Tomas Oliva

Artist Biography

Year(s) Activity Institution Location
2023-2025 Master's Degree in Contemporary Symbolic Production and Sociocultural Mediation State ISA. University of the Arts Kiev, Ukraine
1988-1989 After Graduate Studies State Fine Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1978-1984 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) State Fine Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1976-1977 Continuing Education Superior Institute of Art Havana, Cuba
1972-1976 Bachelor Fine Arts (BFA) School of San Alejandro Havana, Cuba
1958 Born --- Havana, Cuba

Solo Exhibitions

Year(s) Title Venue Location
2025 SORAYA: THE ISLAND Atelier Grediaga Gallery, Office of The City Historian La Habana, Cuba
2014 HAY UN PRESAGIO EN EL AIRE Museo Oswaldo Guayasamín, Office of The City Historian La Habana, Cuba
2010 NIHIL OBSTAT TO-TO Nkisi Project Miami, USA
2008 CONEXIONES Galeria Lisboa 60 Mexico City, Mexico
2006 IN PURIS NATURALIBUS Patricia Cameron Fine Art Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
2004 LITTLE DAYTIME PARANOIA Patricia Cameron Fine Art Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
2000 MARBLE PLAYERS The Fountainhead Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
2000 CUBAN PERSPECTIVE X 2 State Capitol Building Olympia, Washington, USA
1997 FEATURING SCULPTURES Private Show Seattle, Washington
1991 ESTADOS 23 & 12 Art Gallery Havana, Cuba
1989 PROPUESTA I 10 de Octubre Art Gallery Havana, Cuba
1994 GRADUATION EXHIBIT State Fine Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine

Group Exhibitions

Year(s) Title Venue Location
2025 "CODEMA National Sculpture Exhibition 40th Anniversary" San Francisco de Asís Convent Havana, Cuba
2013 "What the Tide Brought in" Art Fair @ Doral 2013, Carlos Albizu University Doral, FL, USA
2009 No Son Todos Los Que Estan... Nkisi Project Miami, Florida, USA
2008 MOLAA Awards'08 Museum Of Latin American Art (MOLAA) Long Beach, California, USA
2008 CafeVIII: The Journeys of Cuban Artists Temple University Rome, Italy
2008 Artistas Latinos en el Noroeste Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Downtown Seattle Seattle, Washington, USA
2007 Art Now Fair Patricia Cameron Gallery at The Clearamont Hotel Miami, Florida, USA
2006 I Biennial of Postmodern Art "Posmopolis" -- Veracruz, Mexico
2006 West Edge Sculpture Invitational Benaroya Hall and The Harbor Steps, Downtown Seattle Seattle, Washington, USA
2005 America, the Colors of the Continent; Arte Latino from the Pacific Northwest Tacoma Community College Seattle, Washington, USA
2004 REMEMBRANZA : REMINISCENCE Kinsey Gallery, Seattle University Tacoma, Washington, USA
2004 Inmigracion y painting La Casa Elizalde Barcelona, Spain
2003 Latino Hispanic Heritage Celebration Bellevue Art Museum Bellevue, Washington, USA
2003 Cinco de Mayo Fine Art Competition Pier 62-63, Seattle's Waterfront Seattle, Washington, USA
2002 Casa Latina Annual Auction Hyatt Hotel Seattle, Washington, USA
2002 5 Springs The Fountainhead Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
2002 Vistas del Amor La Casa de Artes Seattle, Washington, USA
2001 Bellevue Art Museum's Art Auction Bellevue Art Museum Bellevue, Washington, USA
2000 Altares Phinney Art Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
1997 Aspects of Cuba, Guatemala and Mexico in Seattle La Llorona Art Gallery Chicago, Illinois, USA
1996 "The Fiestas Patrias'96 Visual Art Exhibit" Opus De Artes Gallery at The Seattle Center Seattle, Washington, USA
1995 Works on Paper Opus De Artes Gallery Tacoma, Washington, USA
1995 Fifteen Ex Soviet Union Artists Hermitage Art Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
1995 Hermitage ART Union Grand Opening Exhibition Hermitage Art Gallery Seattle, Washington, USA
1995 "The Fiestas Patrias'95 Visual Art Exhibit" Opus De Artes Gallery at The Seattle Center Seattle, Washington
1992 "Saciedad de las Pinturas Muertas" Santa Teresa Cultural Center Mexico City, Mexico
1991 Death Alive House of Mexico Havana, Cuba
1991 Juntos y Adelante Young's Creator House Havana, Cuba
1991 IV Biennial of Havana, Contemporary Sculpture Hall Culture House "10 de Octubre" Art Gallery Havana, Cuba
1990 Nuevagerona Plaza Four Finalist Contest's Projects Exhibition Government Exhibition Center Isle of Pines, Cuba
1989 Promoting Young Values Central Exhibition Hall Kiev, Ukraine
1986 II Biennial of Havana Contemporary Cuban Sculpture Hall The Mills's Garden Exhibition Center Havana, Cuba
1985 Professor's Annual Exhibit Leopoldo Romanach Gallery Havana, Cuba
1984 Rushing Youth Leopoldo Romanach Gallery Havana, Cuba
1984 The SFAIK First Exhibition of Top Students Main Art Exhibition Hall of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1983 Annual Contest Exhibit State Fine Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1979 Annual Contest Exhibit State Fine Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1978 First Triennial of Small Sculpture --- Havana, Cuba
1977 First National Hall of Small Sculpture --- Location
1976 "Slave Rebellion of Triumviratus Contest's Selected Projects Castillo de la Fuerza Havana, Cuba

