Born: 1967
Birth place: Havana, Cuba
Education: Havana Superior Institute of Design, 1991
Known for: Conceptual art, painting, installation, and photography
Style: Contemporary Art

Notable works

Solo: 2015 – Black Diamonds: New Works by Francis Acea. Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York, US
Group: 2012 – Every Exit Is An Entrance: 30 Years of Exit Art. NY, US

Awards

01.3 ArtPace International Artist in Residency. San Antonio, Tx, US. 2001
Ludwig Stiftung für Kunst und Internationale Verständigung, Aachen, Germany. 1998
Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada. 1997

Biography

Francis Acea (né Abel Santiago Francis Acea; born 1967) is an artist, publisher, designer, and serial entrepreneur known for his inspiration by what The Language of Objects in the Art of the Americas describes as “the often anonymous creations of provisional art.” His artistic explorations span various media and special interests, including painting, installation, and photography. Central to Acea’s artistic inquiry is the intersection of art and economics, particularly the dynamics of the Art Market. Acea has exhibited internationally, solo and group, and currently performs as President of One Sun Media, publishing online and in print. As of 2026, Acea lives and works between Miami, FL and New York, NY.

Media properties

2022 – Coca Cola del Olvido – Gift Shop. Presents, Objects, Art, Multiples.
2021 – One Sun Media – Boutique media agency. Brands, Digital Marketing, Publications.
2020 – Academia Libre – Online Academy, and Social Network.
2020 – Unión Constitucional – Cuban Constitutional History Online Education.
2020 – Opinión Cubana – Online Newspaper focused on Cuban Politics and Economics.
2004 – Miami Art Guide – Regional Arts Marketing Agency and Online Magazine.

Solo art exhibitions

2015 – Black Diamonds: New Works by Francis Acea. Merton D. Simpsom, New York
2010 – No Money, No Glory. Holster Projects, London, UK.
2008 – D.B.A Joe. Panamerican Art Projects, Miami, FL.
2007 – D.B.A nobody. Kunsthaus Miami, Miami.
2007 – D.B.A Francis Acea. Magnan Emrich Contemporary, NY
2006 – Safety Box. PM Gallery. Miami, FL
2003 – Reality. Karpio+Facchini Gallery. Miami, FL
2002 – Sweet Home. Espacio Aglutinador. Havana, Cuba
2001 – Mousepads and Screensavers. ArtPace, San Antonio, Tx
— Summer Days. Frehrking Wiesehöfer Gallery, Köln, Germany
2000 – A day like any other day. 7th Havana Biennale.
— Living la vida. Sinpalabras’ studio. Havana, Cuba. 2000
1999 – This is a Provisional Fence. Keep Out. Center for the Development of the Visual Arts, Havana
1998 – Antennas: Network transmission / Taxi Limosina. Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen / Kunsthaus Berlin, Germany. 1998
1997 – Hiking Raffle. Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, Canada
— Reinforced Concrete. Center for the Development of the Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba. 1997
1996 – Sugar-water and the Provisional Show. Center for the Development of the Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo y Diseno (MACD), San Jose, Costa Rica
1995 – Una de Cada Clase. Next generation show. Center of Art and Design. Havana. Cuba. 1995
1991 – Cuatro acentos para una exhibicion. Casa del Joven Creador, Havana, Cuba
1990 – Nunca nadie muere. Posters. Ernest Hemingway Museum. Havana, Cuba

Group exhibitions

2017 – The object and the image (This is not a chair either), Concrete Space Projects, Miami, US
2014 – Iconomania. Merton D. Simpson Gallery, 2014, New York
2012 – Every Exit Is An Entrance: 30 Years of Exit Art. NY
2010 – smART. Freedom Tower. Miami, US.
2010 – Past is History, Future is Mystery. Freedom Tower. Miami, US.
2010 – A sense of place. Carol Jazzar Contemporary. Miami, US.
2009 – Gods and Rituals. Holster Projects, London, UK.
— Primary Colors. Panamerican Art Projects, Miami, FL. 2009
2008 – AURUM, Gold in contemporary Art, Centre PasquArt, Biel Bienne, Switzerland.
2007 – Killing Time: An exhibition of Cuban artists from the 1980s to the present. Exit Art Underground. NY.
2006 – PULSE ART. Featured Artist Installation. Miami, FL, US.
— Moving Image. Alonso Art. Miami, FL, US. 2006
2003 – Stretch. Power Plant Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
— With eyes of stone and Water. Exhibition on tour
— Gallery 3,14., Norway. 2004
— Ciurlionis National Art Museum, Lithuania, 2003
2002 – With eyes of stone and Water. Helsinki City Art Museum (Tennis Palace), Helsinki, Finland. 2002
— La Huella Multiple. International Engravers exhibition, Havana, Cuba. 2002
— FITAC. VIII Foro Internacional de Teoría de Arte Contemporáneo. 2002
— Prophets of Boom. Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden. 2002
— Suspended Animation. Karpio+Facchini Gallery, Miami, FL, US. 2002
— Atravesados. Fundación Telefónica, Madrid, Spain. 2002
2001 – I’m Cuba / Double Play. Tirana Biennale. Tirana, Albany.
— Short Stories. Fabbrica del Vappore Art Center, Milan, Italy. 2001
2000 – La conjuncion de la nada. Center for the Development of the Visual Arts, Havana, Cuba.
1999 – Cuba presente! Barbican Centre, London, UK.
1998 – Thinking Aloud. Hayward Gallery. Exhibition on tour
— Candem Art Centre, London, UK. 1999
— Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK. 1998
— Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK. 1998
— Entropy at home. Suermondt-Ludwig Museum, Germany. 1998
— The campaign against living miserably. Royal College of Art, London, UK. 1998
1997 – The Russian Mountain. Troisieme Manifestation Internationale Video et Art Electronique. Champ Libre, Montreal, Canada.
1995 – Una de cada clase. Next Generation Show. Art and Design Centre, Havana, Cuba.
1991 – Salon 150 Anniversary of Cuban Photography. IV Havana Biennial
1989 – Salon Construcción de la imagen fotográfica. III Bienal de La Habana, Fototeca de Cuba
1988 – Revolution by Design. Art & Design College. London, UK
1987 – Salon de la Nueva Imagen Fotografica. Asociacion Hermanos Saiz. Havana, Cuba

