The Key West Art & Historical Society recently acquired a culturally significant woodcarving created by Cuban American folk artist Mario Sanchez. The carving joins another 200 Sanchez works already part of its permanent collection. The society maintains the largest assemblage of the artist’s works and personal artifacts, ranging from paper bag sketches to handcrafted paper kites and intricate woodcarvings.
This particular work, “Elegant Lady,” portrays a Bahama Village street scene at the intersection of Petronia and Thomas streets with the Blue Heaven restaurant serving as a backdrop.
Acquired from the estate of Frank and Sylvia Kelley, winter residents of Key West for several years, the woodcarving was originally obtained directly from the artist by the Kelleys and was proudly displayed in their home until their passing in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The society’s purchase was made possible through its Acquisition Fund that was established as a bequest from the Margo Golan Charitable Remainder Trust in 2010. Golan was an avid patron of Sanchez during his long career and established the fund to grow the society’s permanent collection, giving priority to the purchase of noteworthy works created by Sanchez.
Sanchez, a Key West native, is among this country’s most recognized folk artists. The self-taught artist was born in Key West in 1908, the grandson of Cuban immigrants. In the 1940s, at the urging of his mother-in-law, he began creating intricate carvings depicting life in Key West as he remembered from his childhood. Of his work, Sanchez adopted as his motto: “Se que mi modesto arte no es bueno, pero gusta,” or “I know my modest art isn’t good, but it pleases.” Sanchez works are held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
“Over the past several years, as part of its vision to expand its collection and best represent its area, the Key West Art & Historical Society has placed a particular emphasis on acquiring works by artists from the Florida Keys that exemplify our diverse community,” said Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the society. “This woodcarving, along with many others, will go on display in early 2025 at the Key West Museum of Art & History in a special exhibition devoted to Sanchez on the twentieth anniversary of his death.”The Sanchez woodcarving has been digitized and is available for viewing on the society’s website at kwahs.org/collections. More information is available from Convertito at 305-295-6616 ext. 507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org.
