hoop" by Bates University / Collage, Maine U.S.A.
2000: Sole Prize at the I Winter Salon of the II Meeting of Graduates of Academia San Alejandro / La Habana Cuba
1995: Prize for the work presented at the Exhibition "Lines" Centro de Prensa Maracaibo, Venezuela

Collections
2005: Fundación Jesús Álvarez del Castillo / Gdl, Mexico / from the Origins exhibition
2002: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes "Growing Collection" / Museo Nacional de la Cerámica Contemporánea Cubana / Ciudad Habana, Cuba / "Hidden Feelings"
1997: Fundación Museo Lezama Lima / Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba "San Juan de Pasmos"
*Numerous works in private collections in Europe, U.S.A., Latin America and Israel.