Shelley and Donald Rubin began acquiring Cuban art in 2008. The collection quickly grew and as of 2010 is comprised of almost 400 contemporary works. Cuban art expands the scope of the Rubins’ collection while maintaining a commitment to the preservation of cultures and to art that inspires appreciation for sacred and isolated places around the world.
Recent Acquisitions encompasses three decades of work by some of Cuba's foremost artists, the majority of whom still live on the island. Employing various mediums and methods that range from the dramatically tactile sculpture of Alejandro Aguilera to the repurposed bus window donning neon lotto numbers and aluminum foil by Alberto Casado, many of the artists take inspiration from what the environment—literally, culturally and politically— provides them. The rich and varied visual vocabulary the artists employ reflects the multi-cultural and diverse ethnic make up of Cuba’s population. Recent Acquisitions provides just a small taste of Cuban cultural expression and celebrates these artists and their significant contributions.