Circular Reflections

Approaching printmaking with meticulous control, the work features an exquisite command of engraving processes that create dense networks of fine lines and rich, layered tonal contrast. Rooted in drawing, painting, and printmaking, the artist’s elegant methodology flows seamlessly between figurative representation and pure abstraction. This technical precision gives tangible weight to intertwined bodies and non-objective forms alike, allowing individual contours to overlap and merge with rhythmic force. In works focused on hugs, the embrace becomes both structure and symbol, balancing historical print archives with contemporary physical intimacy. Through careful crosshatching, organic geometry, and compressed space, the gesture is transformed into a quiet monument to protection, unity, and universal human resilience.

Academic Foundations: Born in Havana, Cuba in 1959. He received his foundational fine arts training at the prestigious Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1978. He then pursued higher studio education at the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, completing a five-year specialization program to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking in 1983.

Institutional Service & Parallel Disciplines: Following his higher education, he maintained a highly active professional academic career in Cuba. He taught printmaking at the Academia San Alejandro from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently served as a printmaking professor at the Higher Institute of Art from 1985 to 1996. Alongside teaching, he operates as an art education programs designer and a specialized printmaking history researcher. His years of rigorous research into special handmade Japanese Washi papers suitable for intaglio printing have gained him widespread international recognition.

Exile, Translocation & Relocations: He permanently relocated from Cuba to Canada in 1997 after arriving in the country as a winner of the prestigious Banff Centre for the Arts international residency fellowship in Alberta. Following this developmental chapter, he established his long-term creative base and permanent studio workspace within Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he has successfully lived, worked, and represented Canada at some of the world’s most established printmaking biennial competitions.

Current Status: He currently lives and works as a full-time fine artist out of his physical studio location in Toronto, Canada. From this base, he conducts elite international masterclasses, continuing to lead printmaking, color registration, and chine-collé workshops at prominent global printing hubs including Fyns Grafiske Værksted in Denmark, the Manhattan Graphics Center in New York, the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York, Fanshawe University in London, Ontario, and various art networks across Canada.

• 1983–1985: Professor of Printmaking, Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, Havana, Cuba.
• 1985–1996: Professor of Printmaking, Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Havana, Cuba.
• 1997–Present: International Masterclass Instructor and Guest Workshop Leader specializing in Intaglio, Color Registration, and Chine-Collé at various global printmaking hubs, including: Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York, New York, USA; Manhattan Graphics Center, New York, New York, USA; Fanshawe University, London, Ontario, Canada; Fyns Grafiske Værksted, Odense, Denmark; Neilson Park Creative Centre / Mississauga Visual Arts, Ontario, Canada.

Los Abrazos (The Embraces Series)

A defining standalone concept portfolio utilizing intertwined bodies to explore physical proximity and interpersonal dynamics. This series co-opts the human embrace as both a structure and symbol, leveraging careful crosshatching and compressed space to turn gestures of physical contact into deep meditations on protection, unity, and shared spiritual presence.

Evolución del Medio (Preliminary to Pressed States)

A major conceptual theme tracking the correlation and metamorphosis between initial drawings or paintings and the final pressed paper impressions. This transitional investigation reveals similarities and diversities across mediums, mirroring the complex social and psychological variations observed between individual human beings.

Geometría Orgánica y Abstracción (Organic Geometry and Abstraction Series)

A continuous block of work shifting away from explicit figuration into decentralized lines, non-objective forms, and fluid textural experiments. This series utilizes pure abstraction and minimalist gestures to map the subconscious mind and explore structural patterns derived directly from nature.

This artist has participated in numerous solo exhibitions, including those listed here:

• 2019: Two Artists Hugs, PVA Fine Art Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
• 2015: Transition and Evolution, Fyns Grafiske Værksted Printmaking Studio, Odense, Denmark.
• 2014: After the Embrace, Unpack Studio Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2010: Let Me Hug You, Qbava Gallery, Union City, New Jersey, USA.
• 2008: Embraces, Lorrie Saunders Art Gallery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• 2007: Recent Works, London Square Fine Art Gallery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• 2003: Behind the Hopes, El Museo Fine Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• 2002: A Closer View, Stuyvesant Gallery, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• 2001: Like a Hurricane, Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 1997: Etchings and Watercolors, Glyde Hall, Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada.
• 1995: Drawings and Prints, Brasília Design Center, Brasília, Brazil.
• 1986: Between Two, San Miguel Fine Art Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
• 1983: Only Etchings, Havana Design Center, Havana, Cuba.

