Viñales.
Watercolor.
4 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.
28 x 36 cm
SIGNED
Agustin Rolando Rojas is a Visual artist with 5 years MFA Printmaking specialization, living and working in Toronto since 1997. Born in Havana, Cuba, he came to Canada as a winner of The Banff Center for the Arts residency program. He taught printmaking at Higher Art Institute in Havana, Cuba since 1985-1996 and successfully represented Canada at some International established printmaking biennials competitions. The artist is also an art education programs designer and a printmaking history researcher. He has successfully conducted special International printmaking Color & Chine colle workshops at Fyns Grafiske printshop in Denmark, Manhattan Graphics Center, New York, Neilson Park Center, Mississauga Visual Art and ultimately at London Printmaking Fanshawe University in Ontario. His years researching about special handmade WASHI Japanese papers suitable for intaglio, gained him international recognitions. His artworks are collected by important museums and cultural institutions as National Fine Art Museum of Havana, Wolfgang Shreiner, Private Collecting of Ludwig Foundation, Lowe Art Museum, Cuban American Permanent Collection and others..
Statement
My work is inspired by nature and the intimacy shared between human beings interacting with one another. Printmaking is an experimental medium in which I can artistically express this interaction. I create etchings and intaglios based on my initial drawings and paintings. There is an interesting correlation and evolution from the preliminary drawing or painting phase to the final printing stage. These developing steps serve to reveal probing similarities and diversities between the varying media. Curiously, the relationship between the assorted methods of rendering an image mirrors the close interactions I observe and portray between what are different yet comparable persons.
EDUCATION
-1974-1978.San Alejandro Fine Art School. Havana, Cuba. BFA
-1978-1983.Higher Art Institute of Havana. (I.S.A.), MFA. 5 Years Printmaking Specialized.
-1983-1996. Taught printmaking at Higher Art Institute. (I.S.A), Havana, Cuba.
International printmaking workshop:
- London Fanshawe University, Canada
- Neilson Park Creative Center, Mississauga Visual Art Center, Canada
-Teaching at Manhattan Graphics Center, New York,
-Fyns Grafiske
SOLO EXHIBITION
-2019- “Two artists hugs” PVA Fine Art Gallery, Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
-2015-“Transition and evolution” Fyns Grafiske printmaking studio.Odense, Denmark.
-2014-“After the embrace” a selection of etchings.Unpackstudio Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
-2010-“Let me hug you”.50 etchings, drawing and painting.Qbava Gallery. New Jersey April 5th.
-2008- “Embraces” Three artists. Jesus Rivera, Elena Wagner, Agustin R Rojas.
Lorrie Saunders Art Gallery. Norfolk VA.
-2007- Recent works. London Square Fine Art Gallery, Norfolk VA
-2003-“Behind the Hopes” El MUSEO Fine Art Gallery Buffalo, New York, USA.
-2002-“A Closer View”. Stuyvesant Gallery. Buffalo. NY, USA.
-2001- “Like a Hurricane” 1313 Queen St West, Art Gallery. Toronto. Canada
-1997- Etchings and Watercolors, Glyde Hall, Banff Center for the Arts, Alberta, Canada.
-1995- Drawings and Prints. Brasilia Design Center, Brasilia, Brazil
-1986-"Between Two". San Miguel Fine Art Gallery, Havana. Cuba.
-1983-"Only Etchings" Havana Design Center, Cuba.
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2021-International Biennial of Small Etching.Graphium-Timisoara, 2021.Romania.
2021-The XIV International Contemporary Engraving Biennial “IOSIF ISER”.Romania 2021.
2021-Quarta edizione del FIIC di Trento.
2021- Miniprint 2021, Gallery Heike Arndt DK - Berlin
2021-X International Print Triennial of Bitola. Macedonia. Awarded
2021- The second Intaglio International Print Triennial. White World, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2021- XX Sarcelles International Print Biennal. France.
2021-International print Biennial of Yerevan, Armenia February 2021
2021- International Miniprint Kazanlak 2021.
2020-Biennale di Grafica Contemporanea "Continuità" Premio Diego Donati VI Edizione, Perugia, Italy December 4tth
2020- Premio Leonardo Sciascia 10th edition. Miano, Italy.
2020-The 4th Printmaking Biennial. Cacak, Serbia.
2020-7th Biennial FOOTPRINT International Competition. Center for Contemporary printmaking, Connecticut. USA
2019-Eight International Small Print Biennial Ottawa Art School, Ottawa, Canada
2019-First exhibition of the World-Wide Prints project. Palermo Italy.
2019-Authentic Marks 3rd Annual International Miniature Printmaking Exhibition, 2020 Dubai Emirate Arabi.
2019- First Miami Contemporary Small Format Art Exhibition. Cowry Art Studio.2019-32 points 32 voices. A compass of Peace International Exhibition. Cedar Ridge Art Center Toronto.
2019- “The Holocaust” 10 International selected International printmakers. Institutul Cultural Romania, Budapest / Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest Strada Izsó, nr. 5, sector XIV, 1146 Budapest, Hungarian
2019- 14th International Drypoint Biennial, Uzice, Serbia.
2018- The 6th Indonesia International print Triennial a competition organized by Bentara Budaya.
2017-Trienniale Mondiale de l’ Estampe Chamalieres. France.
2017-Tompe 2017, Ontario Miniature Exhibition of Prints. London, Ontario. Canada
2017--International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Uzice, Serbia.
2017-Cien y 31 S.A.Miami.Florida.The USA.40 years of a friendship group exhibition.
2016-International Miniature Print Exhibition of Leopolis, Lviv, Ukraine.
2016- Bucharest International Print Biennial. Romanian Fine Arts Union.
2016-TOMPE 2016, The Ontario Miniature Exhibition of Prints.
