Galería Pedro Esquerré Facts for Kids

The Galería Pedro Esquerré is a special art museum and center located in Matanzas, Cuba. It's a place where you can discover amazing art, especially modern Cuban art. This gallery is managed by the Provincial Council of Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage of Matanzas.

Quick facts for kids
Galería Pedro Esquerré

Established	1960
Location	Matanzas Cuba
Type	Museum, Art Center
Collections	Contemporary Cuban Art
Owner	Provincial Council of Fine Arts, Matanzas

A Look at the Gallery's History
- The Historic "La Vigía" Building
- The Gallery's Home Since 1960
Exciting Art Exhibitions
Gallery
See also

A Look at the Gallery's History

The Galería Pedro Esquerré is housed in a very old and important building. It's known as "La Vigía." This building was constructed a long time ago, between 1880 and 1830. It was first planned to be a Customs House.

The Historic "La Vigía" Building

The building was once called The San José de la Vigía Battery. It later gave its name to the nearby square, Plaza de la Vigía. This building is very valuable because of its history and unique design. It features arcades built in an eclectic style. This means it mixes different architectural styles.

The building is part of a group of five important 19th-century buildings in Plaza de la Vigía. These include the famous Sauto Theater and the Museo Provincial. "La Vigía" is seen as one of the most important buildings in Matanzas. It is officially recognized as a historical heritage site.

The Gallery's Home Since 1960

Since 1960, the Galería Pedro Esquerré has used the spaces in "La Vigía." It serves as a museum and art center for the Provincial Council of Fine Arts in Matanzas. Today, the building also has homes on its upper floor. There is even a coffeehouse in the basement.

Since 1985, a special publisher called Ediciones Vigía has also been on the ground floor. Ediciones Vigía creates unique handmade art books. It is the only publisher of its kind in Cuba.

Exciting Art Exhibitions

The Galería Pedro Esquerré is a lively place for art. It often hosts important events and shows. For example, it was the location for the National and Provincial Awards for Restoration and Conservation in 2020 and 2021.

Honoring Pedro Esquerré

The museum is currently led by Juan Francisco González. He is the director of the Provincial Council of Visual Arts in Matanzas. The gallery was named after a talented artist from Matanzas, Pedro Esquerré. He was a painter known for his work "The trial of Osiris." This mural was even admired by Che Guevara in 1960.

Showcasing Cuban and International Art

The museum regularly puts on exhibitions of contemporary art. These shows feature both Cuban and international artists. The gallery also works with many other cultural activities. It has been a venue for the famous Havana Biennial several times.

In 2019, the gallery helped with a big international art project in Matanzas. It was called "Rios intermitentes." This project was presented by María Magdalena Campos-Pons. It included works by well-known artists like Carrie Mae Weems, Melvin Edwards, Paul Stephen Benjamin, Alicia Henry, and Jamaal B. Sheets.

Reopening After the Pandemic

Like many places, the gallery had to close during the Covid pandemic in 2020. But it happily reopened in 2021. The first exhibition after reopening was called "Seguimos en combate" (We Continue in Combat). It was put together by Alexander Lobaina. This show featured many talented local artists. These included Erich González Triana, Alejandro Vega Baró, Adversi Alonso, Alexis Plasencia García, and Adrián Socorro.

In May 2022, the gallery worked with The Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. They presented an exhibition called "Vest + Menté." This show featured works by Swiss-Cuban artist Daniel Garbade. His large painted clothes told stories about his family from Matanzas.