Born in Mella, province of Santiago de Cuba, visual artist Yanela Ruano discovered her passion for painting at an early age. Her works began to stand out for their color and originality, leading her to exhibit in various local galleries. Yanela’s talent made her a young promise of Cuban art, capturing the essence of her home in each brushstroke. Influenced by the artistic environment that developed in her hometown, she began painting at a very young age; exhibiting for the first time at the age of 12. Since then, her days were filled with colors and canvases, developing her own style that combines traditional elements with a contemporary vision.

Awards and mentions
First Prize. Provincial Festival of Amateurs of the FEEM (Federation of Secondary School Students) 1998.
First Prize. Territorial Salon of Plastic Arts. Moa, Holguín, 2001.
Second Prize. IV Salon of Religious Art. Organized by the San Antonio María Claret Missionary Cultural and Animation Center. “The Parables of Jesus” Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
First Prize. “Christmas Salon”. San Antonio María Claret Missionary Cultural and Animation Center. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
Special Mention. ESPINCE Salon. Moa, Holguín, 2002.
Prize at the “Plastic-Identity” Salon, Sibanicú Art Gallery, Camagüey, 2004.
Third Prize. V Religious Art Salon: “The Miracles of Jesus” convened by the San Antonio María Claret Cultural and Missionary Animation Center, Santiago de Cuba, 2004.
Special Mention in the V Salon of Arts “Plastic and Identity”, Sibanicú, Camagüey, 2005.
First Prize “WOMEN SING TO LIFE”. Francisco Prat Puig Cultural Center. Office of the Curator. Santiago de Cuba 2007.
Mention. SUBA Plastic Arts Biennial. Bogotá. Colombia 2007.

Publications:
Articles about his work have been published in:
“Tiempos Góticos”, “Programa Cultural” magazine, published by the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana.
“Tiempos Góticos”, Digital Magazine “OPUS – Habana”, Vol. 3, No. 5, February 10, 2006. http://www.opushabana.cu/index.php/noticias/26-artes-visuales/456-
Walking after the Havana tram. Opus Habana Magazine. August 7, 2012. http://www.opushabana.cu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3507&Itemid=44

Events in which he has participated
Territorial event of popular art. Santa Clara, 2000
ESPINCE” sculpture, painting and ceramics event, Moa, Holguín, 2001.
International Naïve Art Events. Mella, Santiago de Cuba, 1995-2003.
Caribbean Culture Festival (Fire Festival). Santiago de Cuba, 2002.
“Valentín Sanz Carta” Plastic Arts Event. Camagüey, 2002.
Caribbean Culture Festival (Fire Festival). Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
“Valentín Sanz Carta” Plastic Arts Event, Sibanicú, Camagüey, 2005.
IV Landscape Art Workshop, Santiago de Cuba, 2005.

Personal exhibitions in Cuba
Mella Municipal Library. Santiago de Cuba, 1995.
Exhibition: “Fantasy”. Mella Studio Room. Santiago de Cuba, 1997.
Exhibition: “Heritage”. Mella Video Room, Santiago de Cuba, 1998.
Exhibition: “Suggestions”. Art Gallery. Moa, Holguín, 2003.
Exhibition: “The Other Edge of the Landscape”. 1927 Gallery. Cultural Athenaeum. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
Exhibition: “Gothic Times”, Alliance Française, Santiago de Cuba, 2004.
Exhibition: “Autumn Effect”, Casa del Caribe, Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
Exhibition: “Autumn Effect”, ACAA Gallery, Matanzas, 2005.
Exhibition: “Gothic Times”, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, 2005.
Exhibition: “Gothic Times”, Exhibition Hall of the Casa de Iberoamérica, Holguín, 2005
Exhibition: “Ampárame”, Casa del Joven Creador, Bayamo, 2005.
Exhibition: “Gothic Times”, White Room of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, Havana City, 2006.
Exhibition: “Autumn Effect”, Hotel Florida, Old Havana. 2007.
Exhibition: “Following the trail of the Havana tram”, Casa de las tejas verdes, Havana. Summer 2012.
Expo: “Trams in Havana”, Government Palace, Old Havana, November 2012.
Expo: “Debt and nostalgia”, Hotel Parque Central, Old Havana, 2013.

