LUISA MESA
About
Bio
Luisa Mesa is a Miami-based Cuban-American artist whose work explores contemplative abstraction through drawing, painting, glass, and mixed media.
She earned her BFA at Florida International University, where she concentrated in photography and painting. During that time she developed an intuitive, repetitive drawing practice that continues to shape the organic, meditative structures present in her work today.
Mesa’s work has been exhibited widely and is included in notable private, corporate, and hospitality collections, including the Four Seasons Dubai, Morgan Stanley, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, among others
Artist Statement
My work is a study of the quiet structures that shape inner experience. Through line, color, and organic geometry, I explore how patterns arise, shift, and find coherence. The forms are not predetermined; they emerge through attention, repetition, and a listening quality that guides my hand more than intention does.
I work on paper, canvas, wood panel, and glass because each surface carries a distinct way of receiving the mark. Paper offers intimacy and immediacy. Canvas allows for atmosphere and depth. Wood brings a grounded, tactile presence. Glass introduces luminosity and a sense of suspended space. Each medium influences how the line moves, how color settles, and how the work breathes.
I’m drawn to subtle atmospheres—soft color fields, fluid motion, quiet changes in density. These create visual environments that ask for slower looking, inviting the viewer to follow the movement of the line as it gathers, disperses, circles, or dissolves.
Emergence is central to my practice. Shapes develop much like thoughts or emotions: gradually, rhythmically, with an internal logic that reveals itself over time. While the work often echoes biomorphic or cosmological structures, these forms appear naturally rather than through illustration. They tend to arise when attention becomes steady and open.
I see each piece as a contemplative space. My intention is not to direct interpretation, but to offer an experience—a moment of quiet, a sense of recognition, or the subtle feeling of an underlying order becoming visible.
My practice is rooted in patience, subtlety, and the intimate relationship between hand, breath, and surface. It is a process of following the line toward deeper coherence and allowing the work to become what it needs to become.
Born
Havana, Cuba
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Education
2006 – B.F.A., Painting, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Professional Memberships
Phi Beta Kappa, Induction 4/2/2006
Phi Theta Kappa,Induction 3/2000
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Selected Awards and Scholarships
2022
Third Prize, “Florida: In Transformation” Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
2012
Finalist, “Saatchi Online Collage Showdown”
2011
Showcase Winner, Art Slant’s 5th 2011 Showcase
2010
Honorable Mention, “The Power of Self” International Competition, Artists Wanted
2009
First Prize
“Art 2009” Highlands Museum of the Arts, Sebring, Florida
Juror: Ken Rollins
2007-2010
Board Member of ArtCenter/ South Florida
2007
Juried Artist inResidence
ArtCenter/South Florida, Miami Beach, FL
Bestin Show
“Celebration 21” The Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, FL
Juror: Carol Damian
2001
Visual Arts Excellence Award
Honors Day 2001 – MDC, Miami, Florida
1999
Honors Scholarship Award
MDC, Miami, Florida
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Residencies
Art Center South Florida, 2007- 2011
Artist Residency, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Oasis of the Seas, 2010
Solo Exhibitions
2019
“They Are Everywhere” - John C. Favalora Museum, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida
2018
“Artwork of Luisa Mesa” – Sonesta Coconut Grove, CGAF Gallery, Coconut Grove, Florida
2016
“Spring Show” – Concept 5 Studios, Wynwood, Florida
2011
“Summer Show – A Solo Exhibition by Luisa Mesa”, CGAF Gallery, Coconut Grove, Florida
2010
“Introspections”, Highlands MOTA, Sebring, Florida
2009
"Meditations, Connections, Fragmentation", Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri
2006
“Full Circle: A Journey Within”, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
“Portals and Passages”, MVA Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
“Shared Thought, Collaborating with AI”, Columbia City Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2023
“Art and Objects”, MAC Fine Art, Delray Beach, Florida
