The shocking results of each brush stroke in Erik Olivera’s art is as colorful and fascinating as the complex foundation of Cuba’s ethnic map.
The artist has taken it upon himself to incorporate his African heritage in a sort of freestyle composition that honors the traditions, dreams and aspirations of his land and his ancestors.
The dazzling technical virtuosity that imbues all his works with a staggering force situates him in a special place among the Afro-Cuban artists.
His work is in private collections in Japan, France, USA, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Norway, among other countries.
He holds the First Prize of African Descent Contest, organized by the UNSI, and his work Obbatalá (2010) is part of the Yevgeny Yevtushenko Museum's collection in Moscow.
Serie Orishas
Eggun
Antonio Cortina
2006
Acrylic on canvas
27 in x 32 in
(Yevgeny Yevtushenko Museum Gallery , Moscow)
Elegguá
2007
Acrylic on Canvas
31 in x 26 in
(private collection)
Oggún
2006
Acrylic on Canvas
31 in x 26 in
(Private collection Carmen Luisa Rubio
Artist's mother)
Ochosi
2017
Acrylic on Canvas
31 in X 26 in
(available)
Yalodde
2010
Acrylic on Canvas
31 in X 26 in
Shangó
2006
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
Yemayá
2005
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
Obbatalá
2013
Acrylic on canvas
43 in x 35 in
(Private collection
Dr Johnson O Akinleye
Chancellor of
North Carolina Central University)
Oyá Yansá
2005
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
(Artist's Private collection)
Yewá
2019
Acrylic on canvas
36 in x 24 in
(Private collection)
Babalú Aye
2007,
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
(Private collection Olivera family)
Olokun
2013
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
(available)
Inle
2014
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
(Private collection)
Orishanlá
2013
Acrylic on canvas
36 in x 24 in
(private collection)
Odduduwa
2018
Acrylic on canvas
58 in x 43 in
(private collection)
Osaín
2006
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 26 in
(available)
Aggayú Solá
2006
Acrylic on canvas
31 in x 27 in
(Artist's personal collection)
Orula
2005
Acrylic on canvas
37 in x 29 in
(Artist's personal collection)
Osaín
2023
Acrylic on Canvas
15 in x 20 in
(Private collection)
News and Press
My initial reaction upon seeing the works was that here was an extraordinary painter whose style was boldly expressive in its compelling depictions of people. The exhilaration that I felt that day, after seeing his portraits, had to be a shared experience with other audiences and the decision was made to bring an exhibition of Erik’s work to North Carolina Central University.
Olivera Rubio is known for his unique style of portraiture, and for focusing his art on the African experience in the Diaspora. Born in Havana, the artist grew up surrounded by the spiritual faith of the Yoruba people, known as Lucumi or Santeria. Rubio is a “Babalawo,” or priest, in this spirituality and uses his art to communicate the Ifa religious feelings in Cuba. The “Orishas” series has earned Rubio world-wide attention since he started showing some of them in 2007.
Erik’s works allow us to discover a series of characters that have been forgotten not only by history but also by art history. His works take several directions but they all have to do with the tradition of black people in Cuba and the Caribbean. His works resist everything that denies identity and resists anything that makes us victims of history.
Afro-Cuban portrait artist Erik Olivera Rubio focuses on the African experience in the Diaspora. His portraits are a modern expression of blackness—realistic, striking and colorful. Olivera Rubio’s work embraces black identity and “focuses on the strong, determined, remarkable, beautiful, and proud black figure.”