This artist has participated in over 80 collective exhibitions:

• 2026: Circular Reflections, Westchester Regional Library, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2025: Bitola International Print Triennial, Bitola, Macedonia.
• 2025: Internationale Biennale de l’Estampe, Fresnes-sur-Escaut, France.
• 2024: 21st AAmA International Printmaking Exhibition, China.
• 2024: TOMPE 2024: National Small Print Biennial, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2023: Sofia International Print Triennial, Sofia, Bulgaria.
• 2023: Print 2023, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
• 2023: 5th Lisle-sur-Tarn International Etching Triennial, Raymond Lafage Museum, Lisle-sur-Tarn, France.
• 2022: TOMPE 2022: The Ontario Miniature Print Biennial, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2021: XX Sarcelles International Print Biennial, Sarcelles, France.
• 2021: International Biennial of Small Etching, Graphium, Timișoara, Romania.
• 2021: The XIV International Contemporary Engraving Biennial “IOSIF ISER”, Ploiești, Romania.
• 2021: Quarta Edizione del FIIC di Trento, Spazio Foyer, Trento, Italy.
• 2021: Miniprint 2021, Gallery Heike Arndt DK, Berlin, Germany.
• 2021: X International Print Triennial of Bitola, Bitola, Macedonia.
• 2021: The Second Intaglio International Print Triennial, White World, Kyiv, Ukraine.
• 2021: International Print Biennial of Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia.
• 2021: International Miniprint Kazanlak 2021, Kazanlak, Bulgaria.
• 2020: Biennale di Grafica Contemporanea “Continuità” Premio Diego Donati (VI Edizione), Perugia, Italy.
• 2020: Premio Leonardo Sciascia (10th Edition), Milan, Italy.
• 2020: The 4th Printmaking Biennial, Čačak, Serbia.
• 2020: 7th Biennial FOOTPRINT International Competition, Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Connecticut, USA.
• 2019: Eight International Small Print Biennial, Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa, Canada.
• 2019: First Exhibition of the World-Wide Prints Project, Palermo, Italy.
• 2019: Authentic Marks: 3rd Annual International Miniature Printmaking Exhibition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• 2019: First Miami Contemporary Small Format Art Exhibition, Cowry Art Studio, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2019: 32 Points, 32 Voices: A Compass of Peace International Exhibition, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Toronto, Canada.
• 2019: The Holocaust Selected Printmakers, Romanian Cultural Institute, Budapest, Hungary.
• 2019: 14th International Drypoint Biennial, Užice, Serbia.
• 2018: The 6th Indonesia International Print Triennial, Bentara Budaya, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 2017: Triennale Mondiale de l’Estampe, Chamalières, France.
• 2017: TOMPE 2017: Ontario Miniature Exhibition of Prints, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2017: International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Užice, Serbia.
• 2017: Cien y 31 S.A.: 40 Years of a Friendship Group Exhibition, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2016: International Miniature Print Exhibition of Leopolis, Lviv, Ukraine.
• 2016: Bucharest International Print Biennial, Romanian Fine Arts Union, Bucharest, Romania.
• 2016: TOMPE 2016: The Ontario Miniature Exhibition of Prints, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2016: IX Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition (BIMPE), Vancouver, Canada.
• 2016: Six International Print Biennial, Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa, Canada.
• 2015: The 2015 Print Show Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
• 2015: Muestra de Grabado Colectiva, Amicus Gallery, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
• 2015: International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Užice, Serbia.
• 2015: Tribuna Graphic Magazine Selected Artists, National Museum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
• 2015: Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Biennale for Miniature Graphics, Alexandria, Egypt.
• 2015: 12th Biennale Internazionale per l’Incisione: Premio Acqui Print 2015, Alessandria, Italy.
• 2012: Douro International Print Biennial, Alijó, Portugal.
• 2011: 10th Biennale Internazionale per l’Incisione: Premio Acqui Print 2011, Alessandria, Italy.
• 2010: Chicago Collaboratives Printmaking International Small Print Competition, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• 2010: Una sola Isla, Qbava Fine Art Gallery, Union City, New Jersey, USA.
• 2009: Artist Proof Sales 2009, Open Studio, Toronto, Canada.
• 2009: International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Užice, Serbia.
• 2009: A Hundred Prints, Palais Royale, Toronto, Canada.
• 2008: Næstved International Exhibition of Mini Prints, Næstved, Denmark.
• 2005: Tokyo International Miniprint Triennial, Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan.
• 2005: Encounter 2005, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples Art Association, Florida, USA.
• 2005: Florida Printmakers 14th International Print & Drawing Competition, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2005: Art on the Hyphen: Cuban American Artists of Western New York State, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• 2004: Florida Printmakers 13th National Print Competition, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
• 2002: 4th Janet Turner National Print Competition and Exhibition, California State University, Chico, California, USA.
• 2001: North American Print Exhibition, The Boston Printmakers Society, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
• 2000: First Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition (BIMPE), New Leaf Editions, Vancouver, Canada.
• 2000: Annual Autumn Arts Festival Juried Art Show, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
• 2000: One World Many Voices Art Auction, Canadian Crossroads International, Toronto, Canada.
• 2000: Print World, Kumpf Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
• 1998: International Print Biennial of Ourense, Ourense, Spain.
• 1997: Sapporo International Print Biennial, Sapporo, Japan.
• 1997: The 19th International Independent Exhibition of Prints in Kanagawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
• 1996: Premio Biella per l’Incisione, Milan, Italy.
• 1996: IV International Print Biennial of Ourense, Ourense, Spain.
• 1995: 18th Independent Exhibition of Prints in Kanagawa, Kanagawa Art Foundation, Kanagawa, Japan.
• 1995: III International Stamp Fair Print, Contemporary Museum of Madrid, Spain.
• 1995: Testimonios de la Utopía, Cultural Space 508, Brasilia Foundation, Brasilia, Brazil.
• 1995: XII International Print Biennial: Máximo Ramos Prize, Ferrol, Spain.
• 1995: Tokyo International Miniprint Triennial, Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan.
• 1995: Prizes and Scholarships “Pilar Juncosa and Sotheby’s”, Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation, Mallorca, Spain.
• 1994: V Havana Biennial of Contemporary Art, Morro Castle, Havana, Cuba.
• 1993: First Internationale Grafiek Biënnale of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.
• 1993: Minibiennial ’93, Susekullen, Olofström, Sweden.

