Oil painting on canvas of a female portrait, created by José Garcìa Montebravo in 1998.

Ø cm 30 h cm 36

José García Montebravo (October 15, 1953 - July 9, 2010) was a self-taught Cuban artist, originally from Cienfuegos. He is known for his vibrant representations of religious figures, particularly the orishas of Santería, as well as paintings of birds, animals, and the lush Cuban flora, often laden with allegorical or religious symbolism.

Montebravo began painting in 1980 and held his first solo exhibition in 1984. He lived and worked throughout his career in Cienfuegos, where he was a prominent figure in the artistic community and a mentor to many young artists.
His style was characterized by a bold use of color and strong expressiveness. His subjects ranged from religious figures, with particular attention to the orisha of Santeria (Afro-Cuban deities), to representations of animals, birds, and the lush Cuban vegetation. These elements were often imbued with symbolic and allegorical meanings, referring to Cuban spirituality and culture.
Montebravo exhibits his works both individually and in group shows in Europe, the United States, and Cuba. His art has received international recognition and was the subject of an article by Joan Pearlman in the Folk Art Messenger (Winter/Spring 2001).
He had a close collaboration with the Indigo Arts Gallery in Philadelphia, where he exhibited his works between 1999 and 2010. In 2002, he had the opportunity to visit the gallery and, during his stay, he painted the work "The Infanta of Philadelphia."
Montebravo fell ill in September 2009 and died on July 9, 2010. In 2014-2015, Indigo Arts Gallery presents "Fantastic Scenes", a retrospective of his work.