João de Brito, painter, sculptor, artistic gallery director, a California impressionist/figurative artist, known for his use of brilliant color, lush landscapes and character-infused images of every day life. His work has been widely recognized in the U.S. and abroad and his paintings have been described as “exotic, magical, surreal,” with a “magnetic exuberance.”
Born in São Miguel, Azores, Portugal, De Brito grew up in an artistic milieu, surrounded by the natural beauty of the islands which he internalized and later incorporated in his artistic vision. He immigrated as a young man to New England with his family, and from there moved to California, attracted to the splendor of its coast. He studied art in the States and Europe, collaborating with the impressionists William B. Hannum and Mark Geller and the traditionalist master David A. Leffel, among others. His influences include the French fauves, the early Californian impressionists, especially the members of the Society of Six, Selden Gile and August Gay, as well as Armin Hansen, Nathan Oliveira and E. Charlton Fortune. He also cites the Azorean artist Domingos Rebelo and the Portuguese painters Vieira da Silva and Paula Rego as inspirations.
De Brito travels extensively to paint en plein air, and has collaborated with internationally known artists and exhibited his work all over the world. Above all he welcomes the opportunity to interact with diverse people and cultures, to partake in what he calls “the discovery of the every day.” Discovery he then translates into the canvas in his unparalleled way. He is represented by several galleries in California and the East Coast.
The Gone Tomorrow Art Gallery @ Santa Cruz Art Center
From 6PM -9PM
1001 Center Street #suites 6 and 4
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
http://www.firstfridaysantacruz.com/2011/04/goen-tomorrow-art-gallery-joao-de-brito/