The Journey of an Artist

Romero Britto in front of a Rolls Royce Dawn he painted (above) An Interview with Romero Britto, Britto Central and with Carlos Slim and Romero’s painting of his family (below)

EDITORS’ NOTE Romero Britto (britto.com) has What makes Britto different, and what has the broad range of relationships and a busi- created a completely new expression that refl ects his been the secret to your success? ness that has grown so quickly? optimistic faith in the world around him. Alluding People are tired of negative news and I have to be careful that I don’t spend too to infl uences of early and modern masters, Britto’s events in the world. I talk about beautiful much time on business, but one complements pulsating colors, pop themes, and commanding things – that’s in my work, and I think people the other. It’s helpful that millions of people in compositions have led to his becoming the premier are attracted to that. We all have it in common the world may not be exposed to the arts, but contemporary artist of his generation. Britto lived an that we want something beautiful in our lives. because they see a Coca-Cola bottle that I did extremely modest lifestyle while growing up among People don’t want to deal with the bad stuff. for the Olympics in or see something else eight brothers and sisters in Recife, Brazil. However, It’s about being surrounded by things that are I have done, they get exposed. his innate creativity allowed him to fi ll his life with positive. Just recently, a woman started collecting vibrant color and images of a beautiful world. He my art because she bought a calendar traveled to in 1983 to examine fi rsthand the in one of the main supermarkets in art of the masters. After exhibiting in a few galler- America called Publix many years ago. ies and private shows, Britto was encouraged to Because of that, she fell in love with travel to the U.S., where pop art was fl ourishing. He my work, and she’s now collecting moved to and set up a studio open to the pub- my original pieces. Everything started lic. Britto spent the next few years exhibiting and with the calendar when she was much attracting the attention of many. In 1988, he was se- younger and now she’s very successful lected alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring and she can buy what she wants. for Absolut Vodka’s “Absolut Art” campaign. Romero Will you highlight how Britto Britto has since been exhibited in galleries and mu- TV came about? seums in over 100 countries, including the Salon de I’m doing a cartoon with a studio in la Société Nationale des Beaux Arts exhibition at called Gray Matters and Nirvana, the Carrousel du Louvre in 2008 and 2010. In and we’re going to produce it for televi- December 2013, Maria Elena and Carlos Slim Domit sion. It should come out in 2018/2019. invited Britto to be the fi rst living artist to exhibit at There are many who collect for Museo Soumaya. He has created public art installa- long-term value and there are those tions for the 02 Dome (), John F. Kennedy who collect pieces they want. Are Airport (New York), Cirque du Soleil at Super Bowl Was that your vision early on, and did you focused on appreciation and the invest- XLI, and has been credited with the largest monu- that evolve over time? ment of art or are you focused around cre- mental in Hyde Park () history. There was never a vision. I wanted to create ating happiness for today? He served as an offi cial artist for the 2010 World but I was never planning it and said I wanted it If one will go back to artists from the past, Cup and was appointed Ambassador to the 2014 a certain way. Many businesses have a strategy when one is thinking about history or markets, FIFA World Cup Brazil. Britto’s pop sensibility has to determine what they want to put out. That they will see that nothing is guaranteed. It’s all since leant itself to many collaborations with such was never the case for me. It was being very about a good piece of art and a good story. So brands as Audi, Bentley, Coca-Cola, Disney, Evian, casual, and it’s part of my journey as an artist. many times today, we see artists whose pieces Hublot, Mattel, and Technomarine, to name a few. How much of a focus has licensing should be selling for so much more than they Romero Britto is an artistic activist for charitable or- been for you, and have you seen growth in are. Few people realize this. ganizations worldwide and, most of all, an artist who that area? People used to say horrible things about believes “art is too important not to share.” He serves We work on that. I’m an artist and the Andy Warhol, and now his art sells for a as a benefactor, donating time, art, and resources result of success in art with my paintings ton. People said he was not creative. When to over 250 charitable organizations and sits on comes from companies that want to partner the focus is just money, it is often not a good several boards, such as Best Buddies International with me. However, it’s not like we are look- piece of art. and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Britto ing every day for companies to work with. All What advice do you give to young art- was named an inaugural founding benefactor of of the companies we are now working with ists who are just getting started about build- the Harvard International Negotiation Program by approached us. ing a sustainable career? Daniel Shapiro, a program that seeks peaceful res- One focus for myself and my team moving Number one is to paint every day, work ev- olution to modern confl ict. Britto has been selected forward is to work with an animation that is ery day, and have strong relationships and stay several times to be a speaker for the arts at the World going to be developed for children’s television, engaged. The most important thing is to work Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. A fi rm as well as on about 600 items coming to market every day, because many artists get wrapped up believer in the role of an artist as an agent of posi- sometime in the fall. in the whole thing and forget about creating tive change, Romero Britto is committed to devel- Looking at the business of art, you are an the art. The artist can’t forget about that. They oping and supporting the powerful role art plays in artist who likes to create. How do you balance can’t think about the money because that will world issues. that with the business side, especially with come.• 128 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2017 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 40, NUMBER 3