• 2021: Triennial Prize Designation, X International Print Triennial of Bitola, Bitola, Macedonia.
• 2016: Pavilion Curatorial Selection, Art Medellín International Art Fair, Latin-American Art Pavilion, Medellín, Colombia.
• 2015: Pavilion Curatorial Selection, Art Basel Miami Beach — Red Dot Latin American Pavilion, Miami, Florida, USA.
• 2015 (March – May): International Artist Residency, Fyns Grafiske Værksted, Odense, Denmark.
• 2005: Honorable Mention, Encounter 2005, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, Florida, USA.
• 2004: Second Prize, The Art League of Fort Myers Juried Competition, Art Gallery of Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Florida, USA.
• 2001: Exhibition Purchase Award, The Boston Printmakers North American Print Exhibition, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
• 2000: Exhibition Award, BIMPE I: First Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition, New Leaf Editions, Vancouver, Canada.
• 1997: Creative Arts Studio Fellowship, The Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada.
• 1995: Premio Pilar Juncosa y Sotheby’s, Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró a Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
• 1995: Honorable Mention, XIII International Máximo Ramos Print Prize, Ferrol, Spain.
• 1994: Honorable Mention, III International Print Biennial of Ourense, Ourense, Spain.
• 1990: First Prize, Currier for Exchange of Small Stamp (CISP ’90), Taller Experimental de Gráfica, Havana, Cuba.
• 1990: Laureate Selection, National Landscape Juried Show, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba.
• 1983: Laureate Selection, Cuba National Juried Print Show, Thespis Hall, Habana Libre Hotel, 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 article – written in Spanish – provides a concise description of the Circular Reflections project and includes the full participating artist list.
• 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).
• 2021: Goreski, Vlado. X International Print Triennial of Bitola: Catalog of Selected Contemporary Masters. Bitola: National Museum and Gallery Archives, 2021.
• 2017: “Artist & Master Printer: Agustín Rolando Rojas.” Art and Culture Maven (Toronto, Canada), August 11, 2017.
• 2015: “Agustín Rolando Rojas and the Evolution of the Intaglio Impression.” Tribuna Graphic Magazine (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), no. 4 (October 2015).
• 1995: Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró a Mallorca. Premios y Becas Pilar Juncosa y Sotheby’s: Catálogo de Talleres Creativos. Palma de Mallorca: Publicaciones de la Fundación, 1995.
• 1994: Caixa Ourense. III Bienal Internacional de Grabado Julio Prieto Nespereira. Ourense: Galería de Arte, 1994.

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

• Lowe Art Museum (Cuban American Permanent Collection, Coral Gables, Florida, USA).
• Museo de la Diáspora Cubana (Coral Gables, Florida, USA).
• Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Havana, Cuba).
• Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró (Palma de Mallorca, Spain).
• Grafik Museum Stiftung Schreiner (Bad Steben, Germany).
• National Museum of Art (Cluj-Napoca, Romania).
• Rotary Club Acqui Terme Permanent Registry (Premio Acqui Archive, Alessandria, Italy).
• Drypoint Grafik Museum (Užice, Serbia).
• Graphium Permanent Archive (Timișoara, Romania).
• Yerevan International Print Biennial Registry (Yerevan, Armenia).
• Kanagawa Art Foundation (Kanagawa, Japan).
• Tama Art University Permanent Archive (Tokyo, Japan).
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art (Sapporo Print Collection, Hokkaido, Japan).
• The Banff Centre for the Arts (Alberta, Canada).
• Colección Cajas de Ahorros Galicia / Caixanova (Ferrol/A Coruña, Spain).