Romero
Britto's Celebration of Life
By Brandon Huigens
His innovative, staggeringly universal style has been
characterized as neo-pop
cubism, which breaks down images from pop culture, combining
1960’s-style pop art with a neoteric cubist interpretation
and a dash of graphitti.
Some have called him “The Pop Picasso”.
Others refer to him as “The Brazilian Andy Warhol”.
Admirers and collectors of his work, including celebrities
Michael Jordan, Arnold Schwartzenegger, and families
such as the Guggenheims, the Rothschilds, and the Kennedys
might be heard discussing him in the same breath as
legendary painters Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miro, and
Paul Klee.
Accolades and comparisons aside, Romero Britto simply
wants his art to reflect celebration of life. “My
style is pop art and often called neo cubism pop art
because of the hard black edges,” he explains.
“My main
objective with my art is to bring a smile to everyone’s
face that sees it.”
Born on the northern coast of Brazil in the town of
Racife in 1963, Romero Britto was the seventh of nine
children. Starting very young, he began painting and
drawing on scraps of cardboard, newspapers - whatever
he could get his hands on was his canvas. By the age
of eight, he’d become adept in several
artistic mediums including watercolors, pen and ink,
and fi nger painting. Growing up in a large family inspired
him to learn to express himself, and his dreams, through
art.
“Having a huge family gave me support. Painting
brought peace, calm and security for me. My brothers
and
sisters were around but often doing other things. My
paintings were always there for me,” says Britto.
“Animals and the fl owers around me were my inspiration.
All I wanted to do as a child was to paint,” he
continues. In 1979, at the age of seventeen, the precocious
Britto staged his fi rst art exhibition at the Organization
of American States in Brasilia.
Remarkable conviction for an age where most Americans
are fi nishing high school and considering college.
“It was a desire, not conviction,” says
Britto. “As every child, I wanted to create.
The Brasilia show marked the beginning of what would
become a legendary career as one of the most recognized
and beloved artists in the world. It didn’t start
out that way, though. Though his first showing proved
successful, Britto was uncertain of his ability to succeed
as a commercial artist and began attending law school.
Thankfully, this endeavor didn’t last long.
“I realized it was not for me. Although I wanted
to become a Diplomat and open
my mind to a new career, it was not as fulfilling as
art was,” says Britto.
After his artistic studies concluded in Europe, Britto
traveled to the United States to seek viability as an
artist. He found what he was looking for when Absolut
Vodka commissioned him to join a team of artists on
a worldwide ad campaign, and Absolut Britto was launched.
This was the opportunity
Britto had been looking for, and he
capitalized on it.
“The Absolut campaign was the best thing that
could have happened to me,” starts Britto.
“The opportunity that Michael Roux gave me to
and the amount of exposure it brought to my work is
unmatched. I am most proud of that campaign and the
stamps that were produced for the United Nations.”
Needless to say, Britto had found a niche with his bold,
vibrant pallette, mastery of color, and playful spontaneity.
After the Absolut commission 1989, Britto’s work
has become recognized by all walks of life - children
and adults - from London to Japan and everywhere in
between. He opened his own gallery, Britto Central,
in Miami Beach in 1993, where he continues to operate
in his studio and meets with fans - an experience he
says he relishes.
“I love being at the gallery and watching people
take in my work,” says Britto. “It is an
honor to speak with people who are inspired by, and
enjoy, my art. My studio is filled with in progress
work, current commissions and new products.”
Since landing the gig with Absolut, Britto has become
one of the most commercially successful artists of all
time, garnering commissions with notable companies such
as Apple Computers, the American Red Cross,
Disney, IBM, Pepsi Cola, and Grand Marnier, among others.
Additionally, he designed his own Mini Cooper for BMW
and, as mentioned, was tapped by the United Nations
to conceive a series of postage stamps commemorating
Sao Paulo’s 450th anniversary.
His phenomenal success has enabled Britto to contribute
to a myriad of charitable organizations by donating
time, money, and art. This part of his work is something
Britto feels is something he simply should do, but something
he must do.
“Luckily my work can be used to help others and
I especially like to help children’s charities
since they are the future of our society,” he
says. “I feel it is my duty as an artist and human
being to help society.”
Britto’s next endeavor will lead him further into
a different artistic medium, one that he has already
begun leaving his ineffable mark on with last year’s
erection of the four-and-a-half-story sculpture, “Welcome”,
which greets visitors of the Dadeland North Metrorail
Center in Miami, Florida.
“Sculptures!” says Britto of where his career
is headed. “I want to continue my work in sculptures
and hope to have outdoor sculptures exhibited throughout
the world.”
Britto’s presence and style are recognized everywhere,
and he’s helped inspire other artists and keep
pop art fresh and interesting, even here in Phoenix,
where artists inspired by his work fi nd their own paths
in the art community.
While it’s been many years since Romero Britto
began making art, he still loves every minute of it,
though his perspective on his work has changed.
“In the beginning art was my way to express myself
and a means of survival. Now my work has become a desire
and I want to paint everyday because I enjoy it,”
says Britto.
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