Wifredo Lam was born in 1902 in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, to a Chinese immigrant father and a mother of Spanish and African descent. His mixed heritage influenced his exploration of Afro-Cuban imagery throughout his career. In 1916, his family moved to Havana, where he initially studied law before enrolling at the Havana School of Fine Arts. Lam began with traditional realist styles, painting landscapes and still lifes, but a scholarship to Madrid's Academy of Fine Arts in 1923 expanded his horizons. Inspired by the works of Goya, Lam’s early paintings increasingly reflected his concern with war and human suffering.

After the tragic loss of his first wife and son to tuberculosis in 1931, Lam’s grief shaped his art. His experiences as a soldier in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 also left a lasting impact, and he often depicted dynamic, tumultuous scenes. In 1938, Lam moved to Paris, where he befriended Picasso and other leading artists. Although associated with Surrealism, Lam never fully embraced the movement, instead blending Cubism, modernism, and his own unique influences.

Returning to Cuba in 1941 after 18 years abroad, Lam was struck by the political and racial inequalities there. His work became more focused on Cuban culture, incorporating vibrant colours and Afro-Cuban symbols, as well as references to Santería. His distinctive depictions of masks and hybrid figures came to represent the social and political tensions of Cuba. Lam continued to work in various media, including ceramics and sculpture, until his death in 1982. A retrospective of his work was held at Tate Modern in 2017, and his legacy is honoured at a centre in Havana.