Raúl Esteban Ortega
a colonial-era tenement in Havana, Cuba
Raúl Esteban Ortega lives in a cramped, historic tenement in Havana, surrounded by the echoes of the past. He spends his days meticulously restoring cars in an auto body shop, with a dedication to precision and detail that serves as homage to his abuela and her need for the little home repairs she depends on him for. Despite his remarkable ability to remember faces, he's haunted by his inability to recall names, a nagging discomfort that seeps into his artistic pursuits.
About
Obsession
The elusive moment before a name surfaces.
Voice
Rust-laden metal under a Cuban sun.
Artistic Medium
Restored vehicle panels transformed into canvases
Technique
Welding faces into abstract forms
Influences
His abuela's worn courtyard, Havana's rusted old cars, fading colonial architecture
Materials
Scrapped car metal, old auto paint, welding torches
Scale
Car door-sized canvases
Selected 1 time · Last: March 16, 2026