Awards

Bacardi 150 Anniversary Cuban Artist Series. 2011
Cubadisco Award. Nominated Best Design. 2002 (Ernán López-Nussa – From Havana to Rio)
Cubadisco Award. Nominated Best Design. 2001 (All Stars – La Rumba Soy Yo)
Cubadisco Award. Best Design. 2009 (Sinpalabras – Orisha Dreams)
01.3 ArtPace International Artist in Residency. San Antonio, Tx, US. 2001
Ludwig Stiftung für Kunst und Internationale Verständigung, Aachen, Germany. 1998
Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada. 1997

Books

Sullivan, Edward J. The Language of Objects in the Art of the Americas. Yale University Press. 2007
Linda Pace, Jan Jarboe, Eleanor Heartney. Dreaming Red, Creating ArtPace. 2003
Atravesados, Deslizamientos de identidad y genero. Fundacion Telefónica, May 2003
Prophets of Boom. Staaliche Kunsthalle Baden Baden. Baden Baden, Germany. 2002

Catalogues

AURUM, Gold in contemporary Art, CentrePasquArt Biel Bienne, Switzerland. 2008
Short Stories. Comune di Milano, Milan, Italy. 2001
Havana Biennale. Catalogue. 2000
Trabajando pa’l ingles. Barbican Center, London, UK. 1999
This is a provisional Fence. Keep Out. Across Havana in a Limosina. Havana, Cuba. 1999
Thinking Aloud. Hayward Gallery Publishing London, UK. 1999
The campaign against living miserably. Royal College of Art, London, UK. 1998
The love order. Ludwig Forum fur Internationale Kunst. Aachen, Germany. 1998
Reinforced Concrete. Havana, Cuba. 1997
Utopian Territories. New Art from Cuba. Catalogue. Vancouver, BC, Canada. 1997

Press

Heather Corcoran. Art.sy Editorial. “Francis Acea”.
Irina Leyva. Art Nexus. “Francis Acea”. p. 168. No. 67. Vol 6. Miami FL. 2007
Dinorah Perez-Rementeria. Arte al Dia Internacional. p. 105. No 121. Miami, US. 2007
Alejandra Villasmil. Arte al Dia Internacional. p. 117. No 119. Miami, US. 2007
Olivier Cayron. Art Scenes Magazine. p. 64-65. No 18. Paris, France. 2006
Marisol Martell. Art Nexus. “Merrill Lynch Arteamericas”. p. 114. No. 61. Vol 5. Miami FL. 2006
Carlos M. Luis. El Nuevo Herald. “Francis Acea y la realidad cotidiana”. January 25. Miami, FL. 2004
Lilian Fontana. “The New Wynwood Art District Circuit”. Arte al Dia News. p. 9. Miami, FL. 2004
Miguel Muniz. Milenio. Diario de Monterrey. “Gabinete Ordo Amoris”. Interview. p. 46. Monterrey. MX. April 6, 2002
Dan R. Goddard. “No sir, Mr. Castro, it’s not art: A Cuban duo recycles things in thought-provoking ways”. San Antonio Express. January 2, 2008
Cuauhtemoc Medina. “El Ojo Breve. Una isla cada vez mas isla.” Reforma Newspaper, January 3. p. 4c. Mexico DF. 2001
Quinones, Paul. Short Stories: La Fabrica del Vapore, Milano, Flash Art. 2001
Walter Robinson. “Havana, Art Capital”. Artnet Magazine. 2000
Hilda Rodriguez. “Espacios para una comunicacion deseada”. Revista Arte Cubano, No. 3, p. 13. Havana, Cuba. 2000
Ibem. Frencis Fernandez. p 67
Antonio Eligio (Tonel). Por la Habana en Limosina. Revista La Gaceta de Cuba, No. 6, p. 22. Havana, Cuba. 1999
Grant, Simon. Imagination at full stretch. Evening Standard, May 12, London, 1999
Ian Hunt. Review. Thinking Aloud. Art Monthly Magazine. No. 2. UK. 1999
Greess, Gabriela. “Überlebenskunst”, Süddeutsche Zeitung (July) Germany. 1998
Naomi Blum. Naomi Blum visited Thinking Aloud with Art Monthly critic Patricia Bickers. Art Monthly Magazine. UK. 1998
Nelson Moya and Luis F. Quiroz. Interview. Revista Fanal (MADC), No. 14, p. 24. San Jose, Costa Rica. 1996
Molina, Juan Antonio. “Ordo Amoris. Hacia un diseño pragmatico”, La Gaceta de Cuba, No. 4. 1996
Alberdi, Virginia. “The Next Generation”, Arte Cubano No. 2. 1995