Biography


Born in Havana, Cuba in 1955 .

Has lived and worked in Ghent, Belgium since 1990


Ricardo Brey is a Cuban-born visual artist . His artistic roots lie in the 1970s and 1980s then active member of the group Volumen I today synonym for the emergence of a new generation of avant-garde artists in Cuba after the revolution of 1959.  After extensive travelings Brey move to Europe were live and  work and since 1990 . The invitation to participate in Documenta IX in Kassel was the starting point for Brey to move to Belgium . Among other recognitions Brey had received in 1998 the Prize from the Flemish Ministry of Culture and a Guggenheim Fellowship for installation Art and Sculpture.  From 2002 onward Brey make a turn of the wheel in his way of working , always looking for new appoches towards art  he has committed himself to the development and presentations of large  projects,  “Universe”, “Annex”  and “Every life is a fire"  that was presented  on it's totallity as part of the  56th International Art Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia, All the World’s Futures.



SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS



2022 

Gap in the Clouds, Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen, Belgium


2021 

Ricardo Brey: Blue Shore, Alexander Gray Associates, New York, NY


2019

Adrift.Gerhard-Marcks-Haus, Bremen (DE)

Doble Existencia / Double Existence, Alexander Gray Associates, New York (USA)

Adrift. Museum de Domijnen, Sittard (NL)


2018  

Adrift –  work  in  progress,  artist's  project  space,  Ghent  (BE)


2017

Doubts and Loves.Galerie Tanit, Beyrouth (LE)

All that is could be otherwise. Galerie Nathalie Obadia Paris-Brussel (FR)


2016

Adrift – work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)


2015

Op de bodem van de hemel /  Fuel to the fire / Au Fond du Ciel . Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen (M HKA)   - Koninklijk Atheneum  - Saint-Paul’s Church . Antwerpen (BE)  .

The moving wall . Galerie Tanit Munich-Beirouth (DE) (LE)



2014

Kicking the can down the road. Gallerie Nathalie Obadia Paris-Brussel (BE)

BREY, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, La Habana (CU)


2013

Gasoline Around the Moon, Galerie Tatjana Pieters, Ghent (BE)

For one night only, Pan American Art Projects, Miami (USA)

Every life is a fire – work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)  


2012

Ricardo Brey / Jimmie Durham, Looking at my own work (and his), Galerie Christine König, Vienna (AT)

Performance: Boxes (As good as bread), Galerie Christine König, Vienna (AT)

Boxes — Ein jedes Leben ein Feuer ist, work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)


2009

The Burden and Blessing of Mortality, NICC, New International Cultural Center, Antwerpen (BE)

“Annex” – work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)  


2006-2007

Universe, S.M.A.K., Ghent (BE)


2004-2005

Ricardo Brey, Hanging around, GEM, The Hague (NL).


2003

Annex – work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)


2002

Universe – work in progress, artist's project space, Ghent (BE)


2001

Terrestrial impact structures, Galerie Lumen Travo, Amsterdam (NL)

... and other stories, Pand Paulus, Schiedam (NL)

New Links, Galerie Tanit, Munich (DE)

Two flat fishes and the Chimaera, Roger Vandaele Edition, Antwerp (BE)


2000

Sources, Centre d'Art Contemporain, Crestet (FR)


1999

Ricardo Brey, Gallery Xippas, Paris (FR)

Ricardo Brey, Temporary-Contemporary, Brussels (BE)


1998

Ricardo Brey, Galerie Albert Baronian, Brussels (BE)

The last year of the tiger, Galerie Tanit, Munchen (DE)

Ricardo Brey, Installation and drawings, Schwerte Kunstverein, Schwerte (DE)


1997

Ricardo Brey, Kunstverein Salzburg, Salzburg (AT)

Fly with the Wind, Galerie Lumen Travo, Amsterdam (NL)

Ricardo Brey, Gallery Otto, Bologna (IT)


1996

Ricardo Brey, Galleria Civica, Palazzina dei Giardini, Comune di Modena (IT)

Ricardo Brey, Sittard Art Centre, Sittard (NL)


1995

Ricardo Brey, Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke (BE)


1994

Ricardo Brey, Gallery Albert Baronian, Brussels (BE)

