Artist Emilio Sanchez (1921-1999) was born in the rural countryside of Camagüey, Cuba. He left his native country in 1932 to study in America, whose citizenship he would adopt in 1968. Inspired by mid-century New York realists, Sanchez was drawn to landscapes, both urban and rural, as well as genre scenes.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Sanchez established himself as one of the premier painters of daily life in the Caribbean, including his native Cuba. After the Cuban Revolution, Sanchez shifted his focus to other islands in the Caribbean as well as countries in Latin America and even Morocco. Through it all, New York—where he had permanently settled in 1952—remained a constant source of inspiration for him.
Emilio Sanchez in South Florida Collections brings together stellar examples of this under-appreciated artist’s remarkable oeuvre, which have never before been shown together. Collectively they represent nearly six decades of the artist’s professional career and shed new light on this enormously prolific Cuban-American artist, whose work was last highlighted in a monographic show in Miami more than a decade ago.
The Lowe extends its deep appreciation to the many lenders to this show as well as to the Emilio Sanchez Foundation for their help and support.
