GAINESVILLE, FLA.- The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will present more than 60 works by 10 Cuban women artists in the landmark exhibition Layered Lives opening Aug. 25, 2026. Originating from the Discoveries in Art Certilman Family Collection, the exhibition brings together three decades of photography, paintings, ceramics and prints illustrating the resilience, innovation and expansive creativity of Cuban women artists whose layered stories continue to shape our understanding of Cuba and its diaspora. The exhibition will be on view through Jan. 3, 2027.
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Layered Lives features work by artists Belkis Ayn, Ariamna Contino, Aime Garca, Roco Garca, Alejandra Glez, Elsa Mora, Mabel Poblet, Sandra Ramos, Adislen Reyes and Linet Snchez. The works can be approached in diverse ways as they contain many interconnected stories and meanings. As viewers explore these layers, they gain a deeper sense of the complex experiences, identities, emotions and perspectives of Cuban women. The exhibition design draws inspiration from water and is organized in a fluid, circular installation offering multiple points of entry culminating in a central, site-specific work by Mabel Poblet. The work will feature thousands of miniature square photographs printed on mirror fragments resembling a cascading waterfall exploring the female body, their connection to water and memory.
"There has not been a sustained survey dedicated to examining the breadth of work produced by Cuban women artists of the post 1990s generation,” said Dr. Sara Garzn, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the Harn Museum of Art. “Layered Lives seeks to address that absence, bringing together artists whose practices challenge conventions, expand artistic discourse and offer nuanced perspectives on the social, cultural and personal realities that shape contemporary life."
Layered Lives provides multiple ways for visitors to connect to the art and artists, both in the gallery space and through programming. Interpretive text is offered in both English and Spanish providing access for a larger audience. Audio commentary by each artist, also in English and Spanish, is accessible through visitors’ mobile devices providing insights into their lives and work. Special programming includes a lecture “After Utopia: Feminist Practice in Contemporary Cuban Art” by Dr. Jasmine Kaur Chohan, Assistant Curator of Contemporary British Art, Tate Britain, scheduled for Oct. 1, 2026.
“Layered Lives underscores the richness and complexity of contemporary Cuban art while reaffirming the Harn Museum of Art’s commitment to amplifying artistic practices from across the Americas and the Caribbean,” said Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield, Director of the Harn Museum of Art. “We are looking forward to honoring the work of Cuban women and sharing their histories with the academic body of the University of Florida and the larger North Central Florida region.”
The exhibition is curated by Arianne Kolb, art historian and independent curator, and Sara Garzn, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the Harn Museum of Art. Layered Lives is drawn from the Discoveries in Art Certilman Family Collection and organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA.
The Presenting Sponsors for this exhibition are James and Sara Toussaint with additional support provided by Laura L. Berns; Harrison Estate Law; Visit Gainesville, Alachua County; and other generous donors.
