Abel Barroso, born in 1971 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, is a very interesting young artist who has been rapidly gaining international renown for his art which combines printmaking and sculpture in biting and humorous commentary on contemporary Cuban life.
Using meticulous craftsmanship, he creates playful works that often invite the viewer to interact. The Third World Internet Cafe, Barroso’s memorable installation at the 7th Havana Biennial last November, featured computers fashioned out of wood and paper and hand-cranked by the viewer.
Residents of Tampa Bay had an opportunity to see Barroso’s work in the exhibition Contemporary Art in Cuba: Survival and Irony on the Utopian Island, at the USF Contemporary Art Museum in 2001.
