Have you ever envisioned a place that never existed?

One of Cuba's most prominent artists and the National Arts Club artist-in-residence, Carlos Quintana, has, and he's captured this bold and imaginative place on canvas through his first solo exhibition in New York called "Images of a Place that Never Existed." The exhibition will be on view to the public at the prestigious and historic gem, the The National Arts Club until May 30.

"Quintana's work combines the iconography of Cuba, the East and the West's contemporary and traditional styles, to create large format oil paintings, that present us with a dream-like universe of vivid colors and rich textures from which powerful yet poetic figures emerge. Known for his irrepressible energy, Quintana's images are full of metaphoric and humorous gestures, often disturbing, but always seductive," according to The National Arts Council.

Given the recent developments in the restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba, not only is the political landscape shifting, but "the interest in the country's dynamic artists is growing exponentially."  

Quintana's work has been exhibited across the globe with shows in Beijing, Havana, Madrid, Miami and New York. Born in Cuba in 1966, Quintana attended the famed San Alejandro Academy of Art and lived and worked in Madrid for 11 years before returning to Cuba in 2004.

"I understand art as a way of moderate and constant salvation, within the mystery that is life, and being conscious of it. Art is in itself an unsolvable mystery," Quintana shared with Latin Post. "True art, the one that endures, leaves in us permanent traces -- a mystery within another mystery. It's the way to understand myself and it explains why I am here, even if I can't explain it all.

"Art, and painting in particular, has been a daily savior for me; a physical exercise of the soul, of the senses, and of the body I inhabit, looking for solutions to problems I can barely grasp," he added. "It's to be connected to a current of aesthetical and philosophical experiences that exist in the world I know, and the world before I came to be, and the one that will continue after it and it's flowing incessantly." 

Recently, The National Arts Club and its Fine Arts Committee, directed by Dianne B. Bernhard, teamed up with ArtOnCuba Magazine to celebrate Quintana, as well as ArtOnCuba Magazine's U.S. launch.  

ArtOnCuba, which was also a part of the Cuban Culture Festival New York, was created by American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba "to celebrate its 15th anniversary building cultural bridges between the U.S. and Cuba through art projects."

Prominent guests, including Carol Rosenberg, Dr. Alex Rosenberg, acclaimed photographers Anton Perich and Michael Halsband attended The National Arts Club's historic location to view Quintana's impressive collection.

During the colorful exhibit Bernhard pointed out that there has been a longtime affection for Cuban art here in the U.S., despite past political constraints. "Since the release of Buena Vista Social Club, Americans have been captivated by a culture that remained hidden for so long," she said.

Bernhard added that Quintana's "art crosses boundaries."

Carol Rosenberg, a trailblazer in bringing Cuban art to the U.S., also reiterated Cuba's significance in the art world before introducing ArtOnCuba Magazine's Editorial Director, Hugo Cancio.

Along with Carol Rosenberg, a Fine Arts guru, professor, author and Senior Appraiser of Personal Property/Fine Arts with almost 40 years of experience, Dr. Alex Rosenberg, shared his enthusiasm and love of art in Cuba.

Having visited Cuba for 25 years, he has witnessed its culturally rich evolution in the field of fine arts, which has included Quintana's progressive body of work.

"I watched Carlos develop over the last few years, and in fact, the last few years I could see a maturity in his work. He's at the peak of his career," Dr. Rosenberg said to Latin Post. "He's a neo-expressionist...He's has very powerful work."

While Dr. Rosenberg has had the opportunity to see talent thrive in Cuba for decades, most Americans haven't had the privilege of being exposed to its top-notch Cuban talent that has "international standing" from Tokyo, Mexico City and beyond.

While many established Cuban artists already have their foot in the international art scene, having more Americans visit Cuba will also help benefit up-and-coming artists.

"Through my work, I've temporarily joined this great current that we could call THE HISTORY OF ART, due to the work of masters, great artisans, and men of thought and words who ordered and classified and commented on the different known events that are part of it. Amongst other things," Quintana said.

"In art, it isn't about the value or what somebody said about it, it's how you see it. 'Does it do something for you when you look at it?' Dr. Alex Rosenberg said. "I think Carlos' work is inspiring to most people."

Quintana's "Images of a Place that Never Existed'  is on view at The National Arts Club in New York until May 30, 2015.