Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, known as LuisMa, has opened a new art exhibit at the Freedom Tower in Miami. As a co-founder of the San Isidro Movement in Havana, he spent years fighting government censorship and state-mandated restrictions on artistic expression in Cuba.
Following his 2021 arrest for protest-related charges, he served time in Guanajay maximum-security prison. He was released on July 7, 2026, and subsequently ordered to leave his home country. He arrived in Miami on July 18 under humanitarian parole, though he was forced to leave his son behind in Cuba.
The exhibit, titled 'nos encontramos,' features pieces created by Otero Alcántara during his time in prison. The artist describes these works as physical representations of the suffering and mental state he experienced while incarcerated. His presence at the Freedom Tower marks a significant moment for the exiled dissident community.
Presented by the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College, the show highlights the ongoing struggle for creative freedom. Otero Alcántara remains vocal about his hopes for political change in Cuba and the importance of open expression.