Painting The Roses Red: A Conversation With Artist, Humberto Lahera

By Mckenna Graham • Photos By Matt Johnson 

Since 1999 Woodford Reserve, presenting sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, has honored an artist by immortalizing their artwork on a commemorative bottle of bourbon. This year’s artist is Humberto Lahera, a Cuban painter known for his photorealistic style and rich, luscious color palette. His style pairs perfectly with the decadent luxury of the Derby and his painting Carrera Dinámica created for Woodford indulges in the classical beauty and opulence of the event. 

Lahera generously took time to sit down with me to talk about his work and share what this honor means to him. 

MG: 1-Tell me a little about your creative practice. 

HL: Technically speaking, I have tried to merge the best of both worlds. I have tried to use elements of photorealism, which, although I brought from my work in Cuba, was inspired by the masters of the North American avant-garde. I fuse this with effects from Impressionist artists and other more contemporary ones like Jackson Pollock with the use of dripping. I have also added textures with a spatula. In this way, my work has become a mixture of different artistic movements. 

In concept, this evolution is mainly reflected in cultural fusion. Conveying emotions is something that characterizes my work, whether in a portrait, a racing scene, or any isolated element. I manifest both energy and moods that range from very dynamic to relaxed. That is why I try to create focal points to draw the viewer’s gaze there and then blur the rest. These emotions are reflected in expressive portraits but also in a horse race, which represents the new culture that is beginning to be part of my life, like a horse that is in constant motion. 

My life is like that of an athlete, a runner, or a jockey, full of discipline and sacrifice, always seeking success. 

MG: How long have you lived in Kentucky and where is your hometown? 

HL: I was born in Cuba and lived my entire life in a city called Holguín. About two years ago, I made the decision to emigrate to the United States, which resulted in a major change in my life, both culturally and emotionally. Immersing myself in a whole new culture and traditions was reflected not only in me as an individual but also in my artistic work. 

First, I went through a process of exploration and learning, visiting multiple galleries and museums. Visiting exhibitions in museums in Kentucky, Cincinnati, and the Art Institute of Chicago had a great emotional and visual impact on me. Seeing works by Impressionist masters like Vincent van Gogh or Claude Monet changed my vision of art. 

Until then, I had only seen these paintings in books and photos, but the experience of seeing them in person changed me completely.

Kentucky’s culture influenced me a lot, and as an artist who constantly seeks to grow, I keep my mind open to new ideas and style explorations. All this influence led me to start experimenting with different materials and techniques, mixing the old with the new, and my culture with American culture, mainly Kentucky’s.

MG: Describe your process making Carrera Dinámica? 

HL: I received a call from Brown-Forman asking me if I was interested in being part of the project, but there were three finalists. After that, they interviewed me, and two days later, they informed me that I had been selected. They told me over the phone that this was going to propel my art to a global level. Then they mentioned that they had been watching me for a year, which confirmed the results of my hard work, creating and showcasing my art on social media or at events. It was exciting.

Afterward, we had a meeting at the distillery where we exchanged ideas, and that’s how the design process began. It was approved immediately once I presented it, and from there, I started painting. It took me a month to paint it due to its level of detail and size. Additionally, I had a full-time job that prevented me from painting during the day, so I could only paint at night, struggling against sleep and exhaustion.

MG: What did you use as your source image(s) for the horse and jockey in Carrera Dinámica? Anyone we might know?

HL: Carrera Dinámica was created to represent the pure energy of the Kentucky Derby, full of symbols such as roses, colors, the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. At the same time, it embodies the image of a jockey bursting into an explosion of rose petals, chasing his American dream and victory.

Certain previous works for the Derby have been based on specific jockeys or horses, while in mine, I simply try to capture the idea and overall impact of what the Derby represents according to my vision as an artist. In the piece, I use a collage of images to create harmony and balance in the composition, altering colors and giving it an atmosphere very much in my style, with stains, spatula textures simulating both Impressionism and photorealism, or the abstraction seen in the background. 

MG: How long have you been painting with equestrian themes? What drew you to the subject matter? 

HL: In Cuba, I had the experience of creating equestrian scenes as I was involved in a hotel remodeling project in my hometown, which two centuries ago was a Spanish stable. In modern times, they decided to name the hotel “Caballeriza”(The Stable) in honor of its history and to decorate it entirely with paintings of equestrian themes. I played a very active role there, where I began painting horses, and it was a great experience studying their anatomical features. 

Once I settled in Kentucky, the city of Louisville made me feel like they had been waiting for me. I feel like it was destiny for me to come and live here. Its culture started to captivate me, and the Derby is the most important event in the state. I started getting involved in all kinds of events and decided, in addition to the themes I painted in Cuba—mainly portraits and horses—to introduce the new culture that now represents 50% of me. That is where the Derby began to be part of my work. 

MG: How does it feel knowing your work will be immortalized in bourbon collections around the world? 

HL: Seeing my art distributed on millions of bottles that will travel the world is a dream, not just for me but for any native artist as well. It would be part of the American dream even for an American. 

Being a Latin immigrant, Cuban, having lived in the USA for only two years, with no connections, no knowledge of the art markets in this country, no community of familiar people, starting from zero, full of uncertainties, and still managing to break through in a project of this magnitude was a real challenge. 

For me, the American dream is fulfilling the desires of your heart, doing what you love, and seeing it come true one day. That is what every immigrant fights for—only many give up and stop dreaming. 

For more information on Lahera and his artwork visit his website: www.humbertolahera.com