Art Gallery

Owner and operator of Acamaya Reef Cabins in Puerto Morelos Mexico, Denis Urbain, has a long and colorful history. Colorful because of the many places and events in life he has experienced, and colorful because of the rainbow of paints he has put to canvas since his childhood. From Versailles, to French Indochina, to the Carribean Shores of Mexico, Denis has the technical expertise with canvas to put his rich life experiences in a unique art form for all to enjoy.

Denis held his first public exhibit when he was only 18 years old at the Montpensier Theater Gallery at the Versailles Castle. At age 19, he was chosen to enter the L'Ecole Nationale Superieure des Art-Decoratifs and later post-graduated in the same school in the paintings section at the Henri Matisse workshop.

In the 1960's, Denis spent time studying with other painters including Pablo Picasso. Some of Denis' s exhibits include Salon des Independants, Salon D'Automne, Salon des Artistes Francais, Jeune Peinture, and Galerie-Charpentier.

In 1976, Denis travelled to the Gulf of Mexico. The changes in light and color changed his style of painting. He moved to Cuneiforms, a style of art based on colors and forms.

Denis can be found at Acamaya Reef Cabanas today with his wife Daisy and his two sons Denis Frank and Noel. He spends his days cooking and taking care of guests and, or course, painting and sketching.