Craig Daivd & Romero Britto

Miami Beach, FL – November 13, 2014 – On Thursday evening, The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity founded by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, collaborated with world-renowned pop artist, Romero Britto, for a silent auction at Romero Britto’s Lincoln Road gallery. The artist auctioned an iconic art creation to benefit disadvantaged young people. The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged youth in the United Kingdom, providing professional development opportunities for unemployed young people, in-school programs combating truancy and underachievement, and support for ex-offenders to turn their lives around. Multiple items from event sponsors were auctioned off, including an original painting from Romero Britto, entitled “Royal Crown,” as well as signed lithographs by the Prince of Wales, and dinner at “Their Royal Highnesses” residence at Highgrove. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, spoke via video message on the importance of supporting young people to overcome huge challenges in their lives to fulfill their potential as young adults. Romero Britto shares a similar mission to that of The Prince’s Trust and is very active in his philanthropic efforts, with a focus on engaging children in arts education and literacy programs. The auction raised vital funds for The Prince’s Trust charity, in conjunction with The Prince of Wales Foundation in the U.S.

We were fortunate enough to snag a moment with Romero Britto himself and chat about everything from his involvement in different organizations, to his own work influences and more.

Craig Daivd & Romero Britto

WRE: Tell us what drew you to work with The Prince’s Trust?

RB: The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged youth in the United Kingdom, whether it’s for professional development, in-school programs against truancy, or support for ex-offenders to help them turn their lives around. This is certainly a meaningful project for me to collaborate on, and as an artist, I feel compelled to help with organizations that share a similar mission to my own. Because of that, I am honored to support a charity such as The Prince’s Trust with a phenomenal mission of providing opportunities to underprivileged youth. This initiative enabled me to use my art as a positive agent of change for the youth of today and tomorrow’s future, and share my hope and happiness with the world around me. For that, I am eternally grateful.

WRE: What other charities are you involved in and passionate about? 

RB: There are so many great causes out there today that share a common belief with me, so it’s been difficult to narrow the list. I actually donate my time, art and resources to more than 250 charitable organizations including Best Buddies International, Miami Children’s Hospital and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, Carlos Slim Foundation, among many others.

Romero Britto

My purpose is to develop a universal language through art, and I aim to evoke happiness and hope using a visual language all my own that is relatable to all.

Romero Britto

Craig Daivd & Romero Britto

WRE: Describe different projects you’ve worked on with charities or the city of Miami? 

RB: Recently, I hosted a paint party for the Miami Children’s Health Foundation, alongside the Miami Children’s Hospital, and enjoyed creating an exclusive piece of art with children who had been hospital patients at one time. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and artistic talents come to life in each of these unique children. Another charity close to my heart is Best Buddies International and I’ve created multiple pieces of my art to be auctioned through this wonderful organization helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

WRE: How does being from Brazil influence your work and how have you fused influences from your past with your present home in Miami? 

RB: Brazil is a country with so much ethnic diversity and it’s a fascinating situation to grow up in. The Carnival, and the other dynamic cultural events and experiences that go on all over Brazil are an amazing source of inspiration to me. There is so much color and life to Brazil, and of course Miami, and it’s become a big part of what I look to evoke in my designs.  I find my inspiration all around me – anything that impacts my sensibilities serves as inspiration for my work.

WRE: How do you approach work differently when it will be presented on a larger scale such as a mural, as opposed to work on a small scale such as a simple item a tourist can take home with them as a memento from Miami?

RB: All are meaningful to me. The same of Energy and passion goes into each piece, regardless of the size. All pass on a message to someone and all are important

WRE: What is the biggest message you want fans to take away from your work? 

RB: My purpose is to develop a universal language through art and I aim to evoke happiness and hope using a visual language all my own that is relatable to all. I want to share my work with millions of people around the world to help and inspire.

WRE: Is there a specific brand you would like to collaborate with that you haven’t collaborated with already?

RB: I have had the good fortune of working with so many international and recognizable brands over the course of my career including Audi, Bentley, Coca-Cola, Disney, Evian and Absolut Vodka, just to name a few. I’ve always had high hopes of rounding out my portfolio with some high-end brands that have become synonymous with luxury and class such as Mouton De Rothschild, Dom Perignon and Hermes, not to mention my favorite designer, Dolce & Gabanna. Those are all collaborations that I look forward to in the future!

WRE: Are there any exciting projects on the horizon that we can look forward to?

RB: To be honest, all of my projects have been exciting!  In fact, when you have such a passion for your work, and enjoy spreading love and happiness to the world through my art, it’s no wonder that every new challenge and project that I embark on ends up being an exciting one for me. There are just too many recent projects to name and I should be lucky enough that my days could last 48 hours. I have recently collaborated with Hello Kitty to help celebrate the 40th birthday of the brand by creating a hand-crafted design of the icon herself, dressed in vibrant patterns and colors. I also have enjoyed creating a line of colorful and playful dream wear for Recco’s joyful and vibrant customers. I will also be making appearance alongside my art at Galerie Mensing’s Berlin and Munich galleries in Germany this December for all to enjoy.

WRE: If you could describe your work as a landscape what would it be? 

RB: Provence, France is one of my all-time favorite places to travel and a true inspiration to my art – between the rich history, beautiful landscape, vibrant colors of the Mediterranean, the picturesque rivers and the mountains, there is so much to stimulate my creativity in this gorgeous region. The simplicity of the area is very special to me and just kind of takes over and allows me to be creative with my work in a unique way, every time.

Micky Arison & Romero Britto

Micky & Madeleine Arison, & Romero Britto

Micky & Madeleine Arison, Romero Britto, Martina Milburn, Barth & Kathy Green

Micky Arison & Jeff Berkowitz

Ashley Elliot, Marietta & Ken Harte, Charles Mejjati, & Orianne Collins

Jeff Berkowitz & Romero Britto

Alina Shriver, Romero Britto, Mily & Raul De Molina

Alina Shriver, Colin Watson, & Arlene Chaplin

Al Magnatta, Christina Campagna, Arnie Dzelzkalns, & Maria Dao

Craig David & Mathew Campbell

Mathew Campbell, Craid David, Martina Milburn, & Romero Britto

Romero Britto

Romero Britto & Martina Milburn

Craig David, Martina Milburn, & Romero Britto

Craig David, Romero Britto, & Martina Milburn

Romero Britto

Martina Milburn

Dan Moskovitz, Romero Britto, Martina Milburn, & Thomas Abraham

Barth & Kathy Green

Gary & Dana Shear, Beth & Richard Tasca

Justin Jones, Tima Hervas, Christian Wardle, Catherine R Molson, & Dina Ansaldi

Thomas Abraham, Barth Green, Katherine Davis, Kathy Green, & Eduardo Martinez

David & Tiffany Prodger, Tima Hervas, & Justin Jones

David Prodger, Mathew Campbell, & Tiffany Prodger

Daniel Crowley & Amethyst Paw

Katie Mayers, Sarah Haidry, & Mathew Campbell

Linda Coll, Romero Britto, & Anthony Shriver

Linda Coll, Romero Britto, Thomas Abraham, & Anthony Shriver

Jeff Berkowitz, Micky Arison, & Romero Britto

Alina Shriver & Romero Britto