New Work in Progress – Studio Notes From Miami

I’ve been working on a new series of paintings here in Miami, and this one feels different from anything I’ve done before. Water has become a quiet element running through these works — not just literally, but emotionally. There’s something about the tranquility of domestic life here, mixed with this constant feeling of being trapped or kept behind a fence, that keeps showing up in the images. It’s peaceful but tense at the same time, like holding your breath.

Even while I paint, my mind is always on my friends and family in Cuba. Every day there are blackouts, food shortages, uncertainty. That never leaves my thoughts, and I think the weight of that reality is finding its way into these paintings. I’m trying to speak their story in a way that feels honest, not loud or dramatic, but through moments of reflection and quiet observation.

Being in Miami has been a huge source of inspiration. I feel surrounded by my culture in a way that I haven’t felt in years — the language, the humor, the music, the warmth, the diaspora energy that moves through the city. It’s like living inside a reminder of where I come from, and it’s pushing me to paint with more intention and clarity.

These works in progress feel like a new chapter. Still rooted in the same themes I always return to, but with a deeper sense of reflection. I’ll keep documenting the process here as the series grows.

by Gabriel Sanchez