Biography


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Carlos Enrique Prado is a visual artist from Cuba, based in Miami, Florida. He is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC/IAC) based in Geneve, Switzerland. Throughout his artistic career, he has explored various visual art media, with a notable focus on ceramic sculptures and public art, which have earned him recognition.

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Carlos graduated from the San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts in Cuba in 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, earned in 2002, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree, which he obtained in 2008, both from the ISA University of Arts of Cuba, specializing in sculpture and ceramics. Prado has an extensive academic background in the field of ceramics. He served as a faculty member at the ISA University of Arts of Cuba for a decade. Since 2014, he is a professor of ceramics at the University of Miami (USA), where he also manages the ceramics studio operations.

Carlos Enrique has gained recognition for his accomplishments in the field of ceramics, having won multiple awards at Ceramics Biennials such as the Biennial of Ceramics of Havana (Cuba) and International Ceramics Triennial Elit-Tile (Dominican Republic). His artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at prestigious art institutions, museums, and galleries throughout America and Europe, and is held in notable private and public collections. His works are featured in museum collections, including the National Museum of the Cuban Contemporary Ceramics of Havana and the Ceramics Research Center at the ASU Art Museum in Arizona, and have been published in important art books and art magazines. Prado has also shared his extensive expertise in ceramics as a visiting artist across multiple prestigious universities and art centers such as Arizona State University, University of Southern California, Midwestern State University, University of Mary Washington, and the University of Alabama. Through these engagements, Prado has presented his mastery in the realm of ceramics, leaving a lasting impact on aspiring artists and scholars in the field. 

Although Carlos Prado's creative pursuits extend across various mediums such as sculpture, drawings, paintings, photographs, digital art, installations, interventions, and performances, his artistic passion centers around ceramic sculpture. The ideas behind his works reflect an exploration of classical themes translated into contemporary paradigms and aesthetics. Through this process, the human figure is both employed and dismantled, resulting in a unique visual representation of classical subjects in modern times. 

Carlos' latest works, also inspired by classical culture, are created through the use of both digital modeling and ceramic 3D printing tools. While he had previously created ceramic sculptures that incorporated elements from classical statues, his adoption of digital modeling technology has allowed him to create a larger body of work with more intricate designs and complex compositions. In particular, Prado has effectively employed clay 3D printing technology, which is still relatively a new technique, pushing the boundaries of ceramics beyond the traditional practices. 

His public artworks are another important area in which Carlos Enrique has achieved significant results, which includes notable projects such as the monument to Dulce Maria Loynaz, located in the City of Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain, and the President Reagan equestrian monument, commissioned by Miami-Dade County for the Tropical Park, Miami, Florida. One of the most recently finished large-scale public sculptures is the Medley City Hall monument "Rising Above the Horizon", located in the Town of Medley, Florida. His public artworks have established him as a prominent figure in the field of public art. 

In addition to the public portrait monuments mentioned earlier, Prado has also created numerous portrait busts for museums and private collectors. For example, he sculpted the busts of Alicia Alonso and Ernesto Lecuona for the Museum of Dance in Havana. Prado is known for his great ability to capture in his portraits not only the physical resemblance, but also the psychological essence of the subject. This attention to detail and depth makes his work highly valued by both owners and viewers alike. 

For two decades, Carlos Enrique has been a professor of sculpture and ceramics, teaching a range of courses, including studio practice for art majors, figure sculpting, drawing, and various levels and techniques of ceramics. He has also supervised and advised students on their diplomas and served on numerous thesis committees. Over the years, he also has organized and curated many student shows. Prado started his teaching career at ISA University of the Arts of Cuba, where he worked for 10 years and achieved the rank of assistant professor. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer of ceramics at the University of Miami in Florida. In addition to teaching at these institutions, he has taught multiple courses and demonstrations at other universities, such as Midwestern State University and the University of Mary Washington, The Royal University College of Arts in Sweden, as well as artist demonstrations at the NCECA annual conferences.  

In his role as a full-time professor at the University of Miami, Carlos has taken on the responsibility of managing the ceramics studio. This includes a range of duties such as supervising the day-to-day operations of the studio, ensuring proper functioning of equipment, troubleshooting any issues that arise, coordinating kiln schedules and executing electric and atmospheric firings, preparing glazes using raw materials, and keeping inventory up to date. Carlos has successfully overseen these tasks and more as part of his commitment to the university. Before, while at ISA University of Art of Cuba, Prado served as head of the sculpture department at the School of Visual Arts, which encompassed areas such as 3D design, ceramics, wood and stone carving, architectural design, metalwork, and bronze casting. 

Carlos remains dedicated to both his artistic practice and his role as a professor. He strongly believes that art should be connected to the needs of society, which is why he is currently exploring ways to integrate his artistic and teaching careers with the idea of service. This commitment to service has become an important objective of his work, and he continues to pursue opportunities to create meaningful connections between his art, his teaching, and the broader community.

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