2022
“About Women”, MAC Fine Art, Delray Beach, Florida
“Beyond the Woods”, Pinecrest Gardens, Miami, Florida
“Florida: In Transformation”, Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida
2020
“Expressions of a Pandemic”, CMN Artist Series, Coral Gables Museum, Coral Gables, Florida
2019
"Passage to Memory", MANO Fine Art in collaboration with Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home, Miami, Florida
“Beirut Art Fair 2019”, South Border Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Study For A Soap”, Arboyan Factory, South Border Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Open Discourse”, John C. Favalora Museum, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida
“Resonate: A Polyphonic Prospect”, Coral Gables Museum, Coral Gables, Florida
2018
“Beirut Art Fair 2018”, South Border Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Latin American Art in Beirut”, Arthaus International Gemmayzeh/South Border Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
“Reference Cited”, FIU Green Library, Miami, FL – Curated by Miguel Rodez
2017
“Dali & I”, MAC Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Artexpo New York”, Chal Maz Fine Art and DATG Concept, New York, NY
“Identity & Belonging: a Cuban Collective”, Wall Street Fine Art, Jacksonville, FL
2016
“Cuban Fried Chicken”, MAC Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2015
“Aqua Art Fair”/Art Basel, Cancio Contemporary, Miami Beach, Florida
“Drawing Excellence”, Miguel Rodez Art Projects, Miami, FL
“Dali and Me”, MAC Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Art Wynwood”, The McLoughlin Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014
“Spectrum Art Fair/Art Basel”, Current Art Group USA, Miami, FL
“Material Tales”, Kontempo Art, Coral Gables, FL
“Affordable Art Fair”, Cancio Contemporary, New York, NY
“Layers”, City Without Walls, Newark, New Jersey
“Summer Show”, Octavia Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
“Affordable Art Fair”, Cancio Contemporary, London, England
2013
“2013 National Juried Exhibiiton”, First Street Gallery, New York, New York– Juror Donald Kuspit
“Femalenergy 3”, Woodward Gallery, New York, New York
“Cuba Connection: Contemporary Cuban and Cuban-American Art”, Octavia Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
2012
“Context Art Miami”/Art Basel, Cancio Contemporary, Miami, Florida
“All About Art: Fine Art Fundraising Auction”, The Frost Art Museum,Miami, Florida
“3rd Annual Juried Exhibition”, Florida Museum For Women Artists, Deland, Florida
“Homage: Past Influences”, Target Gallery – Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia
“Summer Photo Show 2012”, The Lunch Box Gallery, Miami, Florida
“LAYERING: Barbara Strasen, Luisa Mesa”, Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
“Inside/Outside”, Octavia Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
“10th National Juried Show”, Ceres Gallery, Chelsea, New York– juror Samantha Rippner, Curator, The Metropolitan Museum, NYC.
2011
“Small Wonderz”, Pulse Art Fair/Art Basel, Miami, FL – curated Alette Simmons-Jimenez
“Small Wonderz”, Wynwood Art Fair, Miami, FL – curated Alette Simmons-Jimenez
2010
“Aqua Art Fair”/Art Basel, Cancio Contemporary, Miami Beach, Florida
“Arts For A Better World”/Art Basel, Soho Studios, Wynwood, Florida
“Verge Art Fair/”Art Basel”, Artformz, The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club, Miami Beach, Florida
“Femmedomania”, Art Rouge Contemporary, Miami, Florida
“Small Wonders Art Salon”, Artformz, Miami, Florida
Arteaméricas Miami, Ninoska Huerta Gallery, Miami Beach, Florida
“Self: Expressed”, Open House Gallery, New York, NY
“Love, Infatuation or Lust”, Hardcore Art Contemporary Space, Miami,Florida
2009
“Beyond Painting”, Highlands Museum of the Arts, Sebring, Florida
“First Juried Exhibition of the Inaugural Year”, Florida Museum for Women Artists,Deland, Florida
“Art 2009”, Highlands Museum of the Arts, Sebring,Florida
“Abracadabra”, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood,Hollywood, Florida
2008
“Paraphernalia: A Nationally Juried Exhibition”, Art Basel – The Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida
Curators: Peter Boswell, CarolDamian, Bernice Steinbaum
“Just Then Mischief Made Its Way Outside: Newly Juried Artist Show” ArtCenter South Florida, Miami Beach, Florida
“Latin Views 2008: ABiennal Exhibition”, Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut
“Far from Home: theMigration Experience in Latin America and the Caribbean”, IDB Cultural Center,Washington, D.C.
