Dalia Margarita Condis

Born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, in 1930, she was truly ahead of her time. One of eleven children, she came from humble beginnings, much like many families of her era. As a teenager, she dreamed of becoming a flamenco dancer and also worked as a model — possessing the beauty and charisma to light up any stage she stepped on. However, her father, a strict disciplinarian, guided her away from the spotlight and toward the visual arts — a decision for which her family remains deeply grateful.

In the late 1940s, she moved to Havana to study at the prestigious San Alejandro School of Art. She often recalled seeing Wilfredo Lam on campus, sharing the halls with some of Cuba’s most celebrated artists. During her time there, she had a serendipitous encounter with a kind stranger who helped lift her onto a bus — her petite frame making it difficult to board. That man would later become her husband, Rafael Condis. They married in 1953 and went on to have three children: Dalia, Gisela, and Ralph. Dalia would go on to study and exhibit her work internationally, with exhibitions in England, Canada, Spain, France, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Czechoslovakia, and Venezuela.

In 1968, the family immigrated to the United States. With no jobs and no knowledge of English, they courageously began a new chapter. As a gifted artist, she took to the streets of New York City, knocking on gallery doors in search of work. One gallery finally offered her a position — under the condition that she produce large canvases every four hours for just ten dollars apiece. These works were later resold for hundreds, sometimes even thousands.

When it became clear that this path would not provide a sustainable future, her husband stepped in. Upon being denied fair compensation, he gathered her paintings and walked out. That moment marked a turning point in their family’s journey and laid the foundation for their future in America. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jersey City State College, now known as NJCU.

In 1970, she opened her first art school on Park Avenue in Union City, New Jersey. What began modestly grew into more than four decades of teaching and artistic influence. She became a beloved fixture of Hudson County — admired and known by students, artists, and community members alike. Her artwork earned recognition from numerous public figures, including an invitation to the White House, where she had the honor of meeting President George H. W. Bush.

A devoted advocate for a free Cuba, she instilled in her family a deep love for Cuban culture, human rights, free speech, and gratitude for the opportunities the United States provided. Though she never returned to her beloved homeland, Cuba lived on in her work — through every mountain range and palm tree she painted. In this way, she never truly left.

She is survived by her children: Dalia and her husband Ariel; Gisela and her husband Claro; and Ralph and his wife Maria. Her legacy lives on through her grandchildren: Michael; Jennifer and her husband JJ; Venessa and her husband Charles; Yvette and her partner Karen; Cassandra and her husband Aroldo; Adrian; and Tristan. She also leaves behind five great-grandchildren: Jacob, Sofia, Rosalina, Noah, and Danny.

Her spirit lives on not only in her family, but in the countless artists she mentored and the Cuban American community she proudly uplifted — all of whom continue to carry forward the dream of a free Cuba.