OUR FLAG IN AMERICAN ART: 1935 – 2026
MUSEUM OF ART – DELAND
JUNE 20 – AUGUST 16, 2026
Group show featuring Veins of the Land, 2026.
The original piece created for the traveling show hosted by Harmon Meek Gallery is connected to the symbol of the flag from a deeply personal perspective, extending beyond its role as the theme of the exhibition.
As a Cuban-American, I felt compelled to reflect on my evolving relationship with this land. The combination of oil, collage, fabric, and even petroleum points to power struggles, natural resources, and the cost of contemporary life but mostly these materials humanize the flag, grounding it in physical reality rather than abstraction. From within these textured layers, the figure of the poet emerges—an essential presence in the work—introducing a human voice amid the layered narrative of the flag.
Rather than proposing a single interpretation, the piece is meant to spark conversation and dialogue. It reflects a state of questioning—of belonging and not belonging—of being part of something universal while remaining tied to specific, lived circumstances. At its core, the work holds gratitude and love for a newly found home, and for the profound gift of freedom.
OUR FLAG IN AMERICAN ART: 1935 – 2026
MUSEUM OF ART – DELAND
JUNE 20 – AUGUST 16, 2026
Group show featuring Veins of the Land, 2026.
The original piece created for the traveling show hosted by Harmon Meek Gallery is connected to the symbol of the flag from a deeply personal perspective, extending beyond its role as the theme of the exhibition.
As a Cuban-American, I felt compelled to reflect on my evolving relationship with this land. The combination of oil, collage, fabric, and even petroleum points to power struggles, natural resources, and the cost of contemporary life but mostly these materials humanize the flag, grounding it in physical reality rather than abstraction. From within these textured layers, the figure of the poet emerges—an essential presence in the work—introducing a human voice amid the layered narrative of the flag.
Rather than proposing a single interpretation, the piece is meant to spark conversation and dialogue. It reflects a state of questioning—of belonging and not belonging—of being part of something universal while remaining tied to specific, lived circumstances. At its core, the work holds gratitude and love for a newly found home, and for the profound gift of freedom.
Artist in Residence
Featured image “Desires”. 2023, Mixed Media on Canvas, 86” x 78”, ©Reynier Llanes
The AGB Museum of Art Permanent Collection, Gift of J. William Meek III. (FSC ‘72) and Barbara Hanson Meek (FSC ‘76) in honor of Dr. H. Alexander Rich
September – November 2026
AGB Museum of Art
The artist-in-residence program will be announced on May 26, 2026, in Lakeland. From September through November, the residency will include studio time dedicated to the development of the Transcendentals series, as well as lectures and workshops, and will conclude with a traveling exhibition.
Artist in Residence
Featured image “Desires”. 2023, Mixed Media on Canvas, 86” x 78”, ©Reynier Llanes
The AGB Museum of Art Permanent Collection, Gift of J. William Meek III. (FSC ‘72) and Barbara Hanson Meek (FSC ‘76) in honor of Dr. H. Alexander Rich
September – November 2026
AGB Museum of Art
The artist-in-residence program will be announced on May 26, 2026, in Lakeland. From September through November, the residency will include studio time dedicated to the development of the Transcendentals series, as well as lectures and workshops, and will conclude with a traveling exhibition.