Ricardo Brey, Galerie Tanit, Munchen (DE)

Tocar la otra orilla, V Havana Biennial, Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, Havana (CU)

Ricardo Brey, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris (FR)

Ricardo Brey, Galerie Lumen Travo, Amsterdam (NL)


1993

Ricardo Brey, Vereniging voor het Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Ghent (BE)

Ricardo Brey, Galerie Tanit, Cologne (DE)


1991

Ricardo Brey, Gallery Albert Baronian, Brussels (BE)


1987

Sobre la Tierra, Centro Wifredo Lam, Havana (CU)

Sobre la Tierra, Galería Kahlo-Coronel, Mexico (MX)


1981

El Origin de las Especies, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)


1980

Luna Llena, Casa de la cultura de Jaruco, Havana (CU)




SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS


2022 

Elsewhere(s), ANOTHER SPACE, New York, NY


2021 

PASS 2021, Mullem, Huise, Wannegem en Lede, Belgium

Re: Bicycling, Susan Inglett Gallery, New York, NY

South South, Alexander Gray Associates, Germantown, NY


2019

Les Abeilles de l’Invisible. Museé des Arts Contemporaines au Grand-Hornu, Hornu (BE)

S.M.A.K. 20 Years: The Collection |Highlights for a Future. Stedelijk Museum

voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K), Ghent (BE)

Feast of Fools. Bruegel Rediscovered . Gaasbeek Castle, Lennik (BE)


2018

TRUST, Les Brasseurs, Liège (BE)


2017

The City, My Studio / The City, My Life . Kathmandu Triennale. (Nepal)

de Nature en Sculpture Villa Datris, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (FR)

Ecce Homo. Museum Mayer van den Bergh , Antwerp (BE)


2015

56th International Art Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia, All the World's Futures . Venice, Italy (IT)

How to Gather? Acting in a Center in a City in the Heart of the Island of Eurasia. Moscow Biennale. Moscow, Russia (RU)


2014

Permission To Be Global: Latin American Art from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection.

Museum . Museum of Fine Arts , Boston  (USA)


2013

Permission To Be Global: Latin American Art from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection.

CIFO Art Space, Miami (USA)

IM & EX-PLICIT, curated by Luc Derycke. Galerie Tatjana Pieters, Ghent (BE)

Middle Gate Geel ’13, curated by Jan Hoet, de Halle, St-Dimpnakerk, Gasthuismuseum & Kunsthuis Yellow Art, Geel (BE)

Nouvelles Vagues, Artesur, Collective Fictions, Palais de Tokyo, Paris (FR)


2012

Sint-Jan, curated by Jan Hoet & Hans Martens, Sint-Baafskathedraal, Ghent (BE)


2011

Frames & Documents: Conceptual Practices, Selections from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection, Miami (USA)


2010

Membres fantômes, variations sur un thème de Peter Szendy, Galerie Xippas, Paris (FR)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Wereld & Beeld, CC Strombeek, Brussels (BE)

ABC Art Belge Contemporain, Le Fresnoy Studio National des Art Contemporains, Tourcoing (FR)


2009

Jeugdzonde, Over opus één en opus min één, LLS387, Antwerp (BE)

Something Else!!!! A selection of works from the S.M.A.K., MAN, Museo d'Arte della Provincia di Nuoro (IT)


2008

Kunst uit huis IV: Otto L. Schaap Content Art Consumers, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam (NL)


2007

Four4One, Old-Spinnerij de Hemptinne, Ghent (BE)

Icare, Musée de l'Art Wallon, Liège (BE)

Vanaf nu! Group exhibition installed by Ricardo Brey & Willem Oorebeek, concept & selection: Ulrike Lindmayr, LLS387, Antwerp (BE)

Killing Time, Exist Art, New York (USA)

Commitment, CC Strombeek, Brussels (BE)

Kick! A project by S.M.A.K. & A.Z. Maria Middelares, Ghent (BE)


2006

Zes kunstwerken op locatie, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim (NL)

Room with a view, The Bouwfonds Art Collection, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague (NL)


2003

Gelijk het leven is, Museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent (BE)

Art-Life, Galerie Cartwright, Ghent (BE)


2002

Onderstromen/Bovenstromen, Bruges 2002, NICC, Bruges (BE)


