Romero Britto

Romero Britto
Born Recife, Brazil
Nationality Brazilian
Known for Painting, Sculpture
Movement Pop Art

Romero Britto (born October 6, 1963) is a Brazilian artist, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor. He combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work, using vibrant colors and bold patterns as a visual expression of hope and happiness.

Biography

Born in Recife, on the Northeast side of Brazil, Britto lived an extremely modest childhood while growing up among a big family of eight brothers and sisters. However, his innate creativity allowed Britto to fill his life with images of a bigger and more beautiful world beyond his own. Self-taught at an early age, he painted what he saw and what he imagined on surfaces such as newspapers, cardboard or any scraps that he could find. With an inordinate passion to excel, he prospered academically. Still, Britto's artistic nature eventually led him to seek experiences outside the classroom. In 1983, Britto went to Paris, France where he was introduced to the works of Matisse and Picasso. After exhibiting in a few galleries and private shows, Britto was encouraged to travel to the United States where Pop Art was flourishing.[1]

Britto has lived in Miami, Florida since 1989. Shortly after Britto arrived in the United States, Michel Roux, founder of Absolute Vodka's Absolute Art Ad Campaign, happened to stop by Britto's first studio in Coconut Grove, Florida. Roux quickly asked Britto to reinterpret the famous bottle, which would be published and seen by millions. Britto was part of major international art fairs, among them were FIAC Paris and Art Salon Hong Kong. His exhibitions were shown around the globe some of which were the 2016 Presidential campaign of Governor Jeb Bush as well as for Monsanto, Bain Capital, Movado, Philip Morris, Academi (formerly Blackwater), Disney, Enrico Coveri, Pepsi, the United Nations, BMW and Royal Caribbean Cruises.[2] Britto has one main art gallery in Miami, on South Beach on Lincoln Road. His name has been featured in well-known media including Forbes, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, ARTNews and more.

Legacy and Community Contribution

Romeo Britto's motto is "Art is too important not to share." He dedicates a lot of his time and talent to international organizations such as St. Jude’s Children's Hospital, the American Red Cross, and Best Buddies International. He has been a significant contribution to protecting and preserving the Brazilian Rainforest, assisting the ill, funding AIDS research, and much more. Along with his artwork, this has helped build his well-reputed name. His passion for helping the community has led him to create the Britto Foundation in 2007. The foundation supports education and philanthropy for children. Based in Miami, the organization aims to nurture people's aspirations in art and culture and to help them engage more deeply in education and literacy programs, as well as positively contribute to the needs of those in more vulnerable populations. Through Britto's community initiatives, he aims to use his talent and knowledge to helps those less fortunate.

Works on display

In the United States, Europe and Asia

Welcome at the sculpture garden at the Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Honors and awards

  • Romero Britto was honored as theme of Renascer de Jacarepaguá samba school in its 2012 Carnival parade. Britto himself took part of the parade on Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí.[3]
  • Montreux Jazz Festival - featured Artist of the Year, Montreux, Switzerland
  • "Marina's Garden" created for an education and cultural project involving children from different high schools for a paint-workshop event in Witten, Germany
  • Global Summit of Women - Collaboration with European luxury brand MCM to commemorate their 20th anniversary
  • Kindred Spirits Help Kids - Romero Britto and Jeff Koons collaborated to help children in need
  • Project Medishare - A dispatch relief program working in association with Dr. Barth Green and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine staff to Haiti
  • Best Buddies Friendship Bear - sculpture for the Time Warner Center in New York City
  • Royal Caribbean's cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, incorporates a BRITTO concept store
  • CNN Icons - features Romero Britto
  • Bentley Motors commissioned Romero Britto to paint their one of a kind concept car titled "The Britto Bentley"
  • FIFA - Britto hosts a painting workshop benefitting FIFA's charity program "Football for Hope" in South Africa

Political views

Britto is a conservative, hosting a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush at his Miami studio in 2015,[4] where he unveiled a mural that he and Jeb Bush's wife Columba had painted with the slogan "#AllInForJeb".[5] Previously, Britto held a fundraiser at his gallery for 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.[6]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Britto's Website 2015
  2. ↑ Minkara 2004
  3. ↑ (Portuguese)"Homenagem a artista Romero Britto abre desfiles da Sapucaí". Reuters (Brazil). 2012-02-20.
  4. ↑ Parker, Ashley (6 December 2015). "Bush Team Tries to Soothe Donor Concerns". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Bustos, Sergio (5 December 2015). "Jeb Bush campaign's rainbow of colors goes on display". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Burton, Rebecca (25 June 2011). "Mitt Romney Visits Miami: Former Massachusetts Governor holds fundraiser on Lincoln Road". WTVJ NBC Miami. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
Bibliography

Minkara, Ahmad (October 2004). "Romero Britto". Tufts University School of Medicine Magazine. Retrieved 7 April 2011.

Britto, Romero. "Romero Britto Biography". Britto's Website. Retrieved 14 August 2015.

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