"The most universal of Cuban painters. He introduced black culture in Cuban painting and developed a renovating work that integrates elements of African and Chinese origin present in Cuba. He carried out the belief that society focused too much on the individual and He tried to show humanity as a whole in his work. His works are in the main museums in Europe, America and other continents. "

He was born on December 8, 1902 in a humble neighborhood of Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, the son of a Chinese merchant and scribe and of a "mulatto criolla", a mixture of African, Spanish and aboriginal blood. From his early years he showed an inclination towards drawing and painting. His contact with African celebrations and spiritual practices turned out to be his greatest artistic influence.

Radically synthesizes surrealist and cubist strategies while incorporating the iconography and spirit of the Afro-Cuban religion. For this reason, his work does not belong singularly to an artistic movement since he painted generic figures, the creation of the universal.

Lam died in Paris on September 11, 1982. He is buried in his hometown.