Celia Vive! A Legacy Beyond Music and Art

On October 10, 2026, the Miramar Cultural Center hosted a celebration honoring the life, music, and extraordinary legacy of Celia Cruz, the legendary Queen of Salsa and one of the most influential figures in Latin American music.

Celia Vive! A Musical Tribute to Celia Cruz featured acclaimed singer Lucrecia, accompanied by the Celia Cruz All Stars Band, in a musical tribute to an artist whose unmistakable voice, charisma, and vibrant spirit transcended generations and borders.

Visitors exploring Roselle Gallery's exhibition honoring Celia Cruz at the Miramar Cultural Center, October 10, 2026. Artworks by Esteban Machado Díaz. Photography: Carlos Beltrán.

A Tribute Through Visual Art

As part of this celebration, Roselle Gallery presented a special exhibition featuring works by Cuban artist Esteban Machado Díaz, created in honor of Celia Cruz's centennial.

Through his distinctive artistic language, Machado Díaz invites audiences to discover dimensions of Celia that extend beyond her celebrated musical career. His paintings explore spirituality, memory, personal relationships, and the remarkable vitality that made her an enduring cultural icon.

The exhibition featured four works:

• Como una diosa (Like a Goddess)
• Homenaje a Celia (Tribute to Celia)
• Noche de estrellas (Night of Stars)
• Alma con alma (Soul to Soul)

Together, these paintings offer different perspectives on Celia's life, her artistic journey, and the people who helped shape her legacy.

Where Music and Painting Meet

Lucrecia's performance brought a deeply moving dimension to the evening. Her artistry, stage presence, and connection to Celia Cruz's musical repertoire celebrated the enduring power of songs that remain woven into the cultural identity of generations.

Acclaimed singer Lucrecia alongside paintings by Esteban Machado Díaz, presented by Roselle Gallery as part of Celia Vive! A Musical Tribute to Celia Cruz. Photography: Carlos Beltrán.

Alongside the concert, Roselle Gallery's exhibition offered visitors another way to experience the Queen of Salsa: through imagery, symbolism, and visual storytelling that illuminate both her public legacy and her humanity.

Together, music and painting created a meaningful dialogue, demonstrating how different artistic disciplines can preserve, reinterpret, and celebrate a shared cultural heritage.

Lucrecia performs alongside the Celia Cruz All Stars Band during Celia Vive! A Musical Tribute to Celia Cruz at the Miramar Cultural Center, October 10, 2026. Photography: Carlos Beltrán.

Preserving Latin American Cultural Memory

For Roselle Gallery, participating in this tribute reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting Latin American art and creating meaningful encounters between artistic expression, history, and cultural identity.

The gallery extends its gratitude to the Miramar Cultural Center, the Celia Cruz Foundation, Omer Pardillo Cid, Lucrecia, and everyone who contributed to making this celebration possible.

Some voices never fade. Some stories deserve to be told again and again. And some legacies continue to find new ways to inspire.

Celia lives on, and her legacy continues to inspire us.

Discover the Exhibition — The Queen of Salsa

Event: Celia Vive! A Musical Tribute to Celia Cruz
Date: October 10, 2026
Venue: Miramar Cultural Center
Art Exhibition: Roselle Gallery
Featured Artist: Esteban Machado Díaz
Photography: Carlos Beltrán