Circular Reflections

Nicot’s work explores the powerful tension between psychological turmoil and existential resilience, reinterpreting traditional cultural iconography through a raw, visceral lens. By channeling subconscious impulses into heavily textured mixed media, the artist strips away decorative form to confront historical traumas of displacement and human isolation. Structurally, his canvases rely on thick impasto layers, primitive distortions, and dramatic tonal weight to give life to volatile, enigmatic archetypes. Ultimately, these flattened backgrounds and sharp, severe figures challenge viewers to confront unsettling psychological spaces.

• Academic Foundations: Born in Havana, Cuba on October 9, 1964. He initiated his fine arts training during his childhood by taking art classes at Havana’s National Library in 1964. He later pursued higher studio education at the prestigious Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, graduating with a specialization in Painting and Engraving in 1995. His formative years were deeply enriched by private lessons from legendary figures of Cuban art history, including Manuel Vidal Fernández, Hilda Vidal Valdés, Belkis Ayón, and Antonia Eiriz, the last of whom heavily influenced his enduring passion for drawing directly from the subconscious.
• Institutional Service & Parallel Disciplines: He maintained a diverse and active engagement with parallel cultural disciplines in Cuba to inform his overall creative direction. He served as a fine arts teacher for children at Havana’s Cultural and Cinematographic Center of Yara and was an active institutional member of the Cuban Culture Fund (Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales) in Havana. Additionally, his multi-disciplinary practice extended to collaborating on various theatrical set design projects and illustrating numerous published books.
• Exile, Translocation & Relocations: Tracking his exact chronological departure from Cuba in the late 1990s, he permanently relocated to the United States in 1999. He established his long-term creative base directly within the prominent exile cultural hub of Miami, Florida, navigating the psychological transitions of displacement and translocation through his studio work.
• Current Status: He currently lives and works as a full-time professional painter and poet out of his physical home studio location in Miami, Florida, maintaining ongoing international contemporary gallery representation, literary publishing, and private collections across the US, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

• 1990–1995: Children’s Fine Arts Instructor, Centro Cultural Cinematográfico Yara, Havana, Cuba.

• Personajes Inventados (Invented Characters Series): A primary standalone concept portfolio exploring highly psychological, distorted portraiture. These figures serve as universal human archetypes—frequently co-opting and reinterpreting the identities of Cuban country people (guajiros) to confront themes of isolation, interpersonal tension, and historical memory.
• Serie de los Caballos (Horses Series): A major thematic block utilizing equine silhouettes, such as his notable Caballo De Dos Cabezas or Corceles Reales, as symbols of raw power, ancestral imagination, and the turbulent spirit of the Afro-Caribbean landscape.
• Mitología y Arqueología Visual (Mythology and Cave Art Series): A conceptual subversion where Nicot utilizes heavily texturized canvas surfaces to mimic primitive, prehistoric cave drawings. This series merges ancient Egyptian and ancestral European iconography with contemporary Neo-Expressionism to process existential themes.

This artist has participated in 8 solo exhibitions:

• 2017: Rompiendo Marcos, Sarracino Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Current Works, Swenson Gallery, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida.
• 2009: Adriano Nicot, Sala de Exposiciones Mariano Fuentes Lira, Escuela Superior Autónoma de Bellas Artes “Diego Quispe Tito”, Cusco, Peru.
• 2001: Adriano Nicot, Blue Angel Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 1996: La Expresión del Jazz, Galería Casa de la Cultura de Plaza, Havana, Cuba.
• 1995: Encuentros Cercanos II, Galería Arte 7, Centro Cultural Cinematográfico Yara, Havana, Cuba.
• 1994: La Violencia de las Horas II, Facultad Internacional de Cine, Radio y Televisión del Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Havana, Cuba.
• 1994: La Violencia de las Horas I, Galería Kahlo, Havana, Cuba.

This artist has participated in 71 collective exhibitions:

