Zaida del Río (b. Las Villas, Cuba, 1954). Painter, draftwoman, illustrator, engraver, ceramic decorator, mural painter and poet. She graduated from National School of Art (Havana,1974), Higher Institute of Art (Havana 1987) and Fine Arts School in Paris (1989). She has exhibited her work in Brazil, Cuba, Spain, United States, France, Italy, Japan, Martinica and Mexico, among other countries. Her works have been present at all editions of Havana Biennial, the Engraving Biennial (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Cuenca Biennial (Ecuador) Sao Paulo Biennial, Cairo Biennial and the Biennial of the Caribbean (Santo Domingo). She has been awarded with Gold Medal. First Prize of Painting. Biennial of El Cairo, Egypt (1993), Alejo Carpentier Medal (1994) and Third Prize of Painting. Biennial of TENRI, Japan (1998).