“The Room Underneath”, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida
GuestCurators: Carol Damian, Terrence Riley, Rene Morales, Claire Breukel,Jose Perez
“Extended Boundary: Latin American and Caribbean Artists in Miami, IDB Cultural Center Gallery, Washington, D.C.
“Abracadabra”, Art and Culture Center, Hollywood, Florida
2007
“SafetyZones”, Art Basel, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL
“The Surface – Beneath and Beyond”, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
Curatedby Jose W. Perez
“Controlled Excess”, Miami Beach City Hall, Miami Beach, FL
Curatedby Emilie Keldie
“Deviant Behavior”, Artformz, Miami, FL
“Infinitely Connected”, The Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, FL
Juror: Claire Breukel
2006
“Rituals – Perceptions and Visualizations”, Art Basel, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL
“Breakfast at the Bakehouse”, The Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, FL
Juror: Terrence Riley
“The Big Deal”, The Locust Projects, Miami, FL
“Art Off The Main”, Puck Building, New York, N.Y.
“Exit Inside Out”, Museo Universidad Sagrado Corazon, San Juan, Puerto Rico
“Hispanic Heritage Month 2006”, Florida State Capitol Rotunda, Tallahassee, Florida
“The Surface and What Lies Beneath”, Estefano Arts Center, Miami, Florida
Curatedby Jose W. Perez
“Kontemporary Karma”, Miami-Dade College Interamerican Campus Art Gallery, Miami, Florida
Curated by Doris Meltzer
“Art Miami 2006”, Juried Artist - Diaspora Vibe Gallery showing in International Currents, Miami Beach, Florida
2005
“OutCastes”, Art Basel, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL
“Master’s Mystery”, Art Basel, Miami Beach, FL
2004
“Five”, Art Basel, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL
“Sankofa”, West Palm Beach, Florida
“International Artexpo”, New York, NY
2003
“Strata: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, Art Basel, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL
“Parallel Horizons”, Instituto di Cultura, Aruba, WI
“Moving Inside Out, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Grenada, WI
“Metamorphosis: Redefining the Change”, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida
“Culture Embraced; Evolution Through Transitions”, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida
“Women and Values”, Latino Art Museum, Pomona, CA
2002
“The Mayor’s Rotating Art Exhibit”, Miami City Hall, Miami, Florida
2001
“Group Show”, Brickell Village Gallery, Miami, Florida
“El Mes de la Hispanidad”, Brickell Village Gallery, Miami, Florida
2000
“Future Visions II”, O and Y Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida
1999
“Visions”, Euro America Galleries, New York, NY
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Public Collections
Permanent Collection, Miami-Dade Public Library - North Dade Regional Branch, Miami, Florida
Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida
Selected Corporate Collections
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Four Seasons Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Morgan Stanley, New York, NY
Hamilton On The Bay, Miami, Florida
Florida East Coast Realty, 2020 Ponce de Leon Building
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Oasis of the Seas
Pinnacle Housing Group, Postmaster Building, Miami,Florida
Levine Children’s Hospital, Charlotte, NorthCarolina
Sunset Harbor Condominium, Miami Beach, Florida
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Selected Private Collections
Samantha Brabender, Oakville, Ontario
Mariel Greenstein, Arlinton, Virginia
Sandra Abbo and Dr. Daniel Benatar, Chicago,Illinois
Aida T. Baladi, Coral Gables, Florida
Joanne and Scott Jacobson, Miami Beach, Florida
Marylen Mann, St. Louis, Missouri
Dr.Carol Damian, Coral Gables, Florida
Susanne Widmer, Zurich,Switzerland
Jana Sigars-Malina, Coconut Grove, Florida
Dr. Frank Simo, St.Louis, Missouri
Joseph Hacmon, Ramat Gan,Israel
Frank and Rosalie Forrest, Charlotte, North Carolina