Montreux Jazz Festival 2010, by Britto

Montreux, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The new Montreux Jazz Festival poster is out, with Romero Britto, Brazilian neo-pop artist providing the bright and lively artwork. This is not Britto’s first work for the Festival: some will remember that he did the poster work for the 33rd Montreux Festival in 1999.

His work is energetic, lively and fresh, defined by a harmonious use of colour and space. His style is on the edge between the directness of marketing and the subtlety of fine art. Think of Paul Klee with a spray can.

Born to a poor family in Recife, in Brazil’s impoverished northeast, the eighth of nine children, his family supported his early talent for art. He would spend days copying the masters from art books his mother had bought him, painting on paper and cardboard.

He exhibited for the first time at the age of 14 – and sold a piece to the Organization of American States. He won a scholarship to the prestigious Catholic University of Pernambuco, where he studied law for two years before he realized that he could make more of an impact as an artist than as a lawyer.

A big break came when he was commissioned to do a campaign for Absolut vodka.

He lives and works in Miami, Florida, where he has a gallery, and donates much time and effort to charitable organizations.

Links to other sites: Britto site, Hamburg Hautnah (Ger), Montreux Festival site

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