Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Carlos A. Maciá Papers, circa 1960-1996, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.macicarl
Creators:
Macia, Carlos A., 1951-1994
Dates:
circa 1960-1996
Languages:
The collection is in English and Spanish.
Physical Description:
1.8 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Cuban American painter Carlos A. Maciá measure 1.8 linear feet and date from circa 1960 to 1996. The collection is comprised of biographical materials that includes a video recording of an interview with Maciá conducted by Josh Greenman; correspondence; personal business records; printed materials; artwork that includes paintings, drawings and prints; and photographs, slides, and negatives depicting Maciá, works of art, friends and family, and still lifes photographed by Maciá.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Cuban American painter Carlos A. Maciá measure 1.8 linear feet and date from circa 1960 to 1996. The collection is comprised of biographical materials that includes a video recording of an interview with Maciá conducted by Josh Greenman; correspondence; personal business records; printed materials; artwork that includes paintings, drawings and prints; and photographs, slides, and negatives depicting Maciá, works of art, friends and family, and still lifes photographed by Maciá.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as six series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1972-1994 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1981-1996 (Box 1; 5 folders)
  • Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1977-1996 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Printed Materials, circa 1971-1996 (Box 1, OV 5; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 5: Artwork, circa 1970-circa 1989 (Box 1, OVs 3-4, 6-8; 0.4 linear feet)
  • Series 6: Photographic Materials, circa 1960-circa 1989 (Box 1-2, OV 5; 0.7 linear feet)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Carlos A. Maciá (1951-1994) was a painter in Miami, Florida and Barcelona, Spain.
Maciá was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. at age 11. He attended Miami Springs Senior High School before studying to become a monk at the Convento de Franciscanos in Spain in 1970. He left the convent after a year and went on to study art at the San Fernando Academy in Madrid. In 1972 he returned to Miami to attend Miami Dade Community College. He continued his studies at Barry College where he received a bachelor's degree in theology and philosophy in 1977. In 1983 he received a master's degree in theology. Maciá's interest in theology was a frequent theme in his artwork.
Early in his career Maciá worked with collages and etchings. In 1987, he moved to Barcelona to make a series of handmade books and boxes. He is also known for creating building facades and large-scale works. When in Miami, Maciá worked in the bedroom of his parents' house in Hialeah.
Maciá was awarded the Florida Arts Council Fellowship in 1982 and in 1984 the prestigious Cintas Fellowship. He exhibited his work internationally and has works in permanent museum collections in Boston, Barcelona, and Paris. Maciá died in 1994.

Administration

Author
Sarah Mundy
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated in 1997 by Celinda Maciá, Carlos A. Maciá's mother.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2018.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Carlos A. Maciá Papers, circa 1960-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters -- Florida -- Miami Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuban American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Video recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Spain -- Barcelona Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Latino and Latin American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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