ABOUT THE ARTIST

Derwin Derwin Leiva was born in Santa Clara, Cuba in 1978 where he became fascinated with art at an early age. He always looked forward to help his grandfather make charcoal from the Aroma tree because it was a way for him to get free material to draw. He would pick up empty cigarettes boxes and brake them so he could use the white surface in the inside of the box to draw. He really enjoyed drawing with charcoal in different surfaces and it helped him capture his passion for art.
In 1995 he moved to Miami and in 2004 he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where he started taking drawing and painting classes at the Honolulu Museum of Art Linekona School. Then he attended University of Hawaii Manoa to attain his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art with a sculpture concentration. Here he was exposed to a variety of media: painting, photography, print making, glass, metal fabrication, and bronze casting.

Although his work has been influenced by artists like Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Wifredo Lam; Cuban music has always been a constant backdrop to his work. Through the use of rhythm and motion in his work he mirrors the experience of freedom found through Cuban music.
Leiva has participated in several international exhibitions including International Biennale Barcelona, Spain and Biennale Internazionale D’Arte Contemporanea 2019 in Mantova, Italy. His work has been displayed at the MEAN (European Museum of Modern Art), Nicolas Cusa Museum and the Diocesan Museum Francesco Gonzaga.
His work has been published by Exquisite Arts Magazine, Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine, Art International Contemporary Magazine, Create Magazine and several books like Important World Artist 3, Current Masters 4, Masters of Today and 100 Artist of the Future.

Leiva’s work has been recognized internationally and most recently he received “Artist of the Future Award” by Contemporary Art Curator Magazine. In addition, Artexpo New York “Best New Exhibitor,” the “International Caravaggio Prize – Great Master of the Art,” “The International Botticelli Award,” “The International Diego Velazquez Prize,” and he was recognized at Mantova Art Expo as “Artist of the Year 2019.”

Artist Statement
Derwin Leiva was born in Cuba in 1978 where music was part of his daily life. In 1995 he moved to Miami and in 2004 to Hawaii where he currently resides. He studied art at the Honolulu Museum of Art, Linekona School and completed his BFA with Sculpture concentration at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Although his work has been influenced by artists like Picasso, Boccioni, and Wifredo Lam; Cuban music has always been a constant backdrop to his work. Through the use of rhythm and motion in his work he mirror the experience of freedom found through Cuban music. He has participated in several international exhibitions including International Biennale Barcelona, Spain and Biennale Internazionale D’Arte Contemporanea 2019 in Mantova, Italy. His work has been displayed at the MEAN (European Museum of Modern Art) and the Diocesan Museum Francesco Gonzaga. His work has been published by Exquisite Arts Magazine, Create Magazine, Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine, Art International Contemporary Magazine and several books like Important World Artist 3, Current Masters 4, Masters of Today and 100 Artist of the Future. Leiva’s work has been recognized internationally and most recently he received the “International Caravaggio Prize – Great Master of the Art,” “The International Botticelli, Award,” Artexpo New York “Best New Exhibitor,” “The International Diego Velazquez, Prize,” “The International Michelangelo Award” and he was recognized at Mantua Art, Expo as “Artist of the Year 2019.”