In a country that only recently opened its doors to contemporary artists, it’s a big deal that the wildly popular Romero Britto is having his first ever exhibition in Russia, opening at St. Petersburg’s Erarta Museum this September. Calling this Brazilian-born pop artist prolific would be an understatement. Hugely successful around the globe, Britto has collaborated with some of the world’s most well-known brands including Audi, Coca-Cola, Disney, Absolut and more. His sculptural pieces adorn many public spaces in cities like New York, Stockholm, Sao Paolo, Stockholm and Los Angeles to name a few. Britto installations and retail stores are located in select airports and even on the pool deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
In the late 80s, Britto arrived in Miami, still his full time home, where he began to actively pursue his unique artistic career. Soon after he went to Paris, where he furthered his professional development and was inspired by the artistic styles of the likes of Matisse and Picasso. The resemblance to some of the works of these Post-Impressionist art giants can be seen in Britto’s work today. Britto’s signature style features bold, bright and joyful colors and is described by the New York Times as ‘radiating warmth, optimism and love.’
Using vibrant colors, uplifting themes and abstract compositions, Britto has gained the attention of art critics and fans alike. To understand the significance of Britto’s debut in Russia, it is important to remember that the contemporary art scene in the country is relatively young. It was just a little over a quarter of a century ago (before the lifting of the Iron Curtain) when virtually all expression and individualism was stifled. Now with more freedoms, there is an excitement in the art community to open up to a new way of experiencing and creating art. In fact, Erarta’s philosophy is that ‘contemporary art comes directly from the soul.’ While Britto may be massively popular, he represents this new ‘openness’ to the world, a new generation, and the connectivity to other nations and peoples.
Romero Britto will arrive in St. Petersburg, Russia in September to open the exhibition at the Erarta Museum where he will also host a workshop for children.
Erarta Museum and Galleries of Contemporary Art
St. Petersburg, Russia