Art Exhibit: Gente de Río by Orlando Almanza
Cuban-born artist Orlando Almanza brings his evocative series Gente de Río to Portland Center Stage, following its debut at Froelick Gallery. These large-scale, luminous portraits reflect deeply personal memories of rest, family, and community.
There will be an artist reception on June 5, 2025, as part of June First Thursday activities, from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Ellyn Bye Studio Gallery.
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
With roots in Amancio—a small town in the Las Tunas Province of Cuba—and the vibrant, storied streets of Havana, Almanza’s work honors the people and places that shaped him.
The series is a meditation on the cyclical nature of time and memory. As the artist notes, "time is not always linear—memories from the past often overlap with present experiences and provide insight into future moments." The river near his hometown, Río Yáquimo, becomes a symbolic thread running through the work, representing connection, ancestry, and the flow of life.
Gente de Río is a heartfelt celebration of cultural resilience, painted with a reverence for nature, community, and belonging. Through warm palettes and atmospheric settings, Almanza captures the quiet strength and beauty of everyday life—an homage to the people who continue to inspire him.
FEATURED WORK:
Orlando Almanza
Amanecer en el Río Yáquimo / Sunrise on the Yáquimo River, 2024
oil on canvas
60 x 72 in
(ALM045)
$15,000.00
Exhibitions
2024 Gente de Río, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
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Orlando Almanza
Countess Gomez Walking on the Banks of the Yáquimo River (Condesa Gomez Caminado Por La Orilla del Rio Yáquimo), 2023
oil on canvas
71 x 51 in
(ALM026)
$12,000.00
Exhibitions 2023 Love Letter From a Shapeshifter, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR.
Description Here we see Countess Gomez, walking on the banks of the Yaquimo River, the much loved river of Almanza’s childhood. She is draped in luxurious clothing, in bright and vibrant colors, symbolizing the success and respect she holds within the community. However, in this moment, we find her reconnecting with an intimate part of her inner world. She has removed her shoes to walk barefoot in the river, to feel the earth and water. She is pregnant, with her hands resting gently on her stomach. Across her face a look of peace, calm, and tranquility.
In this moment of introspection, she is surrounded by many protective forces. From above, floating candles symbolize the spirits of her ancestors lighting her path. From below, her canine companion remains alert to what could come her way on the ground. And swimming in the sky, is a large iridescent pink betta fish, protecting her and her expected child. She stands on a stone, grounded and secure.
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Orlando Almanza Bendecida por el río / Blessed by the River, 2024
oil on canvas
51 x 51 in
(ALM053)
$10,000.00
Exhibitions 2024 Gente de Río, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
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Orlando Almanza The Arrival of the Shapeshifter to Havana (La Llegada del Cagüeiro a la Habana), 2023
oil on canvas
51 x 51 in
129.5 x 129.5 cm
(ALM024)
$10,000.00
Exhibitions Nov 2023, "Love Letter From A Shapeshifter", Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR 2023 Dec. Group Show, Froelick Gallery
Description In the painting, The Arrival of the Shapeshifter to Havana, you see a confident man holding a golden lasso. He is inspired by a man Orlando knows from home nicknamed, "Guarijo”. The name "Guarijo", was created out of the English mispronunciation of “War Hero '' a phrase that North Americans used to reference the Cuban countryside fighters in the Spanish-American war. It is still used in contemporary Cuba as a cheeky reference to people from rural areas in Cuba.
In this painting, El Guarijo is wearing a common work button-up and rides Palmiche, a cartoon horse popularized in Cuban Sunday morning cartoons, which symbolizes the rider's inner child. Behind him is a seemingly elite group of horseback riders tumbling off their prestigious racing horses. For the man in the painting, riding a horse is second nature- a humble activity he grew up doing in the countryside. This attitude is one that Orlando relates to his arrival in Havana and his respect for migrants who have had to make due with less privilege and support, and who continue to work towards their goals.
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Orlando Almanza Picnic a la Orilla del Río Yáquimo - Picnic on the bank of the Yáquimo River, 2024
oil on wood panel
12 x 12 in
(ALM049)
$1,500.00
Exhibitions 2024 Gente de Río, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
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Orlando Almanza Retrato de mi mamá con sombrero / Portrait of my mother with hat, 2024
oil on wood panel
12 x 12 in
(ALM052)
$1,500.00
Exhibitions 2024 Gente de Río, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
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All works Courtesy of Froelick Gallery. For purchase and information, please contact Froelick Gallery with the info below:
Charles Froelick
FROELICK GALLERY
714 NW Davis St
Portland, OR 97209
503-222-1142
All people who self identify as BIPOC, and their guests, are specifically invited to attend. Though no one will be turned away, it is encouraged that folks outside of the BIPOC community join us on another night!
Thank you to our partners! Enjoy complimentary beverages provided by our generous Affinity Night partners, Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery.
Orlando Almanza (b. 1989, Las Tunas, Cuba) pulls us into his dreamworld of memory, myth and loss with ethereal landscapes, portraits and storytelling. His stories take place in the natural world where figures are intertwined with plants, animals and light. The interconnectedness of his work points to the artist's deep dedication to nature, and the unique way it connects with myths and storytelling across cultures. Each painting invites us in, to search for meaning and truth. Almanza received his B.A. in printmaking from the Institute of Superior Arts in Havana, Cuba.
In 2022, Almanza presented a solo exhibition titled “Born by the River'' at Soapbox Arts Gallery in Burlington, Vermont as well as a solo exhibition titled “Un Laberinto en el Estómago de un Cocodrilo” (A labyrinth in the stomach of a crocodile) at ONA Galeria in Havana, Cuba. These exhibitions focused on the myths from the artist's childhood, growing up in the Cuban countryside. Recent honors include an Artist Residency at The Newport Art Museum and at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology and the addition of one of Almanza’s works to The Hood Museum at Dartmouth College collection. He currently works and resides in Portland, OR and Havana, Cuba.
Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson
May 11 – June 22 in the Ellyn Bye Studio
Use promo code COMMUNITY for $10 off tickets!*
*Not valid on Area 4 seating, student tickets, special engagements or with other discounts. Subject to availability. If you need assistance, please call the box office at 503-445-3700 between noon and 6 p.m. Tue.-Sun.
The Importance of Being Earnest
June 1 – June 29 on the U.S. Bank Main Stage
Use promo code COMMUNITY for $10 off tickets!*
*Not valid on Area 4 seating, student tickets, special engagements or with other discounts. Subject to availability. If you need assistance, please call the box office at 503-445-3700 between noon and 6 p.m. Tue.-Sun.
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