Carlos Enrique Prado

My work revolves around recycling emblematic representations of the human figure from art history, with a focus on the ancient Greco-Roman tradition, which has become part of the Western aesthetic paradigms. As a Cuban living in the USA, I often find myself viewed as "the other" by Western culture. However, I also see Western culture as "the other" in my perspective. When I incorporate Western European influences into my work, I sometimes feel a sense of detachment that allows me to strip away their sacredness and impregnate them with new meanings in different contexts. Additionally, through this recycling process, I also engage in a dialogue with my own experiences as an immigrant, constantly reinventing myself and rising above past versions of who I used to be, much like standing atop a pile of old selves. In my most recent body of works, the “Stubborn” series, I explore transformation and resilience, often incorporating unexpected objects to represent the tension between persistence and adaptation.

I have expanded my efforts by integrating digital modeling and 3D clay printing techniques into my creative process. Computer modeling provides me with broader artistic possibilities, including the opportunity to incorporate and manipulate digital models made from original ancient artworks, the ability to design more complex compositions and assemblages, and the ability to preserve the integrity of the quoted references. However, since all my works also require the use of more traditional manual techniques, the digital component becomes another part of the artistic process.

Overall, with my artwork, I try to provoke critical reflection, inviting viewers to reconsider their perception of art and established social paradigms.

Carlos Enrique Prado is a visual artist born and raised in Havana, Cuba. He is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC/IAC) based in Geneva, Switzerland. Carlos graduated from the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts in 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, which he earned in 2002, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree, which he obtained in 2008, both from the ISA University of Arts of Cuba. He served as a faculty member at the ISA University of Arts of Cuba for a decade. He currently lives in Miami, Florida, and is a professor of ceramics and sculpture at the University of Miami.Carlos Enrique has won awards, such as the Biennial of Ceramics of Havana (Cuba) and International Ceramics Triennial Elit-Tile (Dominican Republic). His works are featured in museum collections, including the National Museum of the Cuban Contemporary Ceramics of Havana and the Ceramics Research Center at the ASU Art Museum in Arizona. Prado has also shared his extensive expertise in ceramics as a visiting artist across multiple prestigious universities and art centers, such as Arizona State University, University of Southern California, Midwestern State University, University of Mary Washington, University of Alabama, and the NCECA Conference.Carlos Prado’s artistic endeavor focuses on ceramic sculpture. The ideas behind his works reflect an exploration of the classical representation of the human figure, referencing specific paradigmatic sculptures. Through this process, the references are both employed and dismantled, resulting in a visual regurgitation of classical subjects in new contexts.