Romero Britto Biography

Romero Britto was born in Recife, Brazil in 1963. Self-taught at an early age, he painted on surfaces such as newspapers. In 1983, he traveled to Paris where he was introduced to the work of Matisse and Picasso. He combined influences from cubism with pop, to create a vibrant, iconic style that The New York Times describes, "exudes warmth, optimism and love."

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. Britto's pop sensibility has since leant itself to many collaborations with such brands as Audi, Bentley, Disney, Technomarine, Evian and FIFA, for whom he created an official poster for the 2010 World Cup. He has also illustrated several books published by Simon & Schuster and Rizzoli. Britto's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries, including the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre in 2008 and 2010. He has also created public art installations for the O2 Dome (Berlin), Hyde Park (London), John F. Kennedy Airport (New York), and Cirque du Soleil at Super Bowl XLI.

Britto considers the role of an artist to be an agent of positive change. He serves as a benefactor, donating time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organizations and several boards such as Best Buddies International, and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. He was recently named a founding inaugural benefactor of Harvard's "International Negotiation Program," by Dr. Daniel Shapiro, in his quest for peaceful conflict resolution. Britto has also spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and at countless schools and institutions. In early 2011 the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, invited Britto to create the logo for Rede Cegonha, a project to reach over 61 million pre and post-natal mothers and babies.