ERNESTO BRIEL
ARTIST INFORMATION
“At the beginning of my journey as a visual artist, my only goal was to be able to express my interest in perceptual effects and optical illusions through the use of geometry; highlighting that discrepancy that exists between our perceptual judgement and the actual physical character of the original stimulus. Hence, my obsession with forms within forms, hiding and revealing them to the eye, supported by the brilliance of color, like in those vintage kaleidoscopes of my childhood.”
Ernesto Briel was born in Guanabacoa, Cuba in 1943. With a particular interest in scenography, Briel worked as a painter, producer, and set designer, and briefly as an actor. He studied painting at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro and design at the Escuela Nacional de Diseño in Havana, Cuba, and later photography at the Parsons School of Design in New York. In 1969, he founded the Grupo Cubano de Arte Óptico with fellow artists María Irene Fornés, Helena Serrano, and Armando Morales, becoming the most representative and methodic artist of the genre. Feeling ostracized by the Cuban regime due to persecution directed at his sexual orientation, he migrated to the US through the Mariel boatlift mass emigration in the spring of 1980. Soon after his arrival to the US, he participated in the exhibit “Three Cuban Painters” at Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey in 1982. In 1992, the Jadite Galleries in New York City, NY presented the exhibit “Two Geometric Artists,” that featured Briel alongside Carmen Herrera’s pieces. Following Briel’s passing from AIDS-related complications in 1992, the Jadite Galleries in New York held a posthumous solo exhibition on the artist. His work is in various public collections nationally and globally, including the Jersey City Museum in Jersey City, New Jersey, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana, Cuba, and the Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Rather than leading the birth of a new aesthetic movement, Briel explored the pre-established confines of concrete abstraction through the use of three elementary geometrical figures: the circle, the square, and the triangle. Layered on top of these basic, recognizable shapes are the use of repetition, superposition, and displacement, creating a formal mixture and vocabulary that speaks on the growth of modernity within our developing world. Compared often to the mystic work of Hilma af Klint, the reserved, enigmatic nature of the artist’s works reveal the assertion the painter had with the idea of a dimension beyond the tangible; a space where the organic visuals the natural eye sees merge with the barely visible optics to create illusions and creative effects that emerge as ocular vibrations, striking juxtapositions, and unique perceptions that distort conventional visuals.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, mid-1960s
India ink and corrective fluid on paper
21 1/8 x 29 inches
53.34 x 73.66 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1971
Indian ink on paper
10 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches
27.31 x 18.42 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1971
Indian ink on paper
10 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches
27.31 x 18.42 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1971
Indian ink on paper
10 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches
27.31 x 18.42 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1971
Indian ink on paper
10 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches
27.31 x 18.42 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1971
Indian ink on paper
10 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches
27.31 x 18.42 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1969
Indian ink on paper
16 1/4 x 21 1/4 inches
41.28 x 53.98 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, ca. 1960s
Indian ink on cardboard
9 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches
24 x 33 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Different Directions, 1988
acrylic on canvas
48 x 36 inches
122 x 91 cm.
Ernesto Briel
El Faraon, 1987
acrylic on canvas
48 x 48 inches
122 x 122 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Darksome Night No. 4, 1986
acrylic on canvas
48 x 36 inches
122 x 91 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Darksome Night No.2, 1986
acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
61 x 61 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Shape of Light, 1986
acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
61 x 61 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Day, 1990
acrylic on canvas
10 x 30 inches
25 x 76 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Night, 1990
acrylic on canvas
10 x 30 inches
25 x 76 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, 1992
acrylic on canvas
42 x 64 inches
106 x 162 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, 1992
acrylic on canvas
42 x 24 inches
106 x 61 cm.
Ernesto Briel
Untitled, 1992
acrylic on canvas
42 x 24 inches
106 x 61 cm.
