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To view more artwork and/or information about originals, commissioned paintings, and/or limited edition prints please email us here or call 778-855-0289.

BIO

Jose R Urbay was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1976. Coming from a family of artists, since very little he acquired the sensibility to appreciate and understand art. With the support of his family and the necessary means (crayons, brushes and paper) he started to develop the skills that later allowed him to pursue the visual artist career.

In 1994 he starts what it would be 5 years of studying Graphic Design at the High Institute of Design of Havana. At the same time he starts creating and exhibiting his work as a visual artist.

In 1996, he is awarded the first place at an important nation wide contest that took his work to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, as part of the international exhibition “Where We Live Now” hosted by the UNPF.

Since then, his work has been exhibited several times in Cuba and other countries alike.

Currently, his paintings are part of private collections in USA, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Norway and Australia.
Urbay is also a prolific illustrator. He has illustrated numerous books and magazines from prestigious Cuban publishing houses.

In 2008, he came to Vancouver, Canada, making this evergreen city his new home, where he is currently creating new works of art.

His style is well defined and diverse at the same time. His inspiration comes from human spirituality, and he is in constant search of symbolic ways to express the never-ending journey of human spirit, the adventures of the soul.

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

2010
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Graphic Design courses
(Photoshop CS4, InDesign CS4, Communication Design)

2005
Oriental Illustration and Painting Workshop, Prof. Chizuko Owaki,
Higher Studies Arts Institute (ISA), Havana, Cuba

2002-2003
Photography Course, Centro de Beneficencia de Cataluña,
Havana, Cuba

1994-1999
High Institute of Industrial Design (ISDI), specialization in Graphic
Design, Havana, Cuba

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2011
A Starry Moment, Contemporary art exhibition, International Village
Mall, Vancouver, Canada.

2009
“En el Cosmos, una Isla”, Havana, Cuba

2007
“Lunas de Invierno”, Proyecto Estaciones, Casa de la Poesía,
Havana, Cuba

2006
¨Encrucijada¨, Real Academia de la Lengua Española in Havana,
Cuba

2005
International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jeanne de Merode
Castle, Brussels, Belgium
International exhibition sponsored by Cariforum, Belgium
Cuban Art Exhibition amidst the celebration of ESCALES
CUBAINES, Brusels, Belgium.
Exhibition of ink drawings on traditional paper,
Proffesor Chizuko Owaki, Takanawa Kumin Cultural Center, Tokio,
Japan.

2003
“Morder o no Morder”, Erotic Art Hall, Mariano Rodríguez
Gallery, Villa Panamericana, Havana, Cuba
4th Illustration Biennial Los Puentes, Fayad Jamís Gallery;
Havana, Cuba

2002
Salón de la Ciudad, Internacional Hotel, Varadero, Cuba

2001
“Trazos del Alma”, Casa de la Poesía, Havana, Cuba
“La Isla Infinita”, Sauto Theater, and Meliá Varadero Hotel
“Ofrenda a Tagore”, Casa de Asia, Havana, Cuba
Illustration Biennial “Los Puentes”, Fayad Jamís Gallery, Havana, Cuba

2000
Raúl Martínez Gallery, Instituto Cubano del Libro, Havana, Cuba

1999
“Ciencia Ficción Habana”, Havana, Cuba
“Salón Playa”, Servando Cabrera Gallery, Habana, Cuba

1997
Graphics International Exhibition “La Imagen Constante”, Havana, Cuba

1996
National Poster Contest “Where we live now”, University of Havana.
International Poster Exhibition “Where we live now”, United Nations
Offices, New York, USA.

1995
Institute of Design Projects Public Exhibition, Institute of Design,
Havana, Cuba

Solo Exhibitions:

2005
“De Agua y de Luz” Santa Isabel 36 Studio-Gallery; amidst the
International Art Fair ARCO 2005, Madrid, Spain

2004
Guardianes, Lombillo Palace Gallery, Havana, Cuba

2003
“La Seda del Agua”, UNEAC (Cuba National Writers and Artists
Association) Villena Gallery, Havana, Cuba
“José Ramón Urbay, Pinturas y Dibujos”, Raúl Martínez Gallery
Cuban Book Institute, Havana, Cuba

2001
“La Luz Negra”, Casa de la Poesía, Havana, Cuba
“19 Gotas”, Hotel Inglaterra, Havana, Cuba

2000
“Deshielos”, La Isla Infinita Gallery, Instituto Cubano del Libro,
Havana, Cuba

Bibliography:

Feria Flores, Amilkar, “En el Cosmos Una Isla”, Esquilfe Digital Magazine
April 4th, 2009

Lam, Rafael, “Exposición Colectiva de Artistas de la Plástica”
Cubarte Digital Magazine, December 2nd, 2008

Pérez Díaz, Enrique (Editor), “Wabima, La hija del Mwami”, Gente Nueva
Publishing House, 2008, Cover and Interior Illustrations.

