“Puppy Love,” Copyright Romero Britto 2017
STONE HARBOR – Ocean Galleries is delighted to welcome world-renowned pop artist, Romero Britto, for his first ever exhibition in Stone Harbor. “Romero Britto – Brilliant World of Color” will include an impressive collection of artwork and sculptures on display at Ocean Galleries, 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, beginning Friday, Aug. 4 through Tuesday, Aug. 8. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the enthusiastic and optimistic Romero Britto at specially gallery receptions taking place 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, where he will be on hand to dedicate and sign purchased artwork.
Romero Britto is an internationally-renowned artist who uses vibrant, bold, and colorful patterns to reflect his optimistic view of the world around him. His playful themes and hard‐edged compositions, combined with his unique talent, unshakable resolve, and belief in his art, have granted him worldwide recognition, with exhibitions in galleries and museums in over 100 countries. The artist’s pop sensibility has leant itself to collaborations with global brands such as Audi, Bentley, Coca‐Cola, Walt Disney, Evian, Hublot and Mattel, to name a few. Britto’s work evokes happiness and hope using a visual language all its own and is, simply, relatable to all.
Romero Britto was born in Recife, Brazil in 1963. Self-taught at an early age, he painted on scraps of cardboard or any medium he could find before coming into his own and traveling to Paris where he was introduced to the work of Matisse and Picasso.
In 1988, Britto moved to Miami and emerged as an international artist. In the following year, he was selected alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring for Absolut Vodka’s “Absolut Art” campaign and quickly began enjoying commercial success.
Britto’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. He has created public art installations for the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin (formerly O2 World), New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, Cirque Du Soleil at Super Bowl XLI, and has been credited with the largest monumental sculpture in Hyde Park’s (London) history. Britto served as an official artist for the 2010 World Cup, ambassador to the 2014 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup Brazil, and was invited to be an honorary torch bearer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Britto considers the role of an artist to be an agent of positive change. He donates his time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organizations, and sits on several boards, such as Best Buddies International and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
In addition to an extraordinary collection of artwork and custom-framing, Ocean Galleries also offers a variety of hand-made crafts from local, regional and national artists in America, such as glass, pottery, jewelry, and furniture. All summer exhibitions take place at the Stone Harbor location of Ocean Galleries, which is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily throughout the summer season. The Avalon location of Ocean Galleries, 2199 Ocean Dr., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (609) 368-7777 or visit oceangalleries.com.