Miami

Cuban Artist Jailed for Artwork Displaying Work in Miami Beach

A Cuban artist, who was recently released from a Cuban prison for his controversial artwork, is now showing his work in Miami Beach.

On Thursday evening, people will begin filing in at the Market Gallery for Cuban artist El Sexto. He's premiering "Pork," the first exhibition of his work in the United States.

Two pigs painted with the words: Fidel and Raul. This is the performance art that landed Danilo Maldonado, known as El Sexto, in a Cuban jail.

He said he spent 10 months in jail for painting pigs with the names of Cuba's communist leaders. He was locked up without trial in Cuba's Valle Grande Prison. On Thursday, El Sexto hopes to do the performance that landed him behind bars.

He said his art is for people in Miami to see the realities of Cuba. His work caught the attention of the Human Rights Foundation and Cuban rock band Gorki, who campaigned for his release from prison.

El Sexto said "Pork" will display pieces he's done in the United States, raw sketches he created in prison, as well as secret photos and videos inside jail.

He also freely criticizes President Obama's normalizations with Cuba. He said it's strange that a president would legitimize the Castros as a government. But he said he is thankful for the opportunity to share his images freely.

El Sexto's exhibition will run from Feb. 25 through March 19 at South Beach's Market Gallery.

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