2016-IX Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition BIMPE, Vancouver, Canada.
2016-Six International Print Biennial Ottawa Art School, Ottawa, Canada.
2015- The 2015 Print show Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2015-Muestra de grabado collective, Amicus Gallery, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2015 -International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Uzice.
2015-Tribuna Graphic Magazine selected artist, Art Museum Cluj Napoca, Romania.
2015- Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Biennale for Miniature Graphics.Egypt.
2015-12th Biennale Internazionale per L’Incisione-Premio Acqui Print 2015.Alessandria, Italy.
2012-Douro International Print Biennial, Portugal. August 2012.Alijo, Portugal
2011. X Biennale Internazionale per L’Incisione-Premio Acqui Print 2011.Alessandria, Italy.
2010. Chicago Collaboratives Printmaking “International small print competition”.
2010-“Una sola Isla”.Qbava Fine Art Gallery. New Jersey.
2009-Artist Proof Sales 2009.Open Studio. Toronto, Canada.
2009-International Graphic Biennial of Drypoint, Uzice.June 11th.
2009-“A Hundred Prints” Palais Royale, Toronto, Canada. May 13th.
2008-Naestved International Exhibition of Mini Prints. Denmark March 28th
2005-Tokyo International Miniprint Triennial, Tama Art University, Japan.
2005-“Encounter 2005”.The von Liebig Art Center. Naples Art Association. FL.
2005- Florida Printmakers 14th International Print & Drawing Competition. The University of Miami.
2005- “Art on the Hyphen”. Cuban American artists of Western New York State. Burchfield-Penney Art Center.
2004- Florida Printmakers 13th National Print Competition, University of Miami, USA.
2002- 4th Janet Turner National Print Competition and Exhibition. California State University, Chico. The USA.
-2001 North American Print Exhibition. The Boston Printmakers Society.
-2000- First Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition.BIMPEI New Leaf Edition. Vancouver, Canada.
-Annual Autumn Arts Festival Juried Art Show, Etobicoke, Civic Center Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
-One World Many Voices Art Auction. Canadian Crossroads International, Toronto, Canada.
-Print World.Kumpf Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
-1998- International Print Biennial of Ourense, Spain.1995, 1993.
-1997- Sapporo International Print Biennial, Japan.
-The 19th International Independent Exhibition of Prints in Kanagawa, Japan.
-1996- Premium Biella per l’Incisione. Milano, Italy.
-IV International Print Biennial of Ourense, Spain
-1995- 18th Independent Exhibition of Prints in Kanagawa.Kanagawa Art Foundation, Japan.
-III International Stamp Fair Print. Contemporary Museum of Madrid, Spain.
-"Testimonies de la Utopia”. Cultural Space 508.Brasilia Foundation, Brazil.
-XII International Print Biennial 'Maximo Ramos Prize”, Spain
-Tokyo International MINI PRINT Triennial.Tama Art University. Tokyo, Japan.
-Prizes and Scholarships"Pilar Juncosa and Sotheby’s "Pilar/Joan Miro Foundation.Mallorca, Spain.
.-V Havana Biennial of Contemporary Art, Morro Castle, Havana, Cuba.
-1993- First Internationale Grafiek Biënnale of Maastricht, Holland
-Minibiennial'93. Susekullen Olofstrom, Sweden.
PRIZE AND AWARD
-2016-Selected by Art Medellin International Art Fair at LAAP. Latin-American Art Pavilion
2015- Selected by Basel Miami International Art Fair at Red Dot Latin American Pavilion
-2015-Artist in residence Fyns Grafiske Vaerkted, Denmark.
-2005- Honorable mention at “Encounter 2005”, von Liebig Art Center, Naples. FL.
-2004- Second Prize at The Art League of Fort Myers Juried competition 2004.Art Gallery of F. Myers, FL.
-2001- Award. The Boston Printmakers 2001 North American Print Exhibition. Boston, MA.
-2000- Award. BIMPE I, First Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition, New Leaf Edition, Vancouver, Canada.
-1997- Artist in Residence at The Banff Center for the Arts. Alberta, Canada.
-1995- Prize Pilar /Joan Miro & Sotheby's Foundation for Techniques and Development of Creative Projects. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
- Honorable Mention.XIII International “Maximo Ramos PRINT Prize”, Ferrol, Spain.
-1994- Award Honorable Mention, III International Print Biennial of Ourense, Spain.
-1990- First Prize Currier for Exchange of Small Stamp, CISP’90. Experimental Printshop of Havana, Cuba.
-1990- Awarded National Landscape Juried Show. Havana National Fine Art Museum.
-1983- Awarded, Cuba National Juried Print Show Juried Competition. Thespis Hall. Habana Libre Hotel. Havana. Cuba.
ARTWORKS IN COLLECTION
-Graphium-Timisoara 2021
-Yerevan International print Biennial.Armenia
-Drypoint Grafik Museum. Uzice. Serbia.
-Lowe Art Museum Cuban American Permanent Collection, Miami USA.
-National Fine Art Museum of Havana, Cuba.
-Pilar Juncosa & Joan Miro and Sotheby’s Foundation, Spain.
-Kanagawa Art Foundation, Japan.
-Tama Art University. Tokyo, Japan.
-Caixa Ferrol.Coruña, Caixanova , Spain.
-Banff Centre for the Arts. Alberta, Canada.
-Museum of Art Cluj- Napoca.Tribuna Graphic Bucharest, Romania.
-Hokkaido Fine Art Museum, Sapporo print collection.
-Rotary Club Acqui Terme.Premio Acqui, Italy
-Wolfgang Schreiner, Private Collecting of Ludwig Foundation, Germany. GRAFIK MUSEUM STIFTUNG SCHREINER