NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
  • Visit
    • Admissions
      • Hours & Admission
      • Policies & Accessibility
      • Groups & Tours
    • Visiting
      • Directions & Parking
      • Visiting Fort Lauderdale
      • Area Airports
      • Floorplan
    • Shop & Dine
      • About the Café & Store
      • Store
      • Café Menu
  • Art
    • Exhibitions
      • Currently on View
      • Exhibitions
      • Past Exhibitions
      • Outdoor Murals
    • Collection
      • Search the Collection
      • About the Collection
      • Glackens Study Center
      • Goodman Study Center
      • Cobra Collection & Research Center
      • David Horvitz & Francie Bishop Good Promised Gift
    • Reproductions
      • Rights & Reproductions
  • Events
    • Ongoing
      • Upcoming Events
      • Free First Thursday – Sunny Days and Starry Nights
      • Museums on Us
    • Special
      • A Sense of Pride
      • Community Voices
  • Learn
    • Education
      • Teen Art Council
      • Teacher & Educator Resources
      • Creativity Exploration
      • Hands-On Art Activity for Kids
      • Education Resources
      • Museum on the Move
      • Video Channel
      • A Sense of Pride
    • Tours
      • Groups & Tours
      • Docent Speakers Bureau
  • Join & Give
    • Join
      • Become a Member
      • Curator Circle
      • Friends of the Museum
      • Beaux Arts
      • You Belong (NSU)
      • Members Only Portal
    • Give
      • Ways to Give
      • Leave a Lasting Impression
      • Corporate Sponsorships
    • Recognition
      • Donor Recognition
  • Museum
    • About
      • About the Museum
      • Director & Chief Curator
      • In the News
      • Press Release Archive
      • Venue Rental
    • Team
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Directory
      • Become a Docent
      • Docent Speakers Bureau
    • Contact
      • Map Our Location
      • 954-525-5500
      • Email Us
      • Mailing List
  • Shop
  • Virtual
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

José Bedia Fieldwork: Selections from the de la Cruz Collection and the Artist

February 12 – October 8, 2017

Exhibition

Image Gallery

Jose Bedia
Jose Bedia
Jose Bedia

José Bedia Fieldwork: Selections from the de la Cruz Collection and the Artist

One of the most prominent artists of Cuba’s venerated ’80s Generation, José Bedia, who has made Miami his home since 1993, is deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions. As an initiated practitioner in Regla de Congo, a group of religions brought to Cuba by West African slaves, Bedia’s work is imbued with his spiritual beliefs and exhibits a close affinity to the tribal African art that he studies and collects. Presenting works from the de la Cruz Collection in Miami as well as the artist’s personal collection, a new exhibition at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale will feature Bedia’s Ogun series along with never-before exhibited drawings he created in Africa. José Bedia Fieldwork: Selections from the de la Cruz Collection and the Artist will be on view at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale from February 12 through October 8, 2017

Bedia’s first direct encounter with Africa was in 1984 when he was conscripted for mandatory service in the Cuban army and sent to Angola as part of an “artistic brigade.” After quitting the artistic brigade, he joined the military caravans that provided supplies to military units in Angola’s interior. This first contact with Africa was a revelation for Bedia, as he discovered how much of his Cuban heritage was derived from West Africa. He has returned to Africa on multiple occasions, journeying to Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, and Egypt, often accompanied by curator and anthropologist Manuel Jordan, and has amassed a significant collection of African traditional art. His naturalistic fieldwork drawings and his collection of African art inspired his drawings and paintings of fantastic hybrid figures drawn in silhouette That also incorporate abstract symbols.

Bedia’s Ogun series, monumental paintings on paper he created in 1992, and on loan from the de la Cruz Collection, harness spiritual forces of African religions and ceremonial objects. In the series, Ogun is the name of the Yoruba deity of iron and war, and is identified as the Orisha of the “Blacksmith”, a term ascribed to African slaves brought to Cuba to build the railroad system.

Over 45 drawings from five sketchbooks dating from 2000 to 2010 (on loan by the artist) that are on view for the first time in this exhibition were executed primarily in Botswana, Zambia and Kenya, and created as Bedia’s fieldwork studies of rituals, daily life, landscapes and animals.

