As an artist in Cuba during Communist party rule, Hector faced many problems. “You don’t have materials, you don’t have many other things,” he said. “But it’s okay for your brain. You need problems for your brain to keep working, for inspiration. And my country has many, many problems. The people are happy…but they have nothing. There is never a complete solution for your problem, never. But for me the best is just going through and following your own path.”

Hector Frank seeks to capture the hidden feelings behind empty stares. His portraits display solid outlines of human figures that are filled with striking designs in vibrant colours. He uses collage techniques to place pieces of paper on painted canvas like a jigsaw puzzle.