Derwin Leiva was born in Cuba in 1978 where music was part of his daily life. In 1995 he moved to Miami and in 2004 to Hawaii where he currently resides. He studied art at the Honolulu Museum of Art, Linekona School and completed his BFA with Sculpture concentration at the University of Hawaii Manoa (2018).
Though his work has been influenced by artists like Picasso, Boccioni, and Wifredo Lam, Cuban music has always been a constant backdrop to his work. Through the use of rhythm and motion in his work, he mirrors the experience of freedom found through Cuban music.
Leiva has participated in several international exhibitions, including International Biennale Barcelona, Spain and Biennale Internazionale D’Arte Contemporanea 2019 in Mantova, Italy. His work has been displayed at the MEAN (European Museum of Modern Art) and the Diocesan Museum Francesco Gonzaga.
His work has been published by Exquisite Arts Magazine, Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine, Art International Contemporary Magazine and several books like Important World Artist 3, Current Masters 4, Masters of Today and 100 Artist of the Future.
His work has been recognized internationally and most recently he received the “International Caravaggio Prize – Great Master of the Art,” “The International Botticelli Award,” Artexpo New York “Best New Exhibitor,” “The International Diego Velazquez Prize,” and was recognized by Associzione Socio Culturale EA Arte and Art International Contemporary Magazine as “Artist of the Year 2019.”
