Orlando Rafael Quevedo was born on January 1, 1970, in Holguín, Cuba. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in the fine arts. In 1982, he was admitted to the renowned Vocational School of Arts and later continued his studies at the Professional School of Fine Arts in Holguín. He completed his formal education at the Superior Institute of Art in Havana in 1993. That same year, proud of his heritage and culture, he arrived in the United States determined to pursue his artistic career and fulfill his dreams.

At the age of 8, he won first prize at the National Celebration of the History of Cuba Competition. One of the first works in which one can observe his promising talent for painting was an oil portrait of his grandmother. The portrait was displayed for many years in one of the most important art school museums in Cuba, and we now have the honor of presenting this significant and deeply personal artwork at Galería Esperanza.

With over 40 years of experience, Quevedo has developed a distinctive style known as Magical Realism, where reality and fantasy blend seamlessly in each piece. Orlando Quevedo was the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival Official Artist. His works, featured in more than 100 prestigious galleries worldwide, tell unique stories that transport viewers to worlds where the plausible and the implausible intertwine sublimely.

Inspired by masters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, and Rembrandt, Quevedo pays homage to these great artists by merging their techniques to evoke light, drama, and movement. His artistic voice has grown through decades of experimentation, revealing his fascination with how light, emotion, and narrative come together on the canvas.

A typical Orlando painting may include representations of works by renowned artists such as Chagall, Degas, Lautrec, Miró, Monet, Mucha, O’Keeffe, Picasso, and Van Gogh.