Ricardo Lion Molina

Ricardo “Lion” Molina was born in Cuba in 1957. He started painting at the age of 13 and attended the San Alejandro School of Art in Havana to further develop his artistic skills. Lion came to the United States in 1980 to pursue his passion. He spent many years establishing a life here, and was able to return to art – painting, sculpture and leather goods – in the late 1990s, which he engaged in fully until he passed in August of 2021.

Lion’s artwork takes one on a visual journey through an artist’s creative exploration. Many of his large-scale paintings focus on realistic, African scenes of men, women and children in ceremonial masks and landscapes, as well as African wildlife. In these paintings, one can really see how Lion appreciated the play of light and shadow that makes a painting come to life. However, Lion also explored abstractions in his paintings, as well as demonstrated deep interest in craft artistry displayed in his leather goods.

Running Wild
Ricardo Lion Molina
60 x 38
Oil on Canvas
1999
$5000

Masks – I Am Not Myself
Ricardo Lion Molina
27 x 36
Oil on Canvas
2004
$3500

Cotton Boy
Ricardo Lion Molina
36 x 24
Oil on Canvas
2001
$4000

Wodaabe
Ricardo Lion Molina
50 x 36
Oil on Canvas
2003