Born in 1902 in Sagua la Grande, Cuba to a Cantonese Chinese father and a mother of African slave and Spanish ancestry, Lam’s multicultural heritage had a major influence on his work. Drawing inspiration from his own unique cultural identity as well as the artists, poets, intellectuals, and members of the Parisian avant-garde that he encountered throughout his career, Lam developed a unique style that fused Western modernism with Afro-Cuban imagery, positioning himself as a champion of creative freedom and human dignity.

Attributed, Wifredo Lam signed on the bottom right corner. Oil on wood, 1976.