Placed Works In Public Places

Year(s) Title Venue Location
2019 "Our Everyday Aphrodite", marble 7th Ayia Napa International Sculpture Symposium Ayia Napa, Cyprus
2015 "The Silence of the Sirens", bronze Private residency outdoor Installation Miami, Florida, USA
2013 "Full Of Hope", granite 3rd International Sculpture Symposium Kaniv Kaniv, Ukraine
2011 "Prometheus", granite, stoneware, rope Private residency outdoor installation Lummi Island, Washington, USA
2011 "Common Aphrodite", marble 4th International Sculpture Symposium "Sculpture Park Legend" Penza, Russia
2010 "Atlantis", marble 3rd International Sculpture Symposium "Sculpture Park Legend" Penza, Russia
2010 "Ganesh", stoneware Private residency Kirkland, Washington, USA
2008 "Broken Frida", granite I Footprints Symposium City of Nashua Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
2005 "Frida Carrying a Marble Player", granite 7th Symposium Andres Institute of Art Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
2001 "Frida Inquebrantable", limestone, steel Cementerio de Carretas International Sculpture Park Putaendo, V Region, Chile
1999 "Frida", granite India International Symposium Masters Stone Carvers Adichunchanagiri School of Medicine and Research Center Mandya District, Karnataka, South India
1999 "The Way", mahogany St Andrews Parish front Doors Sumner, WA, USA
1998 "Bareboned", marble First International Symposium of Master Stone Carvers Monarch Contemporary Art Center Tenino, WA, USA
1991 Three Sculptures for the French Film "La Impure" "La Impure" filmed at ICAIC Havana, Cuba
1990 Commissioned Bust of Jesús Menéndez La casa-museo de Jesús Menéndez; Calle Lombillo entre Boyeros y Ermita municipio Plaza, La Habana, Cuba
1989 Commissioned Bust of Dr. S. Allende House of Chile Havana, Cuba
1989 Commissioned Bust of Poet Taras Shevchenko Museum Taras Shevchenko Borshev, Ukraine
1988 Commissioned Bust of P. Lafarge Foreign Language Institute P. Lafarge Havana, Cuba
1988 Commissioned Bronze Statue of Dr. S. Allende Dr. S. Allende Hospital Havana, Cuba
1987 Commissioned Environmental Sculpture for INGEBIOT Genetic & Biotechnology Research Center Havana, Cuba

Participation in International Symposiums

Year Details & Artwork Specifications Venue / Park Location
2019 Seventh International Sculpture Symposium Ayia Napa. Title of the work: “Our Everyday Aphrodite” (Marble), 3m x 1m x 94cm Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park Ayia Napa, Cyprus
2013 Third International Sculpture Symposium Kanev. Title of the work: “Full of Hope” (Granite), 5’ x 5’ x 3’ Permanent Public Exhibit Sculpture park “Kniazha Ghora” Kanev, Ukraine
2011 Fourth International Sculpture Symposium AUTUMN INSPIRATION PENZA 2011. Title of the work: “Common Aphrodite” (Marble), 9 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit Sculpture park “Legend” Penza, Russia
2010 Third International Sculpture Symposium AUTUMN INSPIRATION PENZA 2010. Title of the work: “Atlantis” (Marble), 9 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit Sculpture park "Legend" Penza, Russia
2008 1st Footprints International Symposium of Nashua. Title of the work: “Frida Rota” (Broken Frida), Granite, 9 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit at the corner of Temple and Court Streets Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
2005 7th International Symposium Andres Institute of Art 2005. Title of the work: “Frida Carrying a Marble Player” (Granite), 10 feet tall Andres Institute of Art International Sculpture Park Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
2001 I International Symposium Sculpture Cementerio de Carretas. Title of the work: “Frida Inquebrantable” (Sandstone, steel), 10 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit at Sculpture's Park Cementerio de Carretas Putaendo, V Region, Chile
1999 International Symposium Stone carving Adichunchana Giri. Title of the work: ”Frida-India” (Granite), 10 feet tall International Sculpture's Garden Adichunchana Giri School of Medicine Mandya District, Karnataka, South India
1998 International Symposium Master Stone Carvers. Title of the work: “Bare Boned” (Alaskan marble), 7 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit at the International Sculpture Park at Monarch Contemporary Art Center Tenino, Washington, USA

