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.