Wifredo Lam

(1902–1982)
Wifredo Lam was born in Cuba, studied in Spain, and moved to Paris in 1938, where he joined the Surrealists and became friends with Picasso, Breton, and other leading figures of the movement. A restless traveller, Lam spent time in Haiti and across the Caribbean, drawing deep inspiration from African and Oceanic art, as well as the spiritual traditions of his homeland. His fantastical hybrid creatures inhabit a magical world of his own creation—an intricate personal mythology that bridges Surrealism, modernism, and Afro-Cuban heritage. Lam’s unique visual language continues to captivate collectors and museums worldwide.