Center for Cuban Studies

If you didn’t catch our CHOCO exhibit, you still have a chance to view some of his works during the extension of the MAFEREFÚN III exhibit. Reception will be held from 6-8PM next Thursday, June 4th at 20 Jay St, suite 301

Maferefún is a Yoruba greeting and blessing used in Afro-Cuban spiritual tradition. 45 years after our first such exhibition, CCS’s Cuban Art Space begins our summer-long exploration of this theme by honoring one of Cuba’s great artists, who died April 16 in Havana. Choco first came for an exhibit in 1981 and this exhibit and sale draws on our large collection of his works. Works by the following artists have also been added:

Julio Barbon Davis “Barbón”
Sandra Dooley
Alicia Leal
Manuel Mendive
José Garcia Montebravo
Julian Espinosa Rebollido “Wayacón”:

We hope you’ll stop by for the last First Thursday before October!

MAFEREFÚN III: African Spirituality in Cuban Art opened last night at CCS and will be on view through June 27th during open hours. We hope you’ll come see the show!

THURSDAY, MAY 7 6-8PM 20 JAY ST SUITE 301
OPENING RECEPTION — MAFEREFÚN: AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY IN CUBAN ART

Maferefún III: African Spirituality in Cuban Art is dedicated to Choco’s memory. On view May 7–30, 2026, this exhibition draws on our own collection of his works on paper — each one a testament to the artist we were privileged to know, to exhibit, and to love. Forty-five years after we first welcomed him through our doors, we celebrate him still.
Descanse en paz, Choco.

The reception is free and open to the public and on view during open hours Tuesday-Saturday 1-6PM

The Cuban people will never forget the Bay of Pigs invasion. And we should not either!

We’re mourning the loss of the great Eduardo Roca “Choco” here at CCS along with the rest of his admirers and loved ones. Choco came to the United States for the first time invited by the Center for Cuban Studies along with Nelson Dominguez in 1981. He had his first US exhibition at Westbeth Gallery as a part of FIRST LOOK: 10 YOUNG ARTISTS OF TODAY’S CUBA in collaboration with CCS. The original invitation is pictured here. Descanse en paz, Choco!

CCS will celebrate his work in our next exhibit. Stay tuned for details.

We’re excited to have you this weekend! Come visit us at 20 Jay St, Suite 301 Saturday and Sunday between 1-6PM to see our show GATOS CUBANOS - CUBAN CATS and shop our gift shop of Cuban wearable art 🐈🌺

The Human Cost of U.S Sanctions Belly of the Beast’s Liz Oliva Fernández and Drop Site’s Ryan Grim recently visited the William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana where they spoke with the ...

Gatos! 🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛

Thank you for coming last night. We loved hearing which cats were your favorites and were happy to be joined by Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Yuri Gala López.

GATOS CUBANOS will be up until May 2nd. Come visit us Tuesday-Saturday between 1-6PM

First Thursday is back! And we’re really excited for this show… CATS - GATOS CUBANOS opens at CCS this Thursday, April 2nd.

To say that our Executive Director is a cat lady is an understatement. She’s been collecting works of art from Cuba since 1969, much of them depicting cats, her favorite animal. We’re proud to continue exhibiting Cuban art amidst the current crisis and we are grateful to those of you that visit CCS with curiosity and admiration. Thank you!

Come visit us at 20 Jay St, Suite 301 between 6-8PM this Thursday. If you can’t make it, visit us during open hours to see the show.

🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈

We love having you all in our space! First Thursdays are the best. Thank you for bringing us curious an engaged art lovers. If you missed the show, come on in to see it! We’re open Tuesday-Saturday from 1-6PM