Cuban American artist, Ana Flores, has always been fond of chickens. As a child in Cuba, she grew up surrounded by chickens. Her favorite cartoon was Looney Tunes’ “Foghorn Leghorn” featuring a big, silly rooster who was always engaged in a losing battle to keep control over the hen house.

She realized at an early age that there was an uncanny resemblance between chickens and human behavior. In adult life, she and her family had free-range chickens at their home and studio in Rhode Island, Artfarm. Besides providing warm eggs, the chickens always provided comic relief. Unfortunately the raccoons and foxes got final control over the Artfarm hen house.

Flores began to recreate her flock for “Cuba Journal”, a large sculptural installation based on her visit back to the island in 2002. She has continued to make the chickens as a way to fund the traveling expenses of the installation and to bring some comic relief into the homes of others.

She can make chickens to match your decor or they can be purchased through the ALVA Gallery, located in New London, Connecticut.

The chickens are paper maché sculptures resting on rocking, wooden platforms. Though they are coated with epoxy resin and durable, they are meant to free range indoors. They are constructed entirely out of recycled materials and each is unique, their size averaging 12”x 16”x 20”. They retail for $350.00. (Shipping is extra.)

Contact ALVA Gallery to purchase your own Cuban Chicken!