Wifredo Lam (1902-1982) was a Cuban painter of Chinese and African descent, a key figure in modernism. After studying in Madrid, he moved to Paris in 1938, where he met Pablo Picasso, who profoundly influenced his art. His work bridges European surrealism and Afro- Cuban traditions, exploring themes of spirituality, nature, and politics. Among his most famous works are The Jungle, exhibited at the MoMA in New York, and The Bird and the Flower.
Lam participated in numerous prestigious exhibitions, including the MoMA's "Cuban Painters" in 1944. Works by Lam are in the collections of world-renowned museums, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Reina Sofía in Madrid. His art, rich in symbols and hybrid figures, had a significant impact on the development of Latin American modernism.