Pérez Díaz, Enrique (Editor), “Wabima, Las rayas de la hiena”, Gente Nueva
Publishing House, 2008, Cover and Interior Illustrations.

Calzadilla Núñez, Julia (Author), “Nuevos Cantares de la America Latina y el
Caribe”, Gente Nueva Publishing House, 2008, Cover and Interior
Illustrations.

Diaz Llanillo, Esther (Author) “Cuentos antes y después del sueño”,
Letras Cubanas Publishing House, 2007, Cover.

Opus Habana Magazine vol. VIII, Breviario, 2004, Cover and p.2, Print.

Elvia Dieguez (Curator), “Huestes Celestiales”, Opus Habana Magazine,
Vol VIII , 2004 Breviario (Cultural Reviews) p.2. Print.

Piñera, Tony, “Manchas del Paisaje”, Opciones Magazine, No 4, 2004.
p.13. Print.

Opus Habana Magazine vol. VII, Breviario, 2003, p. 8.

Mejides, Miguel (Author), “Las Ceremonias del Amor”, Union Publishing House, (Cuba National Writers and Artists Association), 2003, Cover.

Guerra, Félix (Author) “Rama Verde, Criatura Dorada”, Letras Cubanas
Publishing House, 2003, p.18, 28, 32, 34, 39, 43, 55, 69, 76, 85, 89, 92,
94, 103, 112, 125 and cover.

La Gaceta de Cuba Magazine, (Cuba National Writers and Artists
Association) vol II, 2000, p. 47, 52, 53. Print.

La Revista del Libro Cubano, (Cuban Book Magazine), Vol. I, 2000
p.51. Print.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 1, 1999, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p.9, 13, 14, 15, 25, 32, 38, 41, 42, 43, 63, 65.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 2, 1999, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p. 35, La Ballena Codorniz , p. 2, 3, 42, 50.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 3, 2000, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p. 35, 59, 78.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 6, 2002, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p. 12, 58, 59, 73, back cover.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 7, 2003 Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p.32, 54.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 8, 2004, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
Cover and p. 20, 50, 70, 73, 78, 81, 122, 127.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 11, 2006, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p.2, 10, 15, 36, 39,71, 74, 77.

La Isla Infinita Magazine, No 12, 2008, Letras Cubanas Publishing House,
p.65.

Achieved Works and Projects:

2011
Logo for the International Women Conference and the International
Sisters in Solidarity (ISIS) Gaza, Palestine.

2008-2009
Illustrator for the Rainbow Brush People project from Kazi Ahmed of
Rainbow Brush LLC, Surrey, BC, Canada

2007
Logo for Belen Jesuit School Music Band (National Award Winner);
Miami, USA

2006
Logo for the Christian Youth Camp, Havana, Cuba

2004
Visual Identity design for the Cuban Film Festival in New Zealand
SI CUBANZ FILMZ!
Donated a painting for the Big Prize of the 21nd Cine Plaza Festival,
Havana, Cuba.
Cover illustration for the compact disc “Cuba Dentro de un Piano”, by
the Cuban composer José María Vitier, Havana, Cuba

2002
Promotional poster for the ozone layer protection, United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP)

2001
Spanish Cultural Center 2002 Calendar; Havana, Cuba

2000
Mural “La Isla Infinita”, Cuban Book Institute, Havana, Cuba

Works held in private collections in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Germany and Australia.

He has worked as an illustrator in several Cuban publications and Publishing Houses such as:

La Revista del Libro Cubano
La Gaceta de Cuba
Revista Opciones
Opus Habana
Gente Nueva Publishing House.
Illustrator of the Poetry magazine La Isla Infinita from “Letras Cubanas” Publishing House

Enquire

To view more artwork and/or information about originals, commissioned paintings, and/or limited edition prints please email us here or call 778-855-0289.