(b. Holguín, Cuba 1960)
René Francisco Rodríguez graduated from the National School of Arts in 1982 and the Superior Institute of Art in 1987, both in Havana, Cuba. From 1986 to 1996, René Francisco worked in collaboration with Eduardo Ponjuán. Some of their most acclaimed shows were Call Malevich (Kunsthalle Düsseldorf and Kunstverein Lingen, Germany, 1996), Art and Comfort (Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico DF, Mexico, 1993), Come and Give Me a Hand (23 & 12 Art Center, Havana, Cuba, 1992), and Melodramatic Artist (Castillo de la Real Fuerza Project, Havana, Cuba, 1989). For many years, René Francisco was the professor and director of the DUPP Gallery, an important new pedagogical initiative at the Superior Institute of Art. He won –along with DUPP Gallery- the National Curatorship Award granted by the National Council of Visual Arts in 2001; and in 2000 the UNESCO Art Award at the 7th Havana Biennial, also with DUPP Gallery. He has been Artist in Residence at various institutions, such as the Art Center of Mataro in Barcelona, Spain (2008); the Cuban Artists Fund, New York (2004); the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2004); the Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany (2003); Hersliya Artist Residence, Israel (1999); the Museum of Fine Arts La- Chaux- De-Fonds, Switzerland (1997); and the Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst in Aachen, Germany (1996). In 2001 he received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California. Some of his most outstanding solo exhibitions are Paintings from Yesterday and Tomorrow (Servando Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 2010); Interpreter (Villa Manuela Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 2009); Two Views (Pan American Art Projects, Miami, USA, 2008); Nin’s yard (9th Havana Biennial, Miramar Trade Center, Havana, Cuba, 2006); Awaiting List (Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico DF, Mexico, 2005); Debt Adjustments (8th Havana Biennial, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba, 2003); Down with René Francisco (Gallery 106, Austin, Texas, USA, 2002); and Tubosutra (Goch Museum, Germany, 2001 / Habana Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 1999). In 2010 he received the National Visual Art Award granted by the Cuban Ministry Of Culture for his lifetime achievements.

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