Renowned painter and fashion designer José Luis González Fuentes dies in Havana

The recognizedpainter and Cuban fashion designerJosé Luis González Fuentes He died this Friday in Havana, on the eve of his 74th birthday.

A note from the Caricatos Artistic Representations Agency, of which he was a part, announced the news of thedeath of the Cuban creator, although he did not specify the causes.

“It is with great regret that we report this afternoon the sad news of the death ofa fashion legend, a visionary whose talent left an indelible mark not only on the industry but also on all those who had the pleasure of knowing him,” said thepublished statement by the institution on Facebook.

Caricatos highlighted that “with his limitless creativity and passion for fashion,” González “not only transformed the way we dress, but also the way we understand art and body expression.”

According to the note, “each of his creations was a masterpiece, a testament to his genius and his dedication to beauty and innovation.”

González was born in Perico, in the province of Matanzas, in April 1950. He lived there until he was 20, when he moved to Havana to study at the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, from which he graduated in 1975.

He was the creator of theModarte company and was part of the agency's catalog and artistic committeeCaricatures, promoter of Cuban artistic talent.

Dedicated for more than 50 years to the world offashion, the Cuban artist worked for decades in the Light Industry, after his beginnings in the Alquitex textile factory.

While there he began designing costumes, linking his creations with his passion for painting. Thus, she created her first collection with hand-painted cotton fabrics, which “became her trademark,” highlights an article in the magazineCubaPLUS.

In 1997 he began working as a decorator at the Habana Libre hotel and became involved in the catwalks. González obtained multiple awards and recognitions as a costume designer.

“It's a difficult but beautiful world that gives you the opportunity to see what you create in motion,” he told the magazine.

His artistic inspiration was greatly influenced by his origins, as he grew up surrounded by nature. In his collections, the sea, vegetation, sunsets and sunrises stand out, and in his paintings, sunflowers were a constant motif.

“He worked on the clothes as large planes with a plastic sense, as if they were canvases. “Each design is always hand-painted and unique,” he highlighted.CubaPLUS.

Although he confessed that he loved to travel, the artist assured that his roots were in Cuba. “I am Cuban and I feel very Cuban; I nourish myself with everything, but I am rooted.”

González's pieces have been exhibited in cities such as Montreal, Florence and Rome.

He was a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets (FCBC) and the Cuban Association of Artisan Artists (ACAA).