Many of you may know that my husband and I have a deep affection for Cuba. Our barn is full of Cuban art, and has become quite a fantastic collection. During a trip to Cienfuegos, we found ourselves exploring many artists’ studios in the area. We walked by a small studio that was set back from the street with a man painting inside, and decided to go in and strike up a conversation with him. We instantly fell in love with the work surrounding us! We came to find out that the artist is Luis Alberto Pérez Copperi. He uses mixed mediums to depict Cuban culture, and has become one of our favorite Cuban artists.

“Copperi’s monochromatic drawings narrate his Cienfuegos world, one that is limited by the geography of Cuba, but without psychological, political or spiritual limits.  His ideas are strong and sensual, yet presented with a gentleness that reflects his personality.”

We go back periodically to visit him and bring friends and travelers who have also fallen in love with his art over the years. He has quite a following here in California. A few years back, he was finally able to leave the island for a Sonoma visit. During his trip, he enjoyed perusing the antiquity and unusual objects at Chateau Sonoma.

Upon returning to the island, he did a series of paintings that incorporated mannequins, bird cages, and other objet d’art from Chateau Sonoma. We are so excited that he is coming back once again to share with us his creativity and give us inspiration for the holiday season.

Copperi will be visiting us at Chateau Sonoma on December 3rd from 1-5 pm for a show of his latest work. The show is open to the public, and we hope to welcome him to Sonoma with a packed house! My niece, who spent time living in Ecuador, will be performing at the event; she is using her creativity to come up with a series of songs that will be Cuban appropriate. Wine Country Chocolates will also be at the event serving tastings of their fabulous chocolates. We invite you to join us for chocolate, champagne, shopping, and most importantly, Cuban art!

All photos are courtesy of Copperi