Wilian Duarte, was born in Santa Clara in the central region of Cuba in 1962. He grew up in a farm near the Yabu’ valley, the river that gives its name to the area, a very fertile region and populated at that time by large palm groves and beautiful groves , this natural environment awoke in him from a very young age the fascination with nature and began to draw everything that his eyes , plants , animals saw and during his adolescence never he turned away from drawing and began to paint tempera in oil self-taught through the guidance of an old book “ Treatise on Painting” by Leonardo Da Vinci and personal study of works of art and especially of nature, never had the opportunity to study in an art academy , although it was always his dream , for which reason he studied at the provincial school of physical education “ Manuel Fajardo” and graduated in 1982, working seven years as Sport coach at that time never stopped studying art. At the age of 20 he met the plastic artist Luis Mora , who motivated him to continue painting landscapes and portraits. He began to participate in salons and exhibitions from 1987 to date , he made several personal and group exhibitions, reaching some awards and mentions. His artists work has been a membert of the UNEAC [ Union of Cuban writers and artist since 1989 and was awarded “ El niño de la bota “ medal for cultural collaboration with the city of Santa Clara. In his works , trees take center stage , sometimes together with human beings, sometimes the elderly or children with close-up views through their own details and colors , reflecting the indissoluble dependence on each other. He currently lives and works in Tampa , Florida , USA.
Wilian Duarte