JOSÉ FUSTER:

In the Jamainatas neighborhood of western Havana, artist José Fuster has transformed a poor fishing village into a vibrant mosaic wonderland. Formally trained in art during the 1960s and heavily influenced by modernists like Picasso and Gaudí, Fuster has earned the title "Picasso of the Caribbean." Beginning with his own home in 1975, Fuster has spent nearly 50 years covering his neighborhood with mosaics made from colored tiles and broken pottery. These works feature Cuban art shapes and themes. Today, the area—now home to more than 80 art-covered buildings as well as benches, bus stops, and water tanks—is colloquially known as "Fusterlandia." The site draws both tourists and international artists. Visitors to Fuster’s home and museum workshop can find him regularly crafting ceramics, sculptures, and paintings.