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Osvaldo Calixto Amador is a Cuban-American artist who resides in Florida, USA.
Having painted since childhood, his career took off in 2006, when he began exhibiting in local galleries in his hometown and New York City.
Amador debuted his writing career with his memoir, with rave reviews.
"Readers who have dealt with exile, abuse, loss, or prejudice in their own lives will find in Amador a sympathetic storyteller who digs into these feelings with fearlessness and grace.
An affecting memoir about isolation and belonging."
Kirkus Review: To Kill a Cockroach.
"Amador's body of work, both in art and literature, stands as a testament to the transformative potential of art."
New York Weekly
"To Kill a Cockroach uses the simplest of creatures as a stand-in for the existential struggles that everyone faces...The memoir represents a new medium through which Amador explores the intersection of personal and collective experience...Osvaldo Calixto Amador is a rare figure in today's art world."
USA Today
" Through his art and writing, Amador offers a window into the deeper parts of the human experience. Whether exploring the unconcious through abstract shapes or telling a personal story in his memoir, he invites his audience to reflect on their own journey and the unseen forces that shape their lives."
Los Angeles Weekly
"At the heart of To Kill a Cockroach, there is a simple yet profound message: Ordinary folks are the heroes. "Because we move on," Amador says. "We keep living. We have hope.”
The Miami New Times
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
To Kill a Cockroach by Osvaldo Calixto Amador is an autobiography that fully spans the author's troubled childhood in Cuba, his issues with identity, and his search for meaning through art and relationships. Born into hardship and trauma, Amador faced constant relocation, bullying, and neglect, while his mother battled with depression and their separation from Cuba. During this, Amador found happiness in books and art, especially after discovering Black Beauty as a child. His move to self-acceptance was really hard, especially with his strained relationship with his father, reconciling with his sexuality, and painful losses including his dog Toto. Eventually, Amador embraced his identity and his art as an outlet, cultivating a true understanding of himself, and finding peace and purpose in self-love and creative expression.
Osvaldo Calixto Amador’s autobiography is a powerful look at human vulnerability, self-discovery, and empathy, all of which he shares with courage. I like how completely honest his writing is and the sheer volume of what he is willing to share. There is the central metaphor of killing a cockroach, which is a twist on the famed Lee novel, but in Amador's case, I think he does a great job of using it to raise questions about morality, compassion, and conscience. Amador's autobiography is singular in the fact that he was born under communism, isn't heterosexual, and has the odds entirely stacked against him. Still, he prevails, circumventing social expectations for an authentic life. There's a sensitivity and emotional intelligence to his words that come clearly through on the pages. Overall, To Kill a Cockroach is a thoughtful, historic capsule of one man's life and an inspiration to those who read it. Very highly recommended.
