José Ney
José Ney Mila Espinosa, of Cuban/American nationality, was born in Havana on March 4, 1959.
He is a self-taught photographer, recognized within documentary photography and author photography since the mid-1980s. Initially trained as a draftsman, craftsman/artist and civil construction designer, he finally abandoned his architecture career devoting himself entirely to Photography.
To date, his works have participated in more than a hundred exhibitions in specialized spaces around the world and received international awards and distinctions in similar circumstances.
In 2023 his works have been selected by the jury of Larnaca Biennale. The Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts. Larnaca, Chipre and Biennale of Contemporary Sacred Art. Palace des Ambassadeur, Menton. Francia.
He was a member of the International Selection Committee of the International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence, XI and XII edition, invited by its organizers in 2017 and 2019, Florence, Italy.
Selected by the juries of the "VI International Art Biennial SIART 09" and "VII International Art Biennial SIART 2011". The Peace, Bolivia.
Guest artist at the Fotofest 94 (International Biennial of Photography) “The New Generation: Contemporary Cuba Photography from the Island, 1980 to the present” Fotofest. Houston, EE.UU. and the Biennial ¨Photographic Spring 98¨ (Tristan Barbará Gallery) Barcelona, Spain.
Anonymous, nº3. Original mural 1.3m x 1m. 2020. From the Puzzles series.
His work is in various private and public collections such as Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) Houston, TX; Lehigh University Art Galleries Bethlehem, PA; Palmer Museum of Art University Park, PA; Southeast Museum of Photography Daytona Beach, FL. EE.UU; at FFF - Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; the National Institute of Anthropology and History, Mexico City and Fototeca de Cuba among others.
Mental Maps. nº3. Original 60 cm x 60 cm. + 5 Test print. 2023.
From the Puzzles series
Among the distinctions that stand out the most are those awarded for his self-published documentary photobooks, such as “Notes for the end of a century…” in 2020, Bronze Winner, Tokyo International Photo Awards, Japan and AWARD SHORTLIST, London International Creative Competition, England (United Kingdom). Too “The Bull, the last gladiator” in 2020. Awarded the JURY TOP 5 SELECTION and Bronze Winner at the Tokyo International Photo Awards. Japan; Silver Winner (Editorial category) at International Photo Awards, Moscow, Russia and more recently “Land, Land, Land” in 2021, Silver Winner, Tokyo International Photo Awards. Japan; In 2020 Bronze Winner at, Le Prix de la Photography de Paris (PX3), Bronze Winner at Moscow International Photo Awards and Bronze Winner at Budapest International Photo Awards.
His work has been exhibited at the Southeast Photography Museum. Daytona Beach, Florida; Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA), Tampa, FL; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) Houston, TX; The Latin Museum. Omaha, NE and the Menil Collection. Houston, Texas, United States; Museo Nacional de Fotografía. Archivo general del estado. Pachuca, Mexico; Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo. República Dominicana; Museo Tambo Quirquincho, La Paz, Bolivia; Museo de Huelva. Huelva, Spain; Charleroi Museum of Photography. Charleroi, Belgium among others.
Mental Maps. nº10. Original 60 cm x 60 cm. + 5 Test print. 2023.
From the Puzzles series
For his most recent works he has been awarded GOLD (Fine Art/Collage) Le Prix de la Photographie de Paris. PX3 2023, Francia; Silver Winner (Fine Art / Abstract) Moscow International Foto Awards. MIFA 2022. Rusia; #1 (The 10 Best Mobile Photographers) and #5 (The 10 Best Black and White Photographers) in the United States, awarded by One Eyeland 2021 and Second Prize by the International Photography Awards jury, IPA 2019. EE.UU. among others.
Part of his works were selected in catalogs and books such as IPA Book 2019 (International Photography Awards. EE.UU.); Monochrome Awards Annual Book (edition 2021 and edition2018, International Black & White Photography Contest). EE.UU.; Under the Cuban Sun. Throckmorton, 2016. N.Y. EE.UU.; Nosotros los más infieles: narrativas críticas sobre el arte cubano (1993 - 2005) Spain 2008; Memoirs: Cuban plastic arts of the 20th century. California, 2004, EE.UU; 100 años de fotografía cubana. 1998. Madrid; Fotofest´94. Contemporary Photography from the Island, 1980 to the Present. Houston, 1994. EE.UU; Cuban Photography, 1959-1992 Berlin, Germany 1993 and Aproximación crítica a la fotografía latinoamericana actual Spain, 1991 among others.
