Belkis Ayón

Belkis Ayón Manso (January 23, 1967 – September 11, 1999) was a Cuban artist and lithographer. Her work was based on Afro-Cuban religion, combining the myth of Sikan and the traditions of the Abakuá, a men's secret society. Her artwork consisted of dark silhouettes and ghostly-white figures with oblong heads and empty, almond-shaped eyes take part in Abakuá rites and rituals, Her work was also thought to reflect her personal issues. Her work was put into an exhibition in 1988, and the exhibitions continued till 2006.

During the year of 1998 Ayon was given four residencies in the Unites States working at Temple University's Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and at the Brandywine Workshop.

Along with her art Ayon also acted as the Vice President of the Union of Writers and Artists from Cuba is a social organization that works with volunteers on developing new endeavors for cultural and artistic development.

In 1999, the Cuban artist of the decade shot herself in the head with her father’s gun. Ayón didn’t leave a suicide note. Why the artist with the cheery demeanor and boisterous laugh took her own life remains a mystery. She was one of the most accomplished contemporary printmakers anywhere. Since her death, the Cuban government has declared her work a patrimony, and so none of it is currently allowed to leave the country.

Then it all changed. With the improved U.S.-Cuba relations it helped the exhibition to come together relatively easily. In late 2016, the UCLA Fowler Museum held the first comprehensive retrospective of Belkis Ayón's works in the United States - an exhibition called Nkame. A detailed chronicle of the opening was written by professor Christina García

In 1999, Ayon committed suicide at the age of 32.