Miami Artist, Carlos Navarro and his latest sculptures
Arriving at the mammoth Miami Airport Convention Center, I was faced with over 100 booths of up-and-coming International and Local Visual Artists ranging in media from painting, sculpture and even some well-known works from Wilfredo Lam. Tickets were nicely priced and the venue was easy to find and well organized. It seemed like a “little Art Basel.”Â
I was impressed by the work and not surprised how the artist’s took this amazing opportunity to show their work as the fair attracted artists who do not have gallery representation or who want to gain a little more exposure, even if they do.
A wonderful surprise was to see my fellow artist friend, Carlos Navarro, whose work emerged from the influences of Pop artists such as Peter Max, Roy Lichstenstein, Andy Warhaol, and Keith Haring: he incorporates his own style using vibrant colors with black outlines and fuses Pop Art with traditional Cuban, Miami and other contemporary themes inspired by his heritage and upbringing. His work depicts nostalgic, political, humorous and sensual subject matter.
Website: www.carlosnavarro.com, Email: miamiartist69@aol.com, ph. 305-799-0034
Carlos Navarro, "BABALUUUUU!!!!", Resin Sculpture, Price, $3,500 USD
Carlos Navarro, "GUAJIRA EN SU MUNDO",Resin Sculpture, Price, $3,500 USD
There were many beautiful and striking artworks and one such painter whose work caught my eye is Makiwa Mutomba from South Africa. He and I had an interesting conversation about conditions in South Africa since Apartheid ended in 1995 and the non-segregated way of life there, even though there is still racism in that part of the country. He is a very happy person and that shows in his body of work. His use of vibrant colors juxtaposed in a deliberate, yet haphazard way shows his mastery in color and optical-mixing (when our eyes mix colors and fill-in gaps of lines or spaces that are not even visible.)
 Artist, Makiwa Mutomba’s, “Nelson Mandela”, Oil on Canvas
Dick Zimmerman's Masterpiece Portraits created with Light and Brush
I met Dick Zimmerman, an artist who works on Giclees which are printed, drawn-out and he does Realistic painted portraits of people. Two of his most recognizable ones were John Travolta with wife, Kelly Preston and his montage of the eternal legend of Pop Music, Michael Jackson. He has this painting of the King of Pop as a memorial to the late singer whose album he designed. Zimmerman took the famous picture of the album with two-page spread where Michael is depicted with a baby lion cub. He studied Painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York, Parsons School of Design also in New York and received his BFA at NYU. He continued Post-Graduate studies at the Brooklyn Museum with contemporary Fine Art Masters Isaac & Moses Soyer. He then spent years developing his craft throughout Europe with studios in Paris, London and Milan. He now lives in the US.
Mr. Zimmerman also explained that he took the photos of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley. I was in awe in meeting such a talented man. He is sought-after by the world’s most-celebrated entertainers, dignitaries, politicians and the world’s influential. His paintings range from about $10,000-$20,000 USD.Â
Dick Zimmerman can be contacted at: Z Portraitures, 55 Rogers St., Clearwater, FL 33756, His email: dick.zimmerman@att.net, Website: www.dickzimmerman.com, ph. 800-781-8227
Jesse painting his daughter from a photographic reference in Oil Paint
Next, I ran into Honduran painter, Jesse Paz (no relation to me, but I jokingly said we can pretend we are long-lost cousins), Master Oil Painter who graduated from Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida. Jesse has also studied for 3 years with Master Teacher and Oil Painter, Venezuelan Romero Hidalgo who has his studio in the Bird Road Arts District. Jesse uses Old Master techniques with some imagery that is more contemporary such as Urban-inspired statements about our times to the maternal beauty of the pregnant life-size painting which was truly phenomenal a-la-John Singer Sargent.Â
Jesse’s contact information: jpskelz@hotmail.com
Artist Jesse Paz
Artist Jesse Paz