Collective exhibitions in Cuba.
“Luis Díaz Eduardo” Cultural Workshop. Santiago de Cuba, 1994.
Casa del Caribe. Santiago de Cuba, 1996.
Headquarters of the Provincial Delegation of CITMA. Santiago de Cuba, 2000.
“Compartimentos” Exhibition. Universal Art Gallery. Santiago de Cuba, 2001.
“XI Territorial Plastic Arts Exhibition” Exhibition, Art Gallery. Moa, Holguín, 2001.
“II Valentín Sanz Carta Plastic Arts Exhibition” Exhibition, Art Gallery. Sibanicú, Camagüey, 2003.
“IV Religious Art Exhibition, The Parables of Jesus” Exhibition, San Antonio María Claret Cultural and Missionary Animation Center. Church of the Holy Trinity. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
“I Christmas Exhibition” Exhibition, San Antonio María Claret Cultural and Missionary Animation Center. Church of the Holy Trinity. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.
Exhibition: “Experimental Landscape”, Alejo Carpentier Gallery, Camagüey, 2004.
Exhibition: “Plastic Art and Identity”, Camagüey Art Center, 2004.
V National Salon of Religious Art: “The Miracles of Jesus”, San Antonio María Claret Cultural and Missionary Animation Center. Church of the Holy Trinity. Santiago de Cuba, 2004.
Exhibition: “Women Sing to Life”. Second Salon of Female Plastic Art in Santiago de Cuba, Pratt Puig Cultural Center, Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
IV Salon of Landscape Art, Oriente Gallery, Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
Exhibition: Ruano Family, Elvira Cape Provincial Library, Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
VI National Salon of Religious Art: “The Virgin of Charity, symbol of communion”, San Antonio María Claret Cultural and Missionary Animation Center. Church of the Holy Trinity. Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
Expo “II Christmas Salon” San Antonio María Claret Missionary Cultural and Animation Center. Church of the Holy Trinity. Santiago de Cuba, 2005.
Expo: “Women Sing to Life”. Second Salon of Female Plastic Arts in Santiago de Cuba, Pratt Puig Cultural Center, Santiago de Cuba, 2006.
Expo: «Son of a Cat…» Morro Cabaña Park. Havana City 2006.

Collective exhibitions abroad
“Hércules Coruñés” Room. Galicia, Spain, 1994.
“Carrilana” Café-Theater. Galicia, Spain, 1996.
“Odeón” Café-Theater. Galicia, Spain, 1996.
“Young Latin American Artists” Exhibition. House of Latin America. Lisbon, Portugal, 2000.
Exhibition “Cuban Plastic Arts Showcase”. Braga Exhibition Park. Portugal, 2000.
Exhibition at the Cuban Pavilion at the Lisbon World Expo. Portugal, 1998.
Exhibition “Three are three” Art Gallery. Portalegre. Portugal, 2000.
Exhibition at the Cuban Pavilion at the Bazaar of the Diplomatic Ladies. “Loyola” School. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2001.
Exhibition at the Cuban Stand at the Embassy Fair. National Theater of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2001.

Yanela has participated in the creation of 5 murals in the Mella municipality, as well as in the creation of several carpets with natural materials in the same place.
Creation of the mural “North of Mali”, (2.88 x 1.50 m). Located at the Embassy of Mali in Havana, 2003.
Caribbean mural located at the House of Popular Religions (Casa del Caribe 2), Santiago de Cuba, 2004.
Environmental mural at the Hotel Deportivo in Santiago de Cuba. 2006.
He has works in other diplomatic offices, the Cuban Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
For two consecutive years, he has worked with a team of artists in the design and decoration of the Calle de los Recuerdos. Carnivals 2002 and 2003. El Tivolí, Santiago de Cuba.