IN HIS PORTRAITS, DEL POZO RECREATES THE MYTHICAL ATRIBUTES OF EACH OF THE ORISHAS

WITH THE AID OF LEADING CUBAN ANTHROPOLOGIST LYDIA CABRERA,

WHO WROTE THE PROLOGUE TO THE EXHIBITION CATALOG.

EACH OF THE GODS IS SHOWN IN A RESTFUL POSE, SORROUNDED BY ARTIFACTS SYMBOLIZING ASPECTS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES.

IMAGES OF THE CATHOLIC SAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH THE ORISHAS ARE ALSO IN EACH ILLUSTRATION.

MANY GENERATIONS OF SLAVES CONTINUED TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION UNDER THE GUISE OF THE CHRISTIAN LITURGY.

THIS WAS THE BIRTH OF A NEW SYSTEM OF BELIEFS KNOWN AS "SANTERIA" OR "LUCUMI"

WHICH TODAY IS PRACTICED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

 ALBERTO DEL POZO'S ORISHAS ARE MOST FASCINATING AS A BLEND OF EUROPEAN STYLE AND AFRO-CUBAN ICONOGRAPHY WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL FEEL FOR PATTERN.

THE WONDERFUL USE OF PATTERNS IS HIGHLY PERSONAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REFLECTS THE AFRICAN QUALITIES OF BOLD CONTRASTS

THE ORICHA COLLECTION PAYS HOMAGE TO THE PRIMARY GODS AND GODDESSES THAT COMPRISES THE AFRO-CUBAN RELIGION.

ORIGINALS ARE EXHIBIT AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

WE AT AFRO-FUSION.COM ARE HUMBLE AND HONORED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE ARTIST WITH THE VISION FOR

THE BLEND OF THE RELIGIOUS AND THE ARTISTIC COMPONENTS OF SANTERIA.

OUR FEATURE ARTIST OF THE MONTH

ALBERTO DEL POZO 1945-1992