Nica Art

When last in Managua I spent a great deal of time looking for and going to art galleries. Like everything else in Managua - they are not easy to find. However, I did eventually manage to visit 5 galleries. In all but one of them they allowed me to take pictures. They aren't the best pictures in the world.... but hopefully they will give you an idea of the range of art available here.

Watercolours are rare; and sculptures seem to be few and far between at least in the galleries, with the wonderful exception of Ernesto Cardinal's work. Nicaragua is most well known for it's primitivist or naïve paintings. I recently visited Solentiname (home of the primitivist painters). Unfortunately my photos of these works really didn't come out well. I'll put one or two up anyway to give you an idea.


A 'primitivist' painting by a Solentiname artist - Silvia Arellano I believe, although my notes are a bit sketchy.


One of Ernesto Cardinal's fantastic Garza sculptures.


Painting by A. Varga at the Tierra Siena Gallery in Managua.


Raul Marin - at the Josefina Galleria in Managua


A variety of paintings at the Cordice Gallery


Painting of coffee plants by Caceres at the Cordice Gallery


Balsa wood carvings by the Solentiname artists.