Areas of Study: Accounting and International Business
![]() Raul Cremata |
There to Here: Cremata worked as an accountant for a developer until 2005. When the company decided to close its doors, he decided he would work at his passion: the arts. He and his wife Lourdes, seasoned world travelers and avid art collectors for the better part of their lives, decided to become curators and seek out exceptional Latin American artists in order to introduce their work in the United States.
Company: Cremata Fine Art Gallery, which opened in February, 2006, showcases the works of many of distinguished artists, including Cremata’s own. He bought 300 pieces of artwork before he opened the gallery but never intended to make the gallery his studio. Once the gallery was open, though, he decided to paint more, since he had been painting for years and had sold his paintings to art dealers with private collections.
As an Artist: His art is a reflection of Cuban–American culture and represents a unique blend of his native Cuba as influenced by his formative years in New York City.
Niche: The art pieces that Cremata sells in his gallery range from $300-$7000. Cremata saw the opportunity to buy quality art and offer extremely good prices in the Miami art market.
Most Challenging Aspect: “Running a gallery is not easy at the beginning, but you figure out how to attract people, teach young collectors about art, and develop a clientele because there is little walk-in traffic”.
Community Involvement: Cremata is president of the Calle Ocho Arts Association and participates in Viernes Culturales/Cultural Fridays, which is held the last Friday of the month to promote Latin music, art, and culture in the historic Little Havana neighborhood of Miami.
Giving back: Cremata will be donating a painting to be displayed in the new College of Business Administration Complex. It will hang near the café in Commons Hall. He also will host the finale of the Business Alumni Chapter’s Art of Networking Series April 17, 2008 at his gallery.