Smithsonian Archives of American Art

 
Bedia, José (b. 1959)
Oral history interview with José Bedia, 1998 Feb. 13

An interview of José Bedia conducted by Juan A. Martínez 1998 Feb. 13 in Bedia's studio/home, Miami, Florida, for the Archives of American Art.

Bedia discusses his early inclination toward drawing and interest in cartooning; receiving rigorous academic training at San Alejandro Art Academy in Havana and being introduced also to non-western art; attending graduate school at the Instituto Superior del Arte, 1976-1981; participatingupon graduation in the Volumen I exhibition which was a turning point for Cuban artists; travel outside of Cuba to Budapest via Berlin, to New York, to an Indian reservation in the Southwest where he became acquainted with North American native art and artists, and to Angola with the Cuban military, where he came into contact with African roots of Cuban culture; moving to Mexico City and then to Miami; his art and inspirations; religion; his collection of African and American Indian art; and exhibitions he has participated in.