2001

Natura arte e meraviglia, Museo di Storia Naturale, Verona / Vicenza / Montebelluna / Treviso / Venezia (IT)

Après charbon, Genk (BE)

Belgian system, Tour & Taxis, Brussels (BE)


2000

3 Räume – 3 Flüsse, Hann, Münden (DE)

Dello spirituale nell'arte, Dai miracoli alle opera como reliquia, Galleria Civica di Torre Avogadro, Lumezzane / Villa Brunati, Desenzano del Garda / Rocca di S.Giorgio ad Orzinuovi / Chiesa di S.Antonio, Breno (IT)


1999

Trattenendosi, Biennale di Venecia (IT)

Ainsi de suite 3, Centre Régional d'Art Contemporain, Sete (FR)


1998

I TransAfrican art invitational exhibition, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida (USA)

Meeting Point, Galerie Lumen Travo, Amsterdam (NL)

ES98, III Salon internacional de estandartes, Centro Cultural, Tijuana (MX)

Tussenin / in between, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle (BE)

Door de smeerpijp, NICC, Antwerp (BE)

Voor het verdwijnt en daarna, S.M.A.K. in Watou (BE)


1996

Shelter, Foundament Foundation, Wolfslaar Park, Breda (BE)

Cuba siglo XX. Modernidad y sincretismo, Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias; Fundación La Caixa, Palma de Mallorca; Centre d’Art Santa Mònica, Barcelona (ES)

Arcangelo, Brey, Dessi, Palazzo Ducale, San Martino (IT)

Un certain sourire, Galerie Windows, Brussels (BE)

Universalis, 23 Biennial de Sao Paulo, Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo (BR)

De rode poort, Stedelijk Museum voor Aktuele Kunst, Ghent (BE)


1995

Quarters, Oude Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht (NL)

Caleidoscoop, Instituut voor Transculturele Ontwikkeling, Utrecht (NL)

Leonkart, citta del desiderio, Centro Sociale Leoncavallo, Milan (IT)


1994

The ideal place as destination, Haags Centrum voor Actuele Kunst, The Hague (NL)

Life is too much, Galerie des Archives, Paris (FR)

Beelden buiten, Tuin de Brabandere, Tiel (BE)

The spirit of the earth, Watari-UM Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (JP)


1993

X Mostra de gravura. Afro-América a contribuicao espiritual, Casa Romario Martins, Curitiba (BR)

Lorsque le miroir ne nous renvoie pas notre prope image, cela ne prouve pas qu’il n’y ait rien a regarder, Centre d’Art Contemporain Domaine de Kerguehennec (FR)


1992

Documenta IX, Kassel (DE)


1991

De cubanaase Renaissance, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam (NL)

Von dort aus: Kuba, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen (NL)

La década prodigiosa: plástica cubana de los 80, Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico, D.F. (MX)


1990

Kuba ok. Aktuelle Kunst aus Kuba, Städtische Kunsthalle Düsseldorf (DE)

Ponton Temse, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Ghent (BE)


1989

Contemporánea del Caribe, Casa del Caribe, Santiago de Cuba (CU)

Raices en acción, nuevos artistas cubanos, Museo Pape, Monclava (ES)

Jovenes artistas de la RDA y Cuba, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU); Neue Berliner Galerie im Alten Museum, Berlin (GDR)

Made in Havana, Museum of Contemporary Art, Brisbane; Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (AU)

III Bienal de La Habana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)


1988

Artistas cubanos en solidaridad con Nicaragua, Museo de las Américas, Managua (NI)

Pintura cubana actual, Capilla del Antiguo Hospital de Santa Cruz; Fundació Jaume Guasch; Ayuntamiento de Barcelona; Galería G.S.A. Barcelona; Club 24, Madrid; Galería Ponzano 16, Zaragoza; Sala Moreno Villa, Malaga (ES)

Raices en acción; nuevos artistas cubanos, Museo Carrillo Gil, Mexico, D.F. (MX)

Made in Havana, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (AU)

Signs of transition: 80’s art from Cuba, Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art (MOCHA), New York (USA)


1987

Raices cuIturales. Nueva Expresión del Arte Cubano, Ex-Convento del Carmen, Sala I, Mexico, D.F. (MX)

Tres artistas cubanos, (exposición colateral a la bienal Bantù), Zaire. The exhibition also traveled to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia.

