STATE OF MIND
5/27/2009 3:52:12 PM by Yoshi Sanz
Stepping into Romero Britto’s private studio in Midtown, one can’t help but smile, especially if the artist is hard at work on one of his colorful creations. Described as “art with optimism,” the artist’s canvases and sculptures are as infectious as the inevitable paint-splashes in his workspace and his world-class smile.
Throughout his career — which began selling artwork on the streets of Coconut Grove while working odd jobs to support his passion — the Brazilian neo-pop artist, painter and sculptor has created a unique artistic signature for himself by combining elements of pop art, cubism and graffiti in his cartoon-style, candy-colored works that reflect Florida’s unmatched cultural vibe. “I try to create a completely new expression that reflects my optimism toward the world around me,” he says. “I want my art to be music to people’s eyes.” And he does just that through his use of pulsating color palates, vibrant images, surreal pop themes and powerful compositions.
As a child growing up in Recife, Brazil, his creativity made him shine amongst his eight siblings. He would often be found creating masterpieces on scraps of newspaper and cardboard in his humble neighborhood, as his family could not afford proper canvases. His big break came in 1989 when Absolut vodka selected him to design a custom art label for what became one of the most successful ad campaigns in history. His participation put him on the art map in the company of legends such as Warhol and Haring, who were also commissioned for the famed vodka campaign. As a result, Romero became an international phenomenon and was consequently selected to create larger-than-life installations throughout the city and abroad. Today, his work is shown in galleries and museums across five continents including an original work in the prestigious Salon Nacionale des Beaux Arts in the Louvre Museum in December 2008.
Among his many achievements are commiss
Besides Florida, his work can also be found in hundreds of public spaces, museums and private collections throughout the world. Most recently, he has expanded his efforts to include several eco-friendly initiatives including designing t-shirts for the Going Green Project in Miami, creating a Tetrapak carton for O.N.E. (One Natural Experience) Coconut Water available at Whole Foods to benefit The Brazil Foundation, and establishing a line of shirts with an eco-friendly organization called Earth Happy. Other notable tangents he’s taken throughout the years include a living canvas performed by Cirque do Soleil in honor of Super Bowl XLI; several series of postage stamp designs for the United Nations Postal Administration; a custom piano for Steinway & Sons’ 150th Anniversary; a limited-edition watch for TechnoMarine; a cruise-we
When it comes to his family and community, Romero is equally passionate, and admits to frequently painting portraits of his wife Cheryl and 21-year-old son Brendan, an aspiring filmmaker. Never forgetting his humble beginnings, giving back has become one of his top priorities. As such, he founded The Britto Foundation in 2007 as a medium to lend his time, resources and talent to philanthropic initiatives throughout the world. “My goal is to help nurture the artistic and cultural endeavors of youth while encouraging children in education and literacy programs within the most vulnerable populations on the planet,” he says. “I believe these priorities are fundamental to building better communities and changing the lives of some of our most underserved youth by helping them get closer to their dreams.”
As he plans to continue taking his artwork to the next level, Britto has one goal in mind: “I want to spread joy and happiness through my work to as many people as possible,” he says. “My art is for everybody.” And with that, he’s off to create another masterpiece.