West, London
Cesar Santos
Manuscripts
Robilant+VoenaCesar Santos is a Cuban-American artist, born in 1982 in Santa Clara, Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida. Manuscripts, the artist's first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom, offers an encounter with his captivating and intuitive approach to abstraction. Throughout the exhibition, the works are characterised by forms that are tantalisingly close to figuration, yet which, through the artist's technical mastery and expressive vision, are impossible to fathom as logical elements of reality. The spirit of each painting is infused with Santos's study of the Old Masters, and with his personal experiences drawn from a rich tapestry of cultures. The title Manuscripts refers to the improvisation with which Santos begins each painting, emphasising the raw and organic nature of his practice. Also, the term Manuscripts signals that each artwork can be ‘read' and ‘interpreted' by viewers to ascertain its significance – a significance that might be fresh and different for each person. Cesar Santos (b. 1982) is a Cuban-American artist, born in Santa Clara, Cuba and brought up in Miami, Florida. He studied at the New World School of the Arts in Florida, followed by a period training in Florence. Subsequently, Santos moved to New York City, immersing himself in the vibrant art scene. Santos work has been exhibited in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia, including at the Museum of Art and Design, Miami; Palazzo Cipolla, Rome; the Villa Bardini Museum, Florence; National Gallery, Costa Rica; and the Beijing World Art Museum, China. His work features in the collections of significant institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sicily, the Museo di Arte Contemporanea e del Novecento, Pistoia, and the Museum of Art and Design, Miami. Santos currently lives and works in Florence.