The exhibition will include drawings by African artist Benfrey Chitofu commissioned by Bedia through Manuel Jordan that depict the various rituals, garments and masks of the Lunda (peoples) and his village in Northwestern Zambia and the drawings of naturalistic symbols by Benfry’s mother Maliya Chitofu.
Among other works from the de la Cruz Collection are a masked figure of Chisaluke that represents a guardian in the ceremonial transition into manhood, that was field-collected in Zambia in 1991 by Manuel Jordan, and masks from Bedia’s collection that served as inspiration.

This exhibition is part of NSU Art Museum’s Modern Mythologies exhibition series, and runs concurrently with three other exhibitions in the series: Catherine Opie: 700 Nimes Road (February 12 – June 18, 2017) and David Levinthal: Recent Acquisitions (February 12- October 8, 2017) and Human Animals: The Art of Cobra (May 14 – October 8, 2017). These exhibitions represent the persistence of myths, whether ancient or drawn from Hollywood and the Golden Age of television, to provide narratives that help explain the mysteries of life and existence.

Exhibitions and programs at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale are made possible in part by a challenge grant from the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation. Funding is also provided by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Nova Southeastern University, Hudson Family Foundation, Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. NSU Art Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Top Image:  José Bedia ,Ogun Series: 05 Nsunsu Mayimbe (Vulture), 1992, Ink conte on Amate paper, Photography courtesy of de la Cruz Collection, Miami, FL

Gain Access to Special Museum Events—Become a Member Today!

Join Now

Exhibitions

Currently on View

Karen Kilimnik, Master Hare, 3rd Lord Grantham, 2011 Water soluble oil color on canvas. Photography by Allan Carlisle

The Swans: Artwork by Karen Kilimnik & Dresses from Stephanie Seymour

March 7, 2023
Sunday, March 12 to Sunday, September 3, 2023
https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NSU-Press-Image-6-scaled.jpg 2560 1983 David Guidi https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSU-Logo-2021.png David Guidi2023-03-07 16:13:102023-03-24 15:36:38The Swans: Artwork by Karen Kilimnik & Dresses from Stephanie Seymour
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jane Avril, 1899. Color lithograph. Courtesy Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec The Firos Collection

Picturing Fame

December 9, 2022
Saturday, February 11, to Sunday, October 1, 2023
https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JaneAvril-scaled.jpg 2560 1652 David Guidi https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSU-Logo-2021.png David Guidi2022-12-09 11:51:242023-03-21 15:10:11Picturing Fame
Quisqueya Henriquez, Intertextualidad (Intertextuality), 2005. Video. Video Time: 3 minutes (looped). NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale; gift of Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, Key Biscayne, FL. © Quisqueya Henriquez© Quisqueya Henriquez

Animation Generation

October 27, 2022
October 30, 2022 to May 21, 2023
https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2019.10.jpg 618 910 David Guidi https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSU-Logo-2021.png David Guidi2022-10-27 11:08:342023-03-21 09:55:37Animation Generation
William Kentridge, Ursonate, 2018. Dual channel HD film, 33 min, 54 sec. © William Kentridge, Courtesy William Kentridge Studio and Collection of Valerie Dillon.

William Kentridge: Ursonate

August 25, 2022
September 30, 2022 to April 16, 2023
https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ursonata-projection_10.png 1080 1920 David Guidi https://nsuartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSU-Logo-2021.png David Guidi2022-08-25 12:52:412023-01-11 09:35:33William Kentridge: Ursonate

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Logo

Nova Southeastern University

NSU Art Museum is part of Nova Southeastern University

City of Fort Lauderdale

NSU Art Museum is supported by the City of Fort Lauderdale

Visit

Museum Hours:
Sunday: Noon - 5pm
Tuesday-Saturday:
11am - 5pm

Sunny Days/Starry Nights: Free admission and extended hours the first Thursday of every month, 11 am – 7 pm.

Starry Nights presented by Broward Health.

Closed: Mondays

Directions

Sponsors

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale Logo

Visit Fort Lauderdale Logo

Broward Arts Calendar

Broward Arts Calendar

Accessibility

  • Accessibility Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Tools

Opportunities

We're Hiring

NSU Federal Work Study

Contact

One East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

954-525-5500
Email Us

Support

Support NSU Art Museum.

Donate Now
© Copyright - NSU Art Museum - Made with ♥ in Miami by Fulano.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
David Levinthal: Recent Acquisitionstoy soldiersWarhol Brillo BoxSome Aesthetic Decisions: A Centennial Celebration of Marcel Duchamp’s F...
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only