Miami-Connected Artist Soraya Abu Naba’a Wins Top Honor at Santo Domingo Biennial

The Gary Nader Art Centre proudly announces that Soraya Abu Naba’a, a Dominican-American artist with strong ties to Miami’s art scene, has been honored at the 31st Biennial of Visual Arts at the Museum of Modern Art in Santo Domingo. Her acclaimed installation, Palo vivo: Between Roots and Memories, was recognized for its immersive reflection on ecology, memory, and Caribbean identity. Abu Naba’a has exhibited multiple times in Miami, where her work continues to resonate within the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.

The installation draws on two rural Caribbean elements—the palo vivo and the pelliza—transforming them into symbols of regeneration and belonging. Using fabric, wood, metal, and paint, Abu Naba’a creates a space where art, body, and nature are interconnected, inspired by the philosophy of deep ecology.

“This award celebrates not only my creative journey, but also the ancestral wisdom that inspires my practice,” said Abu Naba’a.

Gary Nader, founder of the Gary Nader Art Centre, added:

“This recognition highlights Soraya’s powerful voice in Latin American art. Her work honors our roots and reflects on our shared future.”

This award strengthens Abu Naba’a’s international presence and reflects the Gary Nader Art Centre’s commitment to supporting impactful, regionally rooted art. Learn more at www.garynader.com.

By ML statt. Photo Gary Nader Art Centre/Soraya Abu Naba