Today we’d like to introduce you to Maikel Dominguez.
Hi Maikel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My Story
I was born and raised in Cuba, where art became central to my life from a very young age. I studied at the University of Arts (ISA) in Havana, which gave me a solid technical foundation and introduced me to a deeper understanding of visual expression. After completing my studies there, I continued my artistic education at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden—an experience that profoundly expanded my perspective and strengthened my practice.
Growing up in Cuba meant living under a political system where freedom of expression is limited. Art became both a refuge and a way to preserve my own voice. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave the country and start over in Miami as an exiled artist. Rebuilding my life here has been both challenging and transformative, but it has also given me the freedom to create without restriction.
In Miami, I have continued to develop my work across painting, sculpture, and jewelry, while also working professionally in fine art restoration. My restoration work has enriched my artistic practice, giving me a deeper understanding of materials, conservation, and craftsmanship.
My journey has been marked by resilience, movement, and reinvention—from Havana to Stockholm to Miami. Each chapter has shaped the way I see the world and the way I create. Today, my work reflects that personal history and the ongoing search for meaning, identity, and beauty.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has certainly not been a smooth one. Growing up in Cuba meant facing constant limitations—restricted access to materials, opportunities, and freedom of expression. Pursuing art in that environment required resilience and a deep commitment to create despite the obstacles.
Emigrating was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I first left Cuba for Sweden, where I had to rebuild everything from the ground up: a new language, a new culture, and a life far away from my family. Three years later, I moved again—this time to Miami—and I had to begin that process all over. Each move brought its own challenges, from adapting to a new country to establishing myself professionally and personally once again.
The emotional weight of leaving my family behind has been one of the most difficult parts of my journey. Distance and separation shape you in a way nothing else does, and it has pushed me to stay focused, to honor the sacrifices involved, and to keep moving forward.
Despite these challenges, each stage strengthened my perseverance and helped shape the artist and person I am today. Every obstacle became part of my foundation and my motivation to continue creating and growing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, and jewelry. My practice is grounded in craftsmanship, technical knowledge, and a deep respect for materials—something that comes from my professional experience in fine art restoration. This background has taught me that every detail matters and that true creation requires intention and mastery.
For me, art must be built on knowledge, respect, and passionate dedication. Especially today, when the idea of “art” is often distorted or diluted, I hold a firm belief: if you look at something and feel that anyone could have made it, then it is not art. Art demands depth, discipline, and the kind of commitment that leaves a real trace of the artist’s life inside the work.
I also believe that art is a form of magic—energy concentrated into an object. When an artwork is created with purpose, mastery, and emotional truth, it becomes more than a physical piece. It becomes a vessel that carries intention, memory, and power. That transformation is, to me, the essence of art.
What sets my work apart is the intersection of disciplines and experiences that have shaped me: my academic training in Cuba and Sweden, my life in exile, the precision of restoration, and the craftsmanship embedded in jewelry-making. All of these threads come together in pieces that I hope feel intentional, alive, and spiritually charged—objects that hold meaning and endure.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, I want to continue developing a body of work that explores the idea of love as an inexhaustible narrative. I am deeply interested in revisiting classical themes and entering a more intentional dialogue with the great masters—studying their emotional structures, their visual languages, and the timeless human questions they explored. My goal is to reinterpret those traditions through my own experience and contemporary sensibility, creating works that feel rooted in history yet alive and relevant today.
In the near future, I plan to bring these ideas together in a cohesive solo exhibition presented in an alternative space—somewhere that allows for intimacy, experimentation, and a more personal encounter with the work. I envision a show where painting, sculpture, and jewelry coexist and create a unified emotional environment.
Ultimately, my focus is on growth: pushing my craft further, refining my voice, and creating work that honors the past while speaking powerfully to the present.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maikeldominguez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maikel_dominguez_/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/a7FcqS3eDHU?si=BEyVoFvt1leFNw7m
