Zé Angel
biografiaZé Angel in his studio
Zé Angel (Holguín, Cuba, 1992) is a Cuban visual artist and art educator who has been based in Rio de Janeiro since 2022.
In 2023, he was a scholarship student at the Parque Lage School of Visual Arts (EAV Parque Lage). He later co-founded the RADAR School of Visual Arts, located in downtown Rio de Janeiro. He holds a degree in filmmaking from the International Film and Television School of Cuba (EICTV, 2022) and in painting from Cuba’s Professional Academy of Arts (2011).
Using emergency thermal blankets—materials originally tied to crisis, survival, and humanitarian aid—as his primary medium, Zé Angel’s paintings anchor themselves in the Caribbean territory to investigate issues of migration, geopolitics, identity, and syncretic faith.
Zé Angel has taken part in exhibitions at FGV Arte (Rio de Janeiro), Centro Universitário MariAntonia – USP (São Paulo), and Galeria Inox (Rio de Janeiro). His works are part of the institutional collection of UNESP (São Paulo State University).
Education
2024
Degree from MAM Course for Educators – Identity and Education, Museum of Modern Art (MAM Rio). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2022
Degree in Documentary Directing. International Film and Television School of Cuba (Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión, EICTV). San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba.
2017
Degree in Audiovisual Communication, Higher Institute of Arts (Instituto Superior de Artes de Cuba). Havana, Cuba.
2011
Degree in Painting, Professional Academy of Fine Arts (Academia Profesional de Artes). Cuba.
Solo Exhibitions
2025
Clareira [Glade]. Galeria Inox, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Rubens Takamine.
2023
Odontologia para o Homem Novo [Dentistry for the New Man]. Instituto Cervantes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Edgar Ariel.
Group Exhibitions
2026
Fenômeno Solar – ARUA SUMMIT [Solar Phenomena – ARUA Summit]. ARUA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Jean Carlos Azuos.
Casa-Território – Território-Casa [Home-Territoy – Territory-Home]. Centro MariAntonia – USP, São Paulo, Brazil. Curated by João Felipe Ferreira.
Luminares [Luminaries]. Galeria Refresco, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Daniela Avellar.
2025
Rato na Ocupá: exposição rato pequeno formato. Espaço Ocupá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Adiar o Fim do Mundo [Postponing the End of the World]. FGV Arte, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Ailton Krenak and Paulo Herkenhoff.
Política da Boa Vizinhança [Good Neighbor Policy]. Espaço Capacete, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Bruna Costa and Rubens Takamine.
Sul – realismo margeado. UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Curador Negro.
Abraço Coletivo [Group Hug]. Lanchonete Lanchonete, Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2024
Natividade, Centro de Artes Calouste Gulbenkian, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Júnior Negão.
Paralela 22, Galpão 808, Engenho de Dentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Júnior Negão.
2023
Paralela 22, Galpão 808, Engenho de Dentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Curated by Júnior Negão.