The Michael Margulies Artist Agency

Upon graduation in 1945, Carbonell received the title of Professor of Drawing and Sculpture. He then traveled to France, Italy and Spain to work and study. Upon returning to Cuba, Carbonell received many national honors and awards and in 1954 received his first international award for his Capillaina stone carving sculpture “Fin de una Raza” at the Third Bienal Hispanoamericana de Arte (Barcelona, Spain).

In 1959, upon arriving in New York, Carbonell moved from his classical and religious period in Cuba during the 1940’s and 1950’s through the commencement and development of his modern expression of the 1960’s culminating in Madison Avenue, then pinnacle of the art world. In 1963, he celebrated the first of his seven “One Man Show” at the renowned Schoneman Gallery in New York City. During the 15 years that the Schoneman Gallery exhibited Carbonell’s work, Carbonell was the only sculptor among the artists exhibited by the gallery, which included Picasso, Chagall, Braque, Monet, Matisse, Gaugin, and Renoir.

In 1976, at a formal ceremony at the White House, Carbonell presented “The Bicentennal Eagle” as his gift to the United States of America. The Sculpture is presently part of the Gerald Ford Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Bio continues below)

Manuel Carbonell (October 25, 1918 – November 10, 2011) was a Cuban artist considered among the most important Latin American Masters. Carbonell, Wifrido Lam and Agustin Cardenas belong to a generation of Cuban artists who studied at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro in Havana, Cuba between 1915 and 1950. Other students of the Academia during this period include Mario Carreno, Amelia Pelaez, Victor Manuel and Fidelio Ponce. At the Academia, Carbonell studied sculpture under the guidance of Jose Sicre, a former student of Bourdelle, Rodin’s favorite disciple.

The following year Carbonell created the “Madonna of Fatima”, his first bronze monument in America: 26-foot high statue located in Washington, New Jersey. This statue is one of the largest works cast in bronze in America during the twentieth century. In 1987, The Miami Gallery, Beaux Arts Gallery, began representing Carbonell. In 1990, Carbonell moved to Pietrasanta, Italy, where he had his studio for many years, to carve the “Statue of Cuban Apostle Jose Marti”, a 7-foot marble statue for the San Carlos Institute in Key West, Florida.

One of Carbonell’s most impressive commissioned works of art is the 53-foot bronze monument “The Pillar of History” located at the Brickell Avenue Bridge, Miami, Florida. Created in 1992 the monument reflects the history of Miami’s and its settlers. The monument consists of a 36-foot high bronze bas-relief column that graphically narrates the lives of the Tequesta Indians, Miami’s first inhabitants and features 158 figures. At the top stands a 17-foot bronze sculpture, “Tequesta Family” depicting a Tequesta Indian warrior aiming an arrow to the sky with his wife and child at his side. A more recent monument “El Centinela Del Rio”, a 21-foot bronze and alabaster sculpture is located at Tequesta Point in Brickell Key, Miami. He was also the creator of the 15-foot sculpture “Horse and Rider” a Burt Reynolds’ commission for his former theater.

Carbonell’s modern sculptures, like those of great masters, have a unique and unmistakable style that makes his work excel and is easily identifiable. Carbonell imparted to his sculptures a feeling of universal beauty, which transcends the moment and can be appreciated by present and future generations.

His modern sculptures are what throughout the ages have been considered as classical and not mere forms of expression of untrained free association to satisfy the moment. It is this unique mastery and personal style, what creates his transcendence and permanence in the art world.

His modern monumental works, created in his modern and distinctive personal style, are part of important art collections and public spaces, “Couple in Love” adorns the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, “Lovers” is found at the entrance of the Carbonell Condominium, named in the artist honor, “Torso” formerly at Selby’s Five Point Park, downtown Sarasota is now at the von Liebig Art Center in Naples, Florida, and “New Generation” in Xujianhui Park, Shanghai, China. The sculpture “Amantes” now graces the grounds of the Hotel Bristol, Buenaventura, Republic of Panama.

Carbonell sculptures are found at important museums and art collections such as The Frost Museum, Miami, Florida, The Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, California, The Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, Florida, “The Swire Art Trust”, Lefrack Collection, The Nemeroff Collection, The Finkle Collection and in personal collections such as those of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Burt Reynolds, Kay Ballart, Carlton Varney, Eleanor Kosow, Wayne Huizenga and many others fine art collectors.

Carbonell is also the namesake and major benefactor of the Carbonell Awards, highest achievement award for the theater in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Carbonell’s inexhaustible vision and his ever changing-style were the product of a brilliant talent and academic background. Ceaselessly searching for the essence of the form and the absence of details, he struggled to provide a sense of strength, monumentality and simplicity to his work. Carbonell recently passed away at 93 years of age where he continued to work daily in his studio.

For inquiries  regarding works by Manuel Carbonell
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