Visiones del paisaje, Galería de la Universidad de los Andes, Casa Trovar, Mérida (MX)

XIX Bienal internacional de Sao Paulo, Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo (BR)


1986

Arte joven, Sancti Spiritus ’86, Sancti Spiritus, (CU)

Pintura cubana actual. Maestros de hoy, Museo de Arte Costarricense; Galería Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo, San José (CR)

Ejes constantes. Raices culturales, Galería Alternativa, Mexico, D.F. (MX)

II Bienal de La Habana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)


1985

I Salón de artes plásticas UNEAC (Award), Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana

Pintores cubanos, Galería La Acacia, Havana (CU)

De lo contemporáneo, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana; I.N.B.A., Mexico, D.F.

New art from Cuba: J.Bedia, F.Garciandia, R.Brey, Amelie A. Wallace Gallery SUNY; College at Old Westbury, State University of New York. The exhibition then traveled to North Hall Gallery, Massachusetts College af Art, Boston, Massachusetts; Montserrat School of Visual Art, Beverly, Massachusetts; The Plaza Gallery, State University of New York, Albany, N.Y.; Visual Art Department Gallery; State University of New York/College at Purchase N.Y. (USA)


1984

Cuba: young painting, Musée des Sept-Îles, Quebec (CA)

Arte contemporáneo ahora, Erindale College Campus art gallery, Toronto (CA)

Dibujantes cubanos, I.N.B.A., Mexico, D.F. (MX)

Por la libertad y la amnistía total, Maison des sciences de l’homme, Paris (FR); Asociación de Artistas Plásticos, Helsinki (FI); Tom Mann Theatre, Sydney; Galería Salón de Artes Plásticas Mexicanas,

Dos en uno o el espacio en blanco, Galería Habana, Havana (CU)

I Bienal de La Habana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)


1983

Plástica cubana contemporánea, Instituto Colombiano de Cultura Museo Nacional, Bogotá (CO)

Encuentro de jovenes artistas latinoamericanos, Galería Latinoamericana, Casa de las Américas, Havana (CU)

Por la libertad, muestra internacional de pintura en solidaridad con los prisioneros políticos de Uruguay (UR), Centro Artístico, Malmo; Konstnärcentrum, Stockholm (SE); Galería de Arte Ferrum Borsen, Gothenburg (SE); Fiera del mare, Genova (IT); Centro cultural de Auderghem, Brussels (BE)

Encuentro de grabado 1983 (Award), Sala Tespis, Havana (CU)

Premio de pintura Cristóbal Colón, Centro Cultural del Conde-Duque, Madrid (ES)


1982

Los novísimos cubanos, (Grupo Volumen I), Instituto Colombiano de Cultura, Museo Nacional, Bogotá (CO)

Salón permanente de Jovenes Artistas, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)

Pintura joven cubana, Galería Rafaela Padilla de Zaragoza, Sala Erasto Cortes, Puebla

Cuatro, Galería Habana, Havana (CU)


1981

Volumen I, Centro Internacional de Arte de La Habana, Havana (CU)

1er Salón de pequeño formato (Prize), Havana (CU)

Trece artistas jovenes, Galería Habana, Havana (CU)

Sano y sabroso, Centro de Arte 23 y 12, Havana (CU)


1980

Salón nacional de pintura y escultura Carlos Enriquez, Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana (CU)

1er Salón nacional Arístides Fernández (3rd Prize), Havana (CU)

XIX Premio internacional de Dibujo Joan Miro, Fundació Joan Miró. Centre d’estudis d’art contemporani, Parc de Montjuïc, Barcelona (ES)

I Trienal de dibujo Arístides Fernández, Sala Lalo Carrasco, Havana (CU)

Landschafts-Malerei aus Kuba, Kunsthalle Rostock, (GDR)


1979

Pintura fresca, Galería de Arte, Cienfuegos (CU)

Salón juvenil de artes plásticas (Prize), Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)


1978

VII Salón nacional juvenil de artes plásticas, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana (CU)

Exposición colectiva de dibujos, Galería de La Habana, Havana (CU)