ERNESTO BRIEL
Born in 1943 in Guanabacoa, Cuba
Died in 1992 in New York City, NY
EDUCATION
1961-1964
Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro,” Havana, Cuba
1976-1980
Escuela Nacional de Diseño, Havana, Cuba
1989
Photography. Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
AWARDS
1968
Acquisition Award. Salón Nacional de Dibujo, Galería de La Habana, Havana
1988-1989
Cintas Fellow in Visual Arts. Cintas Foundation, Institute of International Education, New York
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
Museo de Bellas Artes Ignacio Agramonte, Camagüey, Cuba
Palacio de la Revolución, Havana Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida
Cintas Foundation, Institute of International Education, New York
Housatonic Museum of Art, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, New Jersey
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
Ernesto Briel. Iridescent Geometries
Juan Carlos Maldonado Art Collection, Miami, Florida
2017-2018
Ernesto Briel
S2 Gallery, Sothebys, London, England
2016
Essential
Ars Atelier, Paris, France
Merging Roads: The Art of Ernesto Briel and Cepp Selgas
Jadite Galleries, New York
2011
Ernesto Briel: Le Monde Géométrique
2005
Tribute to Ernesto Briel [In Celebration of Mariel 25
The Wolfson Gallery. Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida
2000-2001
The Eye of the Beholder [with Jesús Selgas] Ars Atelier, Union City, New Jersey
1994
An Exhibition of Works by Ernesto Briel
Jadite Galleries, New York
1992
Briel & Selgas. Recent Works
Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York
Duo Geo [with Carmen Herrera]
Jadite Galleries, New York
1991
Briel: Now Geo
Taller Boricua Gallery, New York
1988
Briel. Paintings [with Jesús Selgas]
Riverón Arts Center, West New York, New Jersey
The Geometric Eye. Paintings, assemblages [with Jesús Selgas]
West Dade Regional Library, Miami, Florida
1974
Ernesto Briel
Sala Martínez Villena, Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC), Havana, Cuba
1971
Ernesto Briel. Exposición de Dibujos
Galería de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
1968
Dibujos OP. Armando Morales. Ernesto Briel
Galería La Rampa, Hotel Habana Libre, Havana
1967
Dibujos OP-POP
Galería de Santa Clara, Santa Clara, Las Villas, Cuba
1966
Morales y Briel. Dibujos OP y POP
Galería de Arte, Galiano y Concordia, Havana, Cuba
PUBLICATIONS
Briel Luzardo, Ernesto. Ernesto Briel. Exposición de Dibujos, Galería de La Habana, Havana, [illus.], May 7, 1971. (Catalogue).
_________(et.al). “[introductory text of Grupo Cubano de Arte Optico].” Grupo Cubano de Arte Óptico. Centro Arte Internacional, Havana [illus.], October 4-28, 1978. (Catalogue).
Memoria: Cuban Art of the 20th Century. International Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, California, 2002.
Ernesto Briel and the Geometric Abstraction. CD Rom [open edition- digital publication], The Estate of Ernesto Briel, New York, 2009.
Ernesto Briel-Homenaje. Ars Atelier City Magazine [special edition-issue 0], New York-Paris, Winter 2010.
Ernesto Briel: Celebrating the 70th Birthday of a Masterful Cuban Artist. Ars Atelier City Magazine [Essential Collection], New York-Paris, November 2013.
Ernesto Briel. Monographic Publication. S2 Gallery Sothebys London. London, November 2017
Ernesrto Briel. Iridescent Geometries. Monographic Publication. The Juan carlos Maldonado Art Collection. November 2020
Ernesto Briel. The Rest is Silence. Monographic Publication. The Mariano Rodriguez Foundation Madrid. Feb. 2021
La Gaceta de Cuba, No. 74, June, 1969, Havana, (illustrations/commentary).
Signos, Year 1, No. 3, May-August, 1970, Santa Clara (reproduced works).
Signos, Vol. 3, No. 2, January-April, 1972, Santa Clara (reproduced works).
Signos, No. 22, January-August 1979, Santa Clara (reproduced works).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Briel y Morales.” Islas, Santa Clara, Vol. IX, No. 26, [illus.], pp.283-296, 1967.
“Ernesto Briel. Sirenas Ópticas.” Signos, No. 15, Santa Clara, [illus.], pp. 116-119, 1974.
“Letras.” Signos, Santa Clara, No. 19 [illus.], pp.103-108, 1976.
COMBS, Tram. “Briel y Selgas: Simbolistas.” Noticias de Arte, New York, April-May, 1992.
“Photo-Walk-Through: Cuban Artists in The Illusive Eye.” Cuban Art News, March 9, 2016.
ÉVORA, José Antonio. “Arte geométrico en foco.” Artes y Letras, Suplemento de El Nuevo Herald, Miami, Florida, March 14, 2004.
FEIJÓO, Samuel. “Artistas del OP cubano.” El Mundo del Domingo, Suplemento de El Mundo, Havana, March 5, 1967.
FIGUEROA, Cristina. “Los cinéticos en Cuba. Apuntes para una historia del movimiento.” ArteCubano. Revista de Artes Visuales, No. 2, Havana, 2009.
GARCÍA RAMOS, Reinaldo. “Ernesto Briel: desde la forma luminosa.” Leiram Magazine, Eatontown, New Jersey, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1989.
GARZÓN CESPEDES, Francisco. “Los jóvenes en las artes plásticas: Briel y Morales.” Juventud Rebelde, Havana, December 5, 1966.
HERRERA, Adriana. “Ernesto Briel y su geometrismo místico.” El Nuevo Herald, Miami, Florida, June 19, 2005.
JOHNSON, Ken. “Op Art through a Latin Lens.” The New York Times, New York, February 18, 2016.
MARTEL ROMÁN, Rafael. “Briel y Selgas: Obras recientes.” La Razón Newspaper, Union City, New Jersey, April, 1992.
