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Claudio Souza Pinto
Claudio Souza Pinto, one of the finest surrealist painters in the world, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1954. He is the surrealist poet-artist of today.
This award-winning, self-taught artist's career began at the age of four began working in clay under the guidance of his uncle, the painter Bernardo Cid de Souza Pinto. Claudio sold his own art while studying for a degree in industrial design at Mackenzie University in Sao Paulo. Claudio traveled to Europe searching for recognition for his work. He received it when he took his part in the Paris Salon d'Automne. It was 1990 when Alan Aouizerate, the French art collector, fell in love with Claudio's art and invited him to exhibit at Le Bains and The Opera in Paris so he stayed and lived in France for many years where he acquired solid formal training in oil painting and started his career. This contributed to a very strong European and particularly French influence in his work. When he returned to his country in Brazil with 26 canvases, he sold all but 2 at his first exhibition. He gave life to his current body of work in 1997 called “The Theater of Life”, a series of characters that represent everyday feelings behind robes and masks. It was inspired by the fascination that came from viewing the scenery and rich costumes of the actors of the Opera Carnier, where Picasso had worked. Since then, he has successfully been exhibiting his work in Brazil and internationally.
His art is now on the threshold of being discovered by the American public after years of delighting Brazilian and European audiences. Claudio's paintings enchant people like the architect who designed the National Museum of Contemporary Arts in Nice Bayard, Yves Bayard, who says, “Claudio's paintings impress me for their freedom. He is a great master on happiness service.” Jacques Bral is a movie director who commented "Claudio's paintings have a fantastic realism and a visual discussion about melancholy and love. Sadness or happiness is always present in his paintings, even if in spirit".
Claudio has built a fantastical bridge between world and reality, inviting us to disconnect from the world that surrounds us to unleash our own imagination. His style is artistic, surreal, romantic, an humorous. Claudio plays with our feelings in pleasing, delicate and elegant ways with exuberant colors that are exquisitely balanced to create beautiful compositions. Claudio’s paintings create an atmosphere of joy and happiness and emit a calming effect that no one never tires of looking at. His works represent possible sensations that a person collects in their lifetime and provokes different feelings in each person that admires them. This causes the viewer to revitalize memories and joy, giving a unique experience to each viewer. His work is not only his joy but ours as well, the core of his work that his interest in love and human happiness. For when we fall in love, we expose our true inner self, and our clothes dissipate to reveal our hearts.
For the artist, life is a great play. “All of us have different behavior masks, and they emerge depending on the occasion...in the theater of life." - Claudio Souza
Artist Statement:
“My art is based on love for the living being, for nature, through the poetry of the Theater of Life It is as if the people had left, when the artist painted them or as if they had never arrived. My characters are masked and have nobody, only soul, and feelings. I paint the love, the energy of people, with joy and freedom of a real dream. The soul and the feelings are undone through the clothes of the characters. I transform everyday situations with a surrealistic filter, creating fantastic and humorous images.” - Claudio Souza
Past Solo Exhibitions:
2016- LongWorth Gallery - Santa Fe - NM - US Art & Design Gallery - Miami - FL, USA Oh My Godard Gallery - Las Vegas, - USA
2015- Michel Art Gallery - Miami -FL, USA
2014- Galeria Pintura Brasileira - Sao Paulo -Brazil
Clube Transatlântico- Sao Paulo- Brazil 2013- Chic & Art Gallery - Atlanta - USA 2012- Blue Tree Premium- Brazil
Mestico, Art Show -SP, BR 2011- Espaco Cultural Infraero
2010- Galeria Romero Britto – SP, Brazil
