Art Brut Cuba

Exhibition Catalogue Art Brut Cuba, presented at the Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne (5 December 2024 - 27 April 2025).

Cuba's insularity, unique history and long-standing political and economic isolation provide fertile ground for creative work uninfluenced by the cultural traditions of the outside world.

This volume features essays by Cuban authors and other experts, reproductions of works and previously unpublished letters from the collection’s archives.

The exhibition is divided into two sections: the first presents historical works by the Signos Group, founded by Samuel Feijóo in the late 1960s to promote popular Cuban culture through the graphic arts; the second presents works by contemporary outsider artists from the Riera Studio. Most of the works on display are made from recycled materials – cardboard packaging, newspaper, scrap metal, recycled waste – or natural materials, such as wood and jute fibre.

The works reflect the artists’ personal experiences, the economic, social and political circumstances of their country, and their inner worlds and obsessions. They offer an alternative and authentic view of Cuba, far from the stereotyped imagery associated with this nation.