LÓPEZ-NUSSA, Leonel (ELE-NUSSA). “La opción óptica”. Bohemia, Havana, November 2, 1979.
ORAÁ CARRATALÁ, Pedro de. “Pasión de un orden otro.” Unión, Havana, Vol. 10, No. 4, [illus.], pp.85-86, December, 1971.
_________. Ernesto Briel, Sala Martínez Villena, Galería UNEAC, Havana [illus.],November 1-15, 1974. (Catalogue).
PAULY, Adriana. “Latin Kinetic and
Op Artists at El Museo del Barrio.” Art Report, http://artreport.com/, February 10, 2016.
RAYNOR, Vivian. “Art; Prints and Drawings By Latin Americans.” The New York Times, New York, July 1, 1990.
VALDÉS, Gustavo. “Ernesto Briel. El Pintor y su Obra.” La Razón Newspaper, Union City, New Jersey, November 3-9, 1990.
_________. “Entrevista a Ernesto Briel.” La Razón Newspaper, Union City, New Jersey, February 15-21, 1992.
_________. DUO GEO. Jadite Galleries, New York, September 24-October 6, 1992. (Catalogue).
_________. Briel. Recent Works. Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, March 24-April 4, 1992. (Catalogue). _________. “El Color de la Palabra.
32 Artistas Cubanos.” Stet, Edición Especial, New York, Vol. I, No. 2 [illus.], p.13, 1992
_________. “Ernesto Briel: Heart and Soul”. Tributo to Ernesto Briel [In Celebration of Mariel 25] Miami Dade College Art Gallery System, Miami, Florida, June 2005. (Catalogue).
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019-2020
Lost Loss
Preview Digital Platform along with Feliciano Centurion and Leonilson, London, England.
In collaboration with Cecilia Brunson Projects.
2017-2018
Ernesto Briel – Tess Jaray
S2 Gallery Sothebys, London, England
2016
In Focus / On Paper: Op Art from Latin America
Jadite Galleries, New York
The Illusive Eye (An International Survey of Kinectic and Op Art)
El Museo del Barrio, New York
2010-2011
La otra realidad. Una historia del arte abstracto cubano
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
2008
Reflections: Contemporary Cuban Art
Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, Connecticut
2004
Strictly Geometric
Agustín Gaínza Fine Cuban and Latin American Art, Miami, Florida
1995
Art-Exhibit and Silent Auction of Works by Contemporary Artists to Benefit FAITH Services
Jadite Galleries, New York The Geometric Abstraction
Vista Gallery, New York
1991
Contemporary Caribbean Artists
Creative Arts Workshop Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut
1990
Paper Visions II
Biennial of Contemporary Latin American Artists. Housatonic Museum of Art, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Day Without Art
The Clocktower Gallery, New York
Mariel: A Decade After
Cuban Museum of Arts & Culture, Miami, Florida
1989
Contemporary: Juxtaposing Perceptions
Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art (MOCHA), New York
In Search of the American Experience
The Museum of National Arts Foundation, New York
New Names, New Works
Santa Fe East Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1988-1989
Expresiones Hispanas 88/89. Coors National Hispanic Art Exhibition and Tour
Mexican Cultural Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Southwest Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California.
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, Connecticut.
Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, California.
Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, New Mexico.
Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, Florida
1988
Small Wall Works
Amos Eno Gallery, New York
1987
Pride & Prejudice
The Phillip Stansbury Gallery, New York
1985
Sotheby’s Casita Maria.
Sotheby’s, New York
1983
Fine Arts Exhibition for the Festival de Las Artes
Tamiami Park, Dade County, Florida
18 After Three
Consolidate Bank, Miami, Florida
1979
Grupo Cubano de Arte Óptico. Exponen
Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba
XVIII Primi Int. de Dibuix Joan Miró
Barcelona, Spain
Salón de Artes Plásticas UNEAC
Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba
1978
Salón de Artes Plásticas UNEAC
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana
1977
Exposición de Artes Plásticas. Homenaje al II Congreso de la UNEAC y al 60 Aniversario de la Revolución de Octubre
Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba
1971
Salas Cubanas
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
International Book Art Show
Leipzig, Germany
1970
Salón 70
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
1969
Salón Nacional de Artes Plásticas [drawing, engraving and experimental techniques]
Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana
Joven Pintura de Cuba.
ALGERIA/ U.S.S.R./MONGOLIA/KOREA.
1968
Salón Nacional de Dibujo
Galería de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
1967
Salón Provincial de Artistas Noveles
Galería de Arte, Galiano y Concordia, Havana, Cuba
1965
Salón UNEAC
Galería Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba
1964
Duodécima Exposición Anual de Artistas Noveles
Lyceum, Havana, Cuba
Bienal de Artistas Noveles de Cuba
Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba
1961
El Arte en las Fábricas y en la Calle el 26 de Julio de 1961
Galería Municipal, Havana, Cuba.
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