Reynier Llanes, born in 1985 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, embarked on his artistic journey at the city's school of art, Instructores de Arte. He dedicated four years to his studies, culminating in his graduation in 2004. Under the guidance of Juan Miguel Suárez, a highly esteemed realist artist in Cuba, Llanes honed his skills.
In 2005, he relocated to Havana, a thriving center of art and culture. This move marked the continuation of his studies and his collaborative ventures with fellow artists, with the city's museums serving as abundant sources of inspiration.
In 2007, Llanes seized the opportunity to emigrate from Cuba and settled in the United States, initially in Naples, FL. In Naples, he introduced his work through a significant exhibition titled "Strange Visitor" at the Kapo Maestro Gallery. His journey continued in 2009 when he moved to Charleston, SC, where he had the privilege of becoming an artist in residence at the Jonathan Green Studios.
Llanes' talent was recognized when he received a "first purchase award" for a piece that now resides in the art collection of the city of Charleston. This honor came in 2011 at the Moja Art Festival Juried Exhibition Award. In 2012, Oxford America acknowledged him as one of the "New Superstars of Southern Art." Llanes' art evolved, deeply influenced by the rich southern culture, and he began collaborations with various museums and art centers. His work was featured in a traveling exhibition, "The Vibrant Vision Collection," at the Morris Museum in Augusta, GA, and the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Llanes is an avid art collector, focusing on works by Cuban artists, particularly those hailing from his native province of Pinar del Río. A selection of works from his collection was exhibited at City Gallery in Charleston in 2013 and at the Art Museum in Myrtle Beach in 2015.
In 2015, Llanes relocated to Miami with his family, seeking to leverage the city's international art market and vibrant cultural life while being closer to his home country. South Florida welcomed him into a community of intellectuals, collectors, and fellow artists, fostering his involvement in their cosmopolitan scene. His first solo exhibition in Miami, titled "Preserving Cultural Heritage," took place at Miami Dade College West and showcased a large collection of coffee paintings.
The year 2017 marked his introduction to Bill Meek of the Harmon Meek Gallery in Naples, FL. In the same year, Llanes presented his "Marble Trace" series at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, leading to an artist in residency opportunity the following year. In 2022, he held a solo exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art and participated in the Arts and Poets event at the DeLand Art. Recently, he unveiled the solo show "Timeless Origins" at the Polk Museum of Art in August 2023.
Llanes' art has found a permanent home in the Denver Art Museum in Denver, CO, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in ME, Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, the Snite Museum of Art in South Bend, Indiana, the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, FL, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Museum of Art in DeLand, FL, and the Museum collection of Franklin G. Burroughs - Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC.
His art delves into topics steeped in folklore, intricately linked with the Cuban landscape. Llanes often portrays this landscape with a magical lens, offering new interpretations. Conceptually, his works explore narrative dynamics, crafting fables and allegories. Over time, he has shifted from incidental details to reinterpretations of settings and images, maintaining the essence of each story he presents.
Looking ahead, Llanes remains dedicated to working with institutions and communities, exploring diverse facets of human nature and experimenting with various art mediums and techniques. Inspired by great artists who came before him, he aspires to not only create but also to encourage and inspire emerging artists, providing a platform to express the ineffable through art.