September 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Art & Historical Society is proud to announce the acquisition of a culturally and historically significant woodcarving, along with its original preparatory drawing, by celebrated Cuban American folk artist Mario Sanchez. The newly acquired piece, titled “The Train That Went to Sea: Cayo Paloma (Pigeon Key),” depicts a Henry Flagler Oversea Railway train crossing the original Seven Mile Bridge above Pigeon Key. This acquisition further strengthens the Society’s position as the steward of the largest public collection of Sanchez’s work, which now includes over 200 pieces ranging from preparatory paper bag sketches and handcrafted paper kites to intricately detailed bas-relief woodcarvings.
The woodcarving and its companion drawing were acquired from a private collector who had originally purchased them directly from the artist and displayed them prominently in their home for decades. Funding for the purchase came from the Society’s Acquisition Fund, established through a 2010 bequest from the Margo Golan Charitable Remainder Trust. Golan, a longtime supporter of Sanchez, created the fund to ensure the continued growth of the Society’s permanent collection, with a special focus on acquiring notable works by the artist.
Sanchez, a Key West native, is among this country’s most important folk artists. A self-taught carver, he began creating his signature painted reliefs in the 1940s, chronicling everyday life in Key West of his youth. Sanchez described his humble approached with the phrase, “Se que mi modesto arte no es bueno, pero gusta,” or “I know my modest art isn’t good, but it pleases.” Today, his works are held in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
“The carving spoke to me the moment I saw it,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the Society. “It’s an exceptional example of Sanchez’s ability to turn everyday memories into deeply meaningful works of art. Not only does it showcase his technical mastery, but it also captures a pivotal moment in Florida Keys’ history with incredible detail. The addition of the preparatory drawing makes it even more remarkable. It’s like holding the blueprint to Sanchez’s creative process. Both will be featured in a new permanent gallery devoted to Sanchez, opening later this year at the Key West Museum of Art & History.”
The newly acquired work has been digitized and is now available to view online at www.kwahs.org/collections. To learn more about the acquisition or to contribute to the Society’s Acquisition Fund, please contact Dr. Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
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IMAGE 1: The Key West Art & Historical Society recently acquired Mario Sanchez’s woodcarving “The Train That Went to Sea: Cayo Paloma (Pigeon Key),” along with its original preparatory drawing. The acquisition was made possible through the Margo Golan Acquisition Fund, dedicated to preserving Sanchez’s artistic legacy. (Photo Credit: Key West Art & Historical Society Collection 2025.01.0012).
