The Farber Foundation has announced the finalists for the first international Cuban Art Awards, spotlighting a mix of artists working on the island and abroad.

Announced last year, the Farber Foundation Cuban Art Awards were created to recognize the achievements of Cuban contemporary artists internationally. The awards are given biennially in two categories: Cuban Artist of the Year and Young Cuban Artist of the Year (35 and under).

In each category, the award recognizes a contemporary artist or collaborative that has demonstrated exceptional creative power over the previous two years.

The 2015 awards will inaugurate the program. The five finalists for Artist of the Year were chosen from a field of close to 30 candidates, says Farber Foundation director Howard Farber, and the finalists for Young Artist of the Year were chosen from a similarly wide-ranging field.

For the 2015 Cuban Artist of the Year, the finalists are: Alexandre Arrechea, Luis Cruz Azaceta, Teresita Fernández, Glexis Novoa, Lázaro Saavedra.

For the 2015 Young Cuban Artist of the Year, the finalists are: Alejandro Campins, Celia y Yunior, Elizabet Cerviño, Rafael Domenech, Carlos Martiel.

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