Romero Britto

Romero Britto

OK. Everyone has heard of pop artist, Romero Britto. He's just so incredibly prolific and has put his mark in so many venues all over the world. His designs have been on the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, on the Bentley Continental, Absolut Vodka, and his designs also grace Landshark Stadium in Miami (to name a few).

Bentley Continental

He's been photographed with every celebrity you can think of from HRH Prince Charles, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson and G.W. Bush, to our current president. He's everywhere and not everyone likes his art although many do and most children as well. Actually there is a child-like exuberance about his work that I find appealing.  "Joyful" is the term that comes to mind if I were to describe it. Children love his bold color combinations and lively patterns. And now this pop culture marketing genius has come up with his first children's book, My Alphabet Playbook, by Simon & Schuster which teaches youngsters their ABC's.  

 
Britto even has a shop at Miami International Airport, hawking his bold designs on t-shirts and helping to promote the area.  His gallery at 818 Lincoln Road on Miami Beach is a bright, welcoming place, full of vitality and warmth (unlike most art galleries) where, you'll be encouraged to take photos with the art work and friendly staff will readily answer your questions.  You know that there will always be something different, bold and new to see.  If you're in the area, you should stop in and see for yourself. "Joyful" is so very likable!

Tree Hugger ($40,000)

A quick bio:
He "was born in Recife, Brazil on October 6, 1963 as the seventh of nine children. Art first entered Romero’s life when he was a young child but he did not understand art as a profession until his older brother brought home books about famous artists like Toulouse Lautrec. Britto began copying the works of these masters from the books he got from his brother day after day.  Romero has explored many media including watercolor, pen and ink, serigraphy, lithography, acrylic, and even finger paint. Britto’s work embodies the expressionist color patterns of the Fauves, the multi-dimensional facets of Cubism, and the reference to mass culture in Pop Art. With clean, bold, and colorful imagery, Britto subtly delivers strong, poignant messages in a refreshing and upbeat manner."

Karyna