For the last five months, Cuban-born, Chicago-based artist Pablo Perea has been working 10-12 hours a day putting the finishing touches on his latest show, "Far From Them."

It opens April 2 at the Havana Gallery. Allison Hill, the gallery's director (and Perea's wife) says the exhibit, consisting of more than 70 paintings of various sizes, is one of his most ambitious shows to date. Perea sees it as a good start.

"I've done over 3,500 pieces of art," he says. "Every morning, I look in the mirror as I brush my teeth and tell myself the past was just the beginning. This exhibit is just a warm-up."

The subject matter of family is especially important to Perea because of current travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. government that went into effect in 2004. Cuban Americans can travel back to Cuba only once every three years and for a period of only two weeks. Perea arrived in the United States in 2003 and won't be able to see his family again until 2006.

Since he moved here to live with his wife, his family in Cuba has welcomed a nephew Perea has never seen. While he keeps in touch through e-mail, he says it's a poor substitute for seeing them face to face.

The exhibit is one way he's been able to keep his family close.

"I've been painting about women for 12 years now," Perea says. "I'm able to represent the history of my family through the female figure."