Cuban Painter Javier Guerra Passes Away

October 12, 2024

Cuban painter Javier Guerra died on Friday, October 11 in Havana at the age of 54, according to confirmations from the artist's friends and family on social media, as well as Cuba's National Council of Plastic Arts (CNAP).

A family source wrote that the painter died in the early morning "in his Cuba that he loved so much" and lamented that Guerra's mother received news of the tragedy "from the other side of the sea," which deepens her pain.

Of one thing we are sure, and that is that he lived and enjoyed his life as he wished. We ask that you keep Yoyi (his mother) in your prayers," said Yarly García.

In reporting the news, the CNAP stated that the painter participated in works of a social nature, set designs, commemorative murals, designs and stagecraft. He served as a juror in different events and national galleries and left paintings that immortalize personalities from the artistic world, but also figures, such as guerrilla fighter Ernesto Guevara.

Javier Guerra, born on the Isle of Youth in 1969, graduated from the Elementary School of Art of the Isle of Youth (1984) and from the National School of Art (1988).

In his brief but prolific career, he had more than 15 solo exhibitions in Cuba, the United States and Spain and many more group exhibitions in Cuba, the United States, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries.

He has dozens of awards on the Island. In 2000 he obtained the First Prize at the Erotic Art Salon held by the La Acacia gallery and had also won the Painting Prize at the Juan David Salon, in Havana, in 1992 and that same year he received the Prize at the IX Provincial Plastic Arts Salon of the Isle of Youth.

A devoted painter of Cuban historical figures, Guerra dedicated several canvases to Che, to Martí and to other Cuban symbols.

"I never cling to a particular theme, simply, I live the circumstances of the time that I have been given to live, whether inside or outside Cuba, and thus the most diverse characters and moments of history arrive on the canvas, cardboard or whatever support, and then I reflect them from inspiration itself. That is what happened with the exhibition I titled 'Barbudos,' and later, the series of banknotes, which in reality has nothing to do with money. I'm not clear on when a theme comes or goes, what I do is simply capture the lights that illuminate my spirit," he stated in an interview with Roberto Chile.