Canas
Elkin Cañas, a Colombian-born, Venezuelan-raised artist based in Miami, has been recognized and celebrated for his exceptional contributions to the arts. In 2019, he received a prestigious Certificate of Recognition for "outstanding contribution to the arts in the United States of America" from Urbe University in Miami, Florida. In 2020, he was honored as the Portrait Society of America P.S.O.A. Ambassador for Miami and Latin America, highlighting his expertise and influence in portraiture. His talent as an artist also led to him being invited as a Speaker at the Figurative Art Convention (FACE) in 2018, where he engaged in a conversation with Peter Trippi, the Editor of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine.
His international acclaim includes being a Portrait and Still Life Category finalist in the 2011-12 ARC Salon competition and a Drawing Finalist in the 2010-11 ARC Salon competition.
He also received an Honorable Mention at the Faber Castle Salon in Caracas, Venezuela, demonstrating his dedication and talent. Elkin Cañas holds an Arts degree in graphic design from the Caracas Institute of Design and is a former Arturo Michelena School of Art student. As the executive director of Miami International Fine Arts, Elkin Cañas continues to inspire the art community with his exceptional skills, impressive awards, and significant contributions to the world of art.
EDUCATION.
2010 Astspace Florence Residency, Florence -Italy
2001 Giovani Battista Scalabrini Art Academy. Valencia- Venezuela
1999 Arturo Michelena Art School. Valencia.-Venezuela
1994 Graphic Design. Design Institute of Caracas. Valencia Extention.
SOLO SHOWS:
2013 Florence Fantastic Festival. Fortezza da Basso. Florence-Italy
2004 “One Man Show” Exhibition Hall of the Guerra Mendez Campus. Valencia, Venezuela.
2000 “One Man Show” Manuel Feo La Cruz Library. Valencia, Venezuela.
1998 “Between Two Countries” Braulio Salazar Gallery. Organized by Colombian Consulate in Venezuela. Valencia, Venezuela.
GROUP SHOWS:
2022 “Crossing Realities”, MIFA Gallery. Miami-USA
2020 “Between Resistence and Resilience” Caja Real Museum. S.L.P. Mexico.
2020 “The Human Dimension in Latin American Art” Miami- USA.
2019 ‘Rhythmical Brushstrokes’ Figurative artists of Florida. MIFA Gallery. Miami-USA.
2019 'Art in Exhile”. Coral Gables Museum. FL. USA.
2018 “FACE” Figurative Art Convention and Expo. Faculty show.
2018 “Parallel Visions” Two men Show at Art & Design Gallery. Miami-FL. USA.
2016 “Grounded” group show. Miami Dade College West Campus Gallery. USA.
2015 Spectrum Miami. Contemporary Art Projects USA. (Art Basel Week, Miami).
2015 Paul Fisher-Small Format Exhibition. Contemporary Art Projects. Palm Beach, FL.
2012 “Mirame”. Latin American Artists in Florence. Palazzo Bastogi. Florencia-Italia.
2012 FIAM art fair. Gallery “Diez” Maracaibo. Venezuela.
2012 Shangai Art Fair. Latinoamerican Pavillion. Gallery “Diez” Sangai-China
2011 “I Viaggi in Italia”. International Artits. Libreria de’ Servi. Florence, Italy.
2011 “Due Artisti, Stesso Luogo, Stesso Tempo” . La Boulangerie del Rifrullo. Florencia, Italia.
2010 “Latin American Realists”. Vivarium Novum. Rome, Italy.
2009 “Venezuelan Realist Painters” Venezuelan Embassy . Rome, Italia.
2004 “International Prize Gravat.Olot” - Spain.
2002 XII Salón artes plásticas "Festivales del Cabriales". Valencia- Venezuela
2001 National Young Artist Salon. Bogotá - Colombia.
HONORS AND PRIZES
2020 Named Ambassador of the Portrait Society of America P.S.OA. for Miami and Latinamerica.
2019 Certificate of recognition for “outstanding contribution to the arts in the United States of America” Urbe University. Miami Fl. USA.
2018 Invited Speaker. Figurative Art Convention (FACE). Conversation with Peter Trippi (Fine Art Conosseur Magazine Editor) Biltmore Hotel. Miami-USA.
2012 Portrait and Still Life Category finalist, 2011-12 ARC salon competition. USA
2011 Drawing Finalist, 2010-11 ARC salon competition. USA
2008 Honorable Mention, Faber Castle salon. Caracas.
WORK IN PUBLIC COLECTIONS
Valencia City Hall . Valencia.- Venezuela
Faber Castle of Venezuela. Caracas-Venezuela
Manuel Feo La Cruz. Public Library. Valencia-Venezuela
Carabobo University. Main Gallery. Valencia-Venezuela
Galería Braulio Salazar Permanent Collection. Valencia-Venezuela
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Haynes Galleries. Nashville and Maine. USA
Jack Meier Gallery. Houston. USA
Arte Hoy Gallery. Mexico.
EDUCATION.
2010 Astspace Florence Residency, Florence -Italy
2001 Giovani Battista Scalabrini Art Academy. Valencia- Venezuela
1999 Arturo Michelena Art School. Valencia.-Venezuela
1994 Graphic Design. Design Institute of Caracas. Valencia Extention.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2019 Cofounder and Academic Director. Miami International Fine Arts. USA
2015 Cofounder and Director. Chiaroscuro Studio of Art. Doral. USA.
2012 Young Arts program. AICS Cultural Asociation. Florence, Italy.
2010-2012 Principal Instructor and program developer. Dall'Arte alla Z asociación cultural. Florencia-Italia.
2000-2002 Master Francesco Santoro’s principal assistant on Fresco Projects. Milan-Italy and Valencia-Venezuela.
2000-2002Painting Instructor . Giovanni Battista Scalabrini Academy of Art.