How Cuban Artist Rachel Valdés Maps Perception in Her Abstractions

Artnet News

by Artnet Gallery Network

February 18, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Cuban artist Rachel Valdés explores the intersection of light, perception, and human consciousness in her solo exhibition *“Light and Matter”* at Miami’s Gary Nader Art Centre. Focusing on the bending of light through diffraction and the lingering afterimages that remain when light is removed, Valdés transforms light into a conceptual metaphor for emotional and sensorial experiences. Her work delves into how color operates as energy, capturing the fleeting moments when what we no longer see persists as a sensory echo—a shared dialogue between memory and the invisible. Valdés’s practice is rooted in her studies at Havana’s Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro, where she developed a multidisciplinary approach that centers the human body’s relationship to its environment. Though her work is abstract, it maintains a strong connection to the physical and psychological experiences of the body, creating a visceral tension between internal and external worlds. The exhibition features vibrant, pulsing hues and compositions that evoke introspection, resembling the visions one might see with their eyes closed. In *“Light and Matter”*, Valdés continues her exploration of how light shapes human perception and emotion, aligning with a broader tradition of contemporary art that interrogates the complexity of human experience. Gallery founder Garry Nader highlights Valdés’s deep conceptual rigor and her ability to expand the field of perception, inviting viewers into an intimate dialogue with light, color, and emotion. Her work reinforces Miami’s role as a vital hub in the global art landscape. Valdés’s exhibition is on view through March 28, 2026, offering a profound reflection on the ways light and matter intertwine to reveal the intangible yet deeply personal experiences of human consciousness and emotion. For those interested in art that bridges the physical and psychological realms, *“Light and Matter”* provides a compelling exploration of perception’s boundaries and its connection to universal emotional landscapes.

Verticals

artculture

Originally published on Artnet News on 2/18/2026