Américo Cruz
Américo Cruz, born into a large family on the outskirts of Havana, spent his childhood between the fields of Quivicán and the colorful dreams he sketched on any medium he could find. Later settling in the La Salud neighborhood, he made a living doing odd jobs—cutting cane, carting goods, cooking—while creating a dreamlike world on recycled materials, populated by characters with wide eyes and fingers joined like helmets, bathed in a sky studded with improvised stars.
Cruz was part of the “Art Brut CUBA” exhibition at the Collection de l’Art Brut in 2025.
For decades, he remained unknown, decorating the interiors of the houses where he worked. It was only at the age of 80, in the 1970s, that a collective of artists, “Insunsa,” noticed him and invited him to exhibit his work. Despite this late recognition, Américo Cruz remained true to his vision, indifferent to the fashions and expectations of the art world. His house in La Salud, covered with his paintings, became an informal museum, a testament to his prolific creativity.
After a long illness, he died in 1990. His house, poorly maintained, collapsed, taking with it most of his work. Only a few drawings and photographs were saved, thanks to the efforts of local artists.