Circular Reflections

Characterized by an impeccable command of clean abstraction and sophisticated geometric partitions, the work offers a refined exploration of bicultural translocation and architectural memory. The artist pairs an intense, explosive chromatic palette with intricately balanced structural lines, transforming ordinary coastal markers, marine silhouettes, and street layouts into timeless visual metaphors. Each piece functions as a quiet, powerful monument to the internal landscape of the traveler, balancing dynamic technical execution with profound emotional restraint. By stripping away chaotic representational details in favor of pure, deconstructed shapes, the portfolio achieves a clean, contemporary aesthetic that speaks directly to the complexities of the modern diaspora.

• Academic Foundations: Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1957. Initial, foundational fine arts training commenced in 1972 at the prestigious San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts in Havana, graduating in 1976. He subsequently pursued higher studio education at the elite Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Arts with a specialization in Mural Painting in 1982.
• Institutional Service & Parallel Disciplines: Upon completing his higher degree, he was appointed as a primary academic lead, serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Painting and Composition at the National School of Visual Arts (ENAP) in Havana from 1981 to 1993. Parallel to his studio practice, he worked extensively as an independent editorial designer, graphic illustrator for national institutions and the Cuban Postal Service, and as a theatrical set designer and scenic artist for the National Children’s Theater (Teatro Guiñol) between 1986 and 1990.
• Exile, Translocation & Relocations: Following decades of anchoring his practice within the cultural and pedagogical institutions of the island, the artist translocated internationally to North America. He established a major developmental residence in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, executing design projects and publishing collaborations before making his definitive geographic relocation to the United States in 2021, permanently anchoring his creative operations in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Current Status: He currently operates an active physical home studio in Atlanta, Georgia. He remains fully engaged with the international contemporary art scene, spearheading large-scale public mural installations, executing high-profile gallery collaborations, and maintaining a vital creative presence across South Florida, Ohio, and Georgia.

• 1981–1993: Professor and Head of the Department of Painting and Composition, National School of Visual Arts (ENAP), Havana, Cuba.
• 2022–Present: Visiting Studio Mentor and Master Muralist Consultant, Community Contemporary Art Program Networks, Atlanta, GA / Cincinnati, OH.

• Motion City & Downtown Layouts: Dynamic geometric interpretations of high-velocity architectural environments, capturing the rhythm, velocity, and infrastructure of modern metropolitan landscapes.
• Naranja Dulce (Pure Chromatics): Intense experimental compositions investigating the emotional and psychological weight of saturated color planes, memory structures, and structural harmony.
• Armar y Desarmar el Mar: Lyrical abstract deconstructions of Caribbean maritime environments, coastal horizons, and the geometric play of traditional island stained-glass light.

This artist has participated in over 15 solo exhibitions:

• 2025: Leyva Exhibition, Banz Studios, Cincinnati, OH.
• 2017: Art & Love, Mills Residence, Hosted by the U.S. Embassy, Havana, Cuba.
• 2017: De Fragmentaciones, Galería Villa Manuela, Havana, Cuba.
• 2015: 12th Havana Biennial Solo Showcase, Domingo Ravenet Gallery, Havana.
• 2014: Motion City, Kavachnina Contemporary Gallery, Miami, FL.
• 2013: Two Brothers, Two Borders, Luminarte Gallery, Dallas, TX.
• 2011: Leyva Personal Exhibition, Kavachnina Contemporary Gallery, Miami, FL.
• 2008: Fiestas, Galería Orígenes, Gran Teatro de La Habana, Havana, Cuba.
• 2004: Hermanos Leyva, Galería de Arte, Panama City, Panama.
• 1995: Personal Exhibition, Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Havana, Cuba.
• 1989: Drawings and Paintings, Andragos Gallery, Madrid, Spain.
• 1987: Sandú Darié and Esteban Leyva, Cuban Institute of Fisheries, Havana.
• 1986: Armar y desarmar el mar, Maritime Research Center, Havana, Cuba.

This artist has participated in over 40 collective exhibitions:

• 2026: Pinta Lima 2026, Lobo Velar Pavilion, Lima, Peru.
• 2026: Circular Reflections, Westchester Regional Library, Miami, FL.
• 2023: Modern Cuban Painters, Havana – New York, Art Week, Miami, FL.
• 2022: Power Painters, MAC Delray Gallery, Delray Beach, FL.
• 2019: Art Ruhr International Fair, Collective Showcase, Essen, Germany.
• 2019: Exposición Colectiva de Verano, Galería Gaudí, Madrid, Spain.
• 2019: Muestra de Arte Cubano, Rome Collective Center, Rome, Italy.
• 2015: 12th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana.
• 2012: Collective Cuban Art Auction, White’s Art Gallery, Miami, FL.
• 1991: Hall Mini Box Competition Exhibition, Madrid, Spain.
• 1990: Otto Blathy in Memoriam International Exhibition, Budapest, Hungary.
• 1987: Prize Winners’ Salón, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.
• 1974: Jagiellonian University International Drawing Contest, Kraków, Poland.

• 1987: Elected Permanent Academic Member, Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), Havana, Cuba.
• 1985: First Prize in Mural Composition, National Council of Plastic Arts (CNAP), Havana, Cuba.
• 1976: San Alejandro Excellence Laureate, Academy of Fine Arts of San Alejandro, Havana, Cuba.

• 2026: Catálogo: Reflexiones Circulares [Curaduría: Miguel Rodez]. InCUBAdora, March 24, 2026. https://www.in-cubadora.com/2026/03/24/catalogo-reflexiones-circulares-curaduria-miguel-rodez/. This Spanish-language article concisely summarizes the Cuban contemporary art documentation project, Circular Reflections, and includes the complete artist roster.
• ArtDealers Monograph (2024): “Esteban Leyva: La explosión del cromatismo y el paisaje fragmentado” – An analytical research index tracking his transition to high-velocity universal geometry.
• Arte Informado (2017): “De Fragmentaciones de Esteban Leyva: El credo inapelable de lo bello y lo simbólico” – A structural critique focusing on his deconstructed maritime horizons at Villa Manuela.
• R10 Echoes (2025): “¿Quién es Esteban Leyva y qué está haciendo en Cincinnati? Reinventando la ciudad a través del lienzo” – A contemporary profile detailing his urban mapping layouts in the Midwest.

The original creations, large-format canvases, and technical portfolios of the artist are permanently preserved within the following public, academic, and private registries:

• Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) (Long Beach, CA).
• Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (Sonoma, CA).
• The Sandro Pertini Presidential Collection Archive (Rome, Italy).
• National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) (Havana, Cuba).