José Bedia was born in La Havana, Cuba. Studied at the National School of Fine Arts “San Alejandro” and at the Art Institute of La Havana.
A selection of his exhibitions since 1985: "New Art from Cuba: José Bedia, Flavio Garciandía, Ricardo Brey", Amelie A. Wallace Gallery, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, New York/The Plaza Gallery, Visual Art Department Gallery, /North Hall Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, USA. Em 1989 participou na Terceira Bienal de Havana, em 1994, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Filadelfia, "InSite94: A Binational Exhibition of Installation and Site Specific Art". San Diego Train Station, San Diego, California, 20° São Paulo Bienniale, Museum of Modern Art, São Paulo, Brazil. Em 1995 with Carlos Capelán, was at Saint Clair Cemin, XLVI Venice Bienniale, Giudecca 34.
In1988 was awarded the Prize Bienniale of Union of Writers and Artists Critics of Cuba (UNEAC) and in 1994 the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, NewYork, EUA.
José Bedia’s works are often personal abstracts relating to his experience and world view as a Palo Monte initiate. The Afro-Cuban religion imbues his art with glimpses into an anthropomorphic realm where animals and humans share the same spirit, learning and making mistakes together. Each work always contains fragments of phrases that demystify the abstract forms into tangible meanings and lessons.