• 2026: Circular Reflections, Westchester Regional Library, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2025: Circular Reflections, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2024: The Permuy Collection, NSU Art Museum / Nova Southeastern U., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
• 2017: Exhibición Colectiva, Sarracino Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2017: Exhibición Colectiva, Obrapia Art Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2017: Altas Temperaturas, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2017: 3 en el Bunker, The Bunker, Coral Ridge, Florida, USA.
• 2016: La Mano Hispana, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2016: For the Love of Art, Douglas Building, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2016: Exhibición Colectiva, IART1 Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2016: Black & White, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2016: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Mercy Hall, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2016: Expressions: The Afterlife of Color, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, FL, USA.
• 2015: La Mano Hispana, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2015: Exhibición Colectiva, Victor Clarke Recital Hall, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2014: The Car, The Culture, Armstrong Ford of Homestead, Florida, USA.
• 2014: Latin Views, Biennial Exhibition, Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, Groton, Connecticut, USA.
• 2014: La Mano Hispana, Milander Center for Art, Hialeah, Florida, USA.
• 2014: “IF – THEN”, Art Basel 2014, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2014: Manifest/Destiny, Little Haiti Cultural Center, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2014: I Will Walk for You, Coral Gables Museum, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2014: Synergy: Artists in Collaboration, MDC Gallery of Art + Design, Miami, FL, USA.
• 2014: Las Caderas No Mienten, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2013: More than Meets the Eye, Art Basel 2013, The Art Link, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2013: Art Basel, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2013: More than Meets the Eye, Prints Giclee Shop, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2012: Exhibición Colectiva, Little Haiti Cultural Center, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2012: Exhibición Colectiva, ArtCenter / South Florida, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
• 2011: Exhibición Colectiva, LZ Fine Art Galeria, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2011: Exhibición Colectiva, Caridi Gallery, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2010: Centenario de Abstractos, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2010: Absolute Adriano, Logo Projects / Ocean Ophthalmology Group, Miami, FL.
• 2010: Arte X Comida, Leal’s Fine Art Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2010: Lucky You! 2, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Masters’ Mystery Art Show, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Semana Binacional de Salud de las Americas, Osorio Arts & Graphics, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Grand Opening, The Children’s Gallery and Art Center, Homestead, FL, USA.
• 2009: This Land is my Land, Art Expressions Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Texturas, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2009: The Red Eye, ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
• 2009: Human Image and Portrait, Art Expressions Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
• 2008: The Revenge of Abstraction, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2008: 8 on 8, Maria Sonia Martin Art Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2008: World Artistic Spirits at NOMI, North Miami Public Library, North Miami, FL.
• 2008: Virgenes, Obini Studio Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2008: Xinqo en Xinqo, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2008: Collective Exhibits of Cuban Painters, Ancient Times Gallery, Miami, FL, USA.
• 2008: Masters’ Mystery Art Show 2008, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
• 2008: Exhibición Colectiva, Obini Studio Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2008: Suyu #3, Suyu Art Gallery, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2007: Eye to Art, Idesigns, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2007: Kick off Basel, Obini Studio Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2007: 4onpaper, Galeria Xinqo, North Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2007: Las Voces del Caribe, Galerias Prinardi USA, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
• 2006: Voices For Children Foundation, First National Bank of S. Miami, Miami, Florida.
• 2001: Exhibición Colectiva, Blue Angel Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2000: Homenaje a Reinaldo Arenas, Blue Angel Gallery, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 1996: Jovenes en la Plastica, Galeria Imagos, Havana, Cuba.
• 1995: Fragmentos desde la Ventana, Galeria Arte 7, Centro Cultural Cinematográfico Yara, Havana, Cuba.
• 1995: Exhibición Colectiva, Galeria Juan David, Havana, Cuba.
• 1995: Monstruos de la Razon, Salon de Arte Cubano Contemporaneo, Havana, Cuba.
• 1995: 1ro de Mayo, Mujer Multiple, Exposicion Colectiva, Havana, Cuba.
• 1994: Concurso Salon Arte 7, Galeria Arte 7, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: Concurso Salon Arte 7, Galeria Arte 7, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: Concurso Juan David, Galeria Juan David, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: Concurso Fayad Jamis, Liga Arabe de Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: Expo Pequeño Formato, Galeria L, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: Concurso 13 de Marzo, Galeria L, Havana, Cuba.
• 1992: Artistas Jovenes, Brigada Hermanos Saiz, Quinta de los Molinos, Havana, Cuba.
• 1992: Concurso Fayad Jamis, Liga Arabe de Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
• 1991: Feria International de Artesania FIART, Havana, Cuba.

• 1994: First Prize in Painting, Art Seven Prize (Concurso Salón Arte 7), Galería Arte 7, Havana, Cuba.

• 2026: [Rodez, Miguel]. “Catálogo: Reflexiones Circulares [Curaduría: Miguel Rodez]” InCUBAdora (March 24, 2026).
• 2025: Rodez, Miguel. Circular Reflections: Cuban Art Documentation Project. Miami Gardens, FL: St. Thomas University Press, 2025. Permanent collection, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Fine Arts Archive. (A comprehensive catalog featuring information about the 63 initial participants in Circular Reflections, including an analysis of the artist’s work, biographical information and curriculum highlights).
• 2022: Santana, Andrés Isaac. “[En el espejo]” La Comarca (May 13, 2022).
• 2022: Fleites, Alex. “[Adriano Nicot: ‘Un diálogo con el tigre’]” OnCuba News (March 25, 2022).
• 2018: The Lakeland Ledger. “[Art in Exile – Ceaseless Stream Exhibit at ART/ifact Gallery in Lakeland]” The Lakeland Ledger (Lakeland, FL) (May 10, 2018).
• 2009: The Miami Herald. “[Absolute Adriano: Mystical Underpinnings of the Daily]” The Miami Herald (Miami, FL) (February 17, 2009).
• 2009: Herrera, Adriana. “[Exhibición de Adriano Nicot en Bakehouse Art Complex]” El Nuevo Herald (Miami, FL) (February 8, 2009).

Institutional & Museum Collections

• Alvin Sherman Library, Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA).
• Miami-Dade Public Library System, Fine Arts Archive (Miami, Florida, USA).
• UNESCO Secretary of the Cuban National Commission Archive (Havana, Cuba).