Lázaro Saavedra (Havana, 1964) received the National Visual Arts Award 2014, in recognition of his artistic career and the value of his work, characterized by conceptualism and his treatment of humor and irony. A member of PURE, one of the creative collectives which led the artistic movement of the 1980’s in Cuba, Saavedra has, for more than three decades, developed a versatile style given his use of different modes of expression.

His works are renowned both in Cuba and aboard, and he has had an enduring teaching career, training several generations of Cuban students.

The judging panel, presided by Eduardo Pon­juán, winner of the National Visual Arts Award 2013, also included other National Visual Arts Award winners: Osneldo García, Pedro Pablo Oli­va, René de la Nuez, José Villa, Nelson Domín­guez, Ernesto Fernández Nogueras y Ever Fonse­ca; los artistas Iván Capote, Abel Barreto and Abel Barroso; Critics Choice Life Works Award winner, Manuel López Oliva and art critics, Ma­ría de los Ángeles Pereira, David Mateo and Axel Li.

Also nominated for the Award were: José Antonio Choy, Les­bia Vent Dumois, Salvador Corratgé, Zaida del Río, Roberto Salas, Juan Moreira, Pedro de Oráa, José Manuel Fors, Alberto Lescay, Alexis Leyva Machado (Kcho), Eduardo Roca (Choco), Ma­nuel Hernández Valdés, Rafael Zarza and Rocío García.