Street Art in Havana

From the open air exhibits along the glorious Paseo del Prado, once an avenue of of the wealthy residencies, to the walls of crumbling buildings in Vedado, one is always aware of the street art in Havana.  One finds so many galleries.  From the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) with its national art collection to the small intimate galleries throughout the city, there’s the chance to view the paintings and meet the artists.  Art is a cultural industry strongly supported by the government.  Just walk through the streets of old Havana. It’s everywhere.

As a tourist destination, Havana has grown to become one of the hottest destinations.  Everybody from near or far has the city on their wish-list.  Even the Americans, once denied the right to visit Cuba are coming in droves whether via licensed travel companies or cruise ships. The Russians, the Eastern Europeans, the Canadians, the British, the Spanish, the Indians, the Chinese, the Central and South Americans – absolutely everybody is going to Havana.  For the art connoisseur, there’s much to see in the way of art in this capital city.  Art is everywhere in the streets of Havana.

The graffiti art scene in Havana is alive and well.  There’s Cuba’s beloved “el Che,” (Ernesto Che Guevara) and Fidel and other heroes, painted on the walls of buildings throughout the City.  On the side streets and on the main streets of the city you can see the art of the street produced by its artists.  Make no mistake, the anonymous street artists make it overtly or subtly political. From the faces of the revolutionary heroes of Cuba to social criticism, it’s vibrant, like the city: it’s alive.

It would be difficult to find a city as culturally alive as this one in the western hemisphere.  Canada doesn’t quite cut it and neither do most places in the U.S.A.  Ask anyone who’s been there. They’ll rave on about the art scene, the music scene, the architecture, the classical and modern dance scene and more.  Street art in Havana and the artists are not only mainstream, but supported by society and government alike.