Juan andres milanes benito

Juan Andrés Milanés Benito

Juan Andrés Milanés Benito (born 1978, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba) is a Cuban contemporary visual artist based in Oslo, Norway. His multidisciplinary practice includes sculpture, installation, and mixed media, often exploring themes of power, material culture, environmental issues, and socio-political narratives. Milanés Benito has exhibited internationally and is represented by prominent galleries in Scandinavia.

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Early life and education

Juan Andrés Milanés Benito was born in 1978 in Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. He began his artistic education at the Elementary School of Art in his hometown and later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Escuela Wifredo Lam, Isla de la Juventud. He continued his studies in Norway, completing a Master of Fine Arts at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Statens Kunstakademi) in 2009, after attending the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art, NTNU, in 2007. Milanés Benito’s work often challenges perceptions of reality and explores the boundary between the familiar and the surreal. His sculptures sometimes resemble “readymade” objects transformed into art, inviting viewers to question what defines art and reality. Through the use of replicas, visual counterfeits, and meticulously crafted forms, he examines themes of cultural identity, social disparity, and collective consciousness. His practice emphasizes the labor and skill involved in art-making, highlighting the artist’s role and the dynamics of the contemporary art world. His work aims to provoke reflection, foster dialogue, and encourage viewers to engage with both personal and societal questions.

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Artistic practice

Milanés Benito’s work often explores the discrepancy between perception and reality. His sculptures sometimes resemble “readymade” objects—everyday items transported into the gallery and transformed into art—inviting viewers to question the nature of art and reality. His pieces evoke the sensation of encountering surreal, otherworldly scenes, blending the familiar with the absurd. Using visual counterfeits, replicas, and meticulously crafted forms, he addresses cultural disparities, collective consciousness, and the varying roles of individuals within society. A recurring concept in his practice is “counterfeiting culture,” reflecting the duality of perspective and what he calls multifaceted cognition. Labor is central to his work; the time, skill, and endurance required to complete each sculpture become a metaphor for the artist’s role and the dynamics of the contemporary art world. Milanés Benito’s practice emphasizes art as a tool for reflection, social awareness, and dialogue, offering accessible opportunities for viewers to engage with both personal and societal questions.

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Exhibitions

Milanés Benito has presented solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. His work has been shown in galleries, museums, and public spaces around the world, as well as at major biennials, including the Dakar Biennial (2018) and the Havana Biennial (2024).

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Public art and institutional projects

In addition to gallery exhibitions, Milanés Benito has contributed to public art projects commissioned or supported by cultural institutions. His work has been integrated into permanent or semi-permanent installations associated with public spaces and infrastructure, reflecting an engagement with site-specific contexts and social environments.

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Representation

Juan Andrés Milanés Benito is represented by Galleri Riis, a contemporary art gallery with locations in Norway and Sweden, which has presented his work in exhibitions and art fairs.