Grants & Awards

Year Honor / Distinction Institution / Event Location
2006 Honors For Excellence, Contribution And Achievements In The Advancements Of Fine Arts And Education (October 28, 2006) Centro Cultural Hispano Americano And The Spanish & Portuguese Studies Of The University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA
2003 Second Prize "Cinco de Mayo Fine Art Competition 2003" Pier 62-63 Seattle's waterfront, WA, USA
1990 Honorary Mention Nueva Gerona Park and Plaza Contest Island of Pines, Cuba
1987 First Prize Contest for the monument at the Salvador Allende Hospital Havana, Cuba
1986 Honorary Mention Topes de Collantes Sanatorium Ambiance Project Contest Havana, Cuba
1985 First Prize Alexander Pushkin monument project contest Havana, Cuba
1983 Third Prize State Fine Arts Institute of Kiev Spring Contest Kiev, Ukraine
1978 Second Prize State Fine Arts Institute of Kiev Spring Contest Kiev, Ukraine
1977 Awarded Scholarship to continue Art education State Art Institute of Kiev Kiev, Ukraine
1976 Graduated First Honors San Alejandro Fine Arts School Havana, Cuba

Publications

Commissioned Monumental-Public Art Works

Year Artwork & Dimensions Venue / Client Location
2015 "The Silence of the Sirens", 7 feet tall, bronze, sandstone Private residency outdoor Installation Miami, USA
2011 "Prometheus", 6 feet tall, granite, stoneware and rope Private residency outdoor installation Mercer Island, Washington, USA
2009 "Ganesh", 6 feet tall, stoneware Private residency Kirkland, Washington, USA
2008 "Frida Rota" (Broken Frida), granite, 9 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit at Temple and Court Streets Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
2005 "Frida Carrying a Marble Player", granite, 10 feet tall Permanent Public Exhibit at Andres Institute of Art Sculpture Park Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
2001 "Frida Inquebrantable", limestone, steel, 10-foot tall Permanent Public Exhibit at the Cementerio de Carretas International Sculpture Park Putaendo, V Region, Chile
2002 "Angels Caring Sacred Hart of Mary", basswood, 5 x 4 x 0.5 foot Private residency Sumner, Washington, USA
1999 "Frida", granite, 10-foot tall Permanent Public Exhibit at the International Sculpture's Garden Adichunchana Giri School of Medicine Mandya District, Karnataka, South India
1999 "The Way", Honduran mahogany, 10 x 8 foot St. Andrew Catholic Church front doors Sumner, Washington, USA
1998 "Bare-boned", Alaskan marble, 7-foot tall Permanent Public Exhibit at the International Sculpture Park at Monarch Contemporary Art Center Tenino, Washington, USA
1991 Three sculptures for the French film “Le Impure” Filmed at ICAIC Cuba
1990 Commissioned Portrait Sculpture, Heroic size of Jesus Menendez Sugar Mill Holguin, Cuba
1990 Commissioned Portrait Sculpture, Heroic size of Jesus Menendez House Museum Jesus Menendez, Lombillo St. between Boyeros & Ermita municipio Plaza, Havana, Cuba
1989 Commissioned Portrait Sculpture of S. Allende, Heroic size House of Chile calle 13 entre D y E (dismantled) Vedado, Havana, Cuba
1989 Commissioned Bust of Poet Taras Shevchenko, bronze, Heroic size T. Shevchenko Museum Borshev, Ukraine
1988 Monument to Pablo Lafargue, bronze, concrete, 8-foot tall Pablo Lafargue Foreign Languages Institute Havana, Cuba
1988 Statue of S. Allende, bronze, 8-foot tall S. Allende Hospital Havana, Cuba
1986 "Biomass & Energy", wood, bronze INGEBIOT (The Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Center) Havana, Cuba
1984 "Moon-Railroad", steel, 7 x 9 x 5 feet Ambiance Sculpture for the Railroad Union at “Casa Mayor” Havana, Cuba