Key West Exhibition Explores Cuban American Migration, Artistry, Memory

The Studios of Key West posted an announcement on Dec. 15, 2025 that artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez will present WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey in the Sanger Gallery. The exhibition will open Thursday, January 8, 2026 with a public reception and related events, and remain on view through January 29. Rodriguez is known for his work for major publications, and the show will include original drawings from his graphic memoir Worm, new paintings, silkscreened posters, political illustrations, and personal artifacts and family photographs.

The exhibition frames Rodriguez's childhood in Cuba and the Mariel boatlift, tracing migration and artistic practice through visual storytelling. For Monroe County residents, the exhibit offers more than cultural enrichment. It provides a space to reflect on the experiences of migrants and their families, foregrounding the emotional and generational effects of displacement. In a county with a significant tourism economy and a diverse population that includes long settled Cuban American families, the show intersects with local conversations about identity, belonging, and access to services.

Public health and social equity concerns are part of that intersection. Art that documents migration can illuminate trauma, resilience, and the need for culturally competent mental health services. Community gatherings around the exhibition can support social cohesion and reduce isolation, particularly for older residents who lived through periods of migration and for newer arrivals seeking connection. Local health providers, schools, and social service agencies may find opportunities to partner with cultural institutions to expand outreach and trauma informed care, and to provide information about local resources during public events.

The exhibition also has economic and educational implications. The Studios of Key West is a community landmark, and programming tied to the show can draw visitors, support local businesses, and provide learning opportunities for students studying art, history, and civic life. The Sanger Gallery presentation of WORM creates a local forum for dialogue about migration, policy, and the role of art in public life, offering Monroe County residents a chance to see a nationally recognized artist reflect on questions that have shaped this region for decades.