2008- Chalk Farm Gallery – Santa Fé – NM, USA
2007- Hilton Hotel – Galeria Canvas – São Paulo
2006- Blue Tulip Gallery - Windsor – London, UK 2005- Casa Velha – Quinta do Lago – Algarve – Portugal
Group Exhibitions
2017- Dom Quixote Galeria de Arte - RJ - Brazil 2016- Art Palm Beach, USA
Chic Evolution in Art Gallery - GA, USA 2015- CD Cover Sergio Mendes - Brazil
Artiz Galeria, Sao Paulo, BR 2014- Chapel Art Show - SP, BR
“Horses and Dreams” - Hagen, Germany 2013- Wynwood Art Group - Miami - FL, USA
2012- Art Delight - Rio de Janeiro, BR
2011- Espaço Cultural Infraero - Aeroporto de Guarulhos -SP, BR
Bienal Izmir - Turkey – Invited and awarded artist
Espaco Galeria 3058A - SP, BR Bahiarte Galeria - Londrina -Parana, BR
Espaco AZ - SP, BR
Artes Figueiredo - Galeria Galeria Sergio Caribe - SP, BR Chapel Art Show - SP, BR
Carroussel du Louvre -Paris -FR
2009- Biennale de Chianciano – Toscana – Italy -Invited artist-
Biennale of London - Gagliardi Gallery - UK
Bienal do Livro – Os melhores da Arte Brasileira – ICSA – SP 2008- Artexpo NY – Nan Miller Gallery, USA
Onessimo Fine Art – Palm Beach – Miami, USA 2007- Artexpo Las Vegas,USA
Nan Miler Gallery – NY, USA
2006 -Mostra Hotel Sete Voltas – São Paulo, Brazil
Robert Philips Gallery, London, UK O Bienal 2 - MUBE – São Paulo, BR Ethon Gallery – London, UK
2005- Grand Hyatt Hotel – São Paulo – Brazil
Plaza de los Venerables – Spain Fundação Focus - Abengoa – Seville – Spain
2004- 5th Biennial International Exhibition in Rome – Italy Grand Hyatt Hotel of São Paulo – Brazil
Espaço Cultural da Câmara dos Deputados – Brasília
Arte Internacional de Padova – Italy
2003- Conrad Resort & Casino -Punta Del Este, Uruguay
Brazilian English Center – XVII Art Exhibition – São Paulo, Brazil
Artist Quotes & Thoughts
“Everybody wears a mask. Depending on the occasion, we wear the appropriate mask.
Society judges us by our appearances, whether it be our clothes, tattoos, weight, jewelry or color of skin, we are all judged.
But when we fall in love, and if only to the person we’re in love with, we expose our vulnerabilities; and at that juncture, the clothes begin to dissipate to reveal our truth, which is our heart.”
“I am sitting here quietly, but my mind never stops, it is always creating something.”
“I paint the clothes of the person because society only values the appearance, but they only camouflage feelings. We all have different shades of behavior, which arise according to the occasion.”
“I transform situations of everyday life with a surreal filter and create fantastic and humorous images.”
“I was born with a gift. I never learned to draw or paint. So I consider it unfair not to share my gift with the others…”
“I would like to pass on a message to all those who like art and especially to artists. Always continue your work with perseverance. It is difficult, an artist’s life is very hard, but…” (interview shows an emotional moment where the sentence is completed with Claudio simply bringing his hand to his heart).
“In truth my pieces, each one is like a child to me. It is information that I am sharing and I try and share my children with everyone. So that brings unity, great unity.”
“It is very rare for me to paint a sad picture, I like painting positive things, because we have a world with so much sadness, a lot of inequality, so I like to show the more positive side. That is what we should seek out.”
“Life is too short to be late
In a blink, you can lose what took you years
In a breath, you can lose every word that you once said
Now it’s too late to be disapproved
If they gave me one more day, one more chance
I would not even look at the watch again
So then I could be thrown away that useless golden shell
That kept me dragging down day after day.”
“The moment I created that character, I felt the need to inform people of what the world needs.
The world needs a lot of love. People need to come together more, respect the feelings of others more.”
“They represent our daily routine’s situations.
Sometimes you see a man melting down for his lover, sometimes you see a corrupt politician or an artist that needs to work his hays to the bone to survive from its work.”
YouTube Claudio Souza Pinto Playlist
© 2020 All Artwork Claudio Souza Pinto
