About Otto Aguiar
Otto de Souza Aguiar
(1938 – 2006)
“I struggle to achieve a serene aura and formal harmony in my work. The most important gratification is when people spontaneously experience these qualities. Then I am communicating.”
The romance of Otto Aguiar’s work is of two worlds. Son of a Brazilian General he is at home in the beau monde or “good life” of Old World privilege, as are the figures he paints. Then again, Aguiar is modern. His vivid palette and collage-like compositions are bold, bearing affinities to the 60″s Pop Art and Post-Impressionism, the modernist period in which spontaneous color and graphic/schematic compositions were established. On the one hand, Aguiar’s figures convey the elegance of a bygone era. Their poise and refinement resonate South America’s genteel colonial past. The paintings’ designs, colors, and media, show the other Aguiar – a vibrant contemporary creator.
-Fingerhut Group Publishers, Inc. 1991
Artist Bio
The son of a highly respected Brazilian General, Otto de Souza Aguiar graduated with honors and was awarded a Master’s Degree in Graphic Art and Drawing from the University of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
After teaching drawing and design to aspiring architects, Otto began the extensive travels through Europe that were his induction into the world of High Fashion and Interior Design.
As one of Brazil’s top models, his engagements took him to Milan, Paris, and London. There, with his assignments in Harper’s Bazaar Italia and others of the world’s most prestigious publications, Aguiar developed an inspired aesthetic perception, which manifests itself boldly in his dramatic blending of sumptuous color, texture, and gilding.
Uncompromising in his thirst for creativity, Otto has combined his vast fashion and theatrical background with his diversified experience in the Visual Arts. Thus, his work has been characterized by the portrayal of elegance and grace. His inner tranquility manifests in his paintings as he recaptures the lush, tropical beauty of the Brazilian beaches and gardens of his youth. Aguiar was greatly inspired by the timeless charm and romance of the Baroque and Colonial period of Brazilian history, particularly evidenced by the use of architectural elements in his imagery.
Characteristic of many of his works is the umbrella. Extremely sensitive to man’s spiritual disintegration, to Aguiar the umbrella symbolizes the shield of hope and protection, a covering for all humanity. He feels his work is a direct tribute to God who has inspired and directed his life, and he aspires to portray the beauty of God’s creation in all that he does.
Although the artist has received numerous awards and honors for his painting, he believes that the most important gratification comes from those who are able to perceive the joy and harmony expressed in his unique work.
Renowned for his masterful integration of trompe l’oeil and distinctive figurative style, Aguiar’s work has been an extraordinary enhancement to residential, public, and corporate settings on several continents, for almost 30 years.
Clients include:
• The City Hall of Miami Beach
• Graycliff Inn “Relaix and Chateaux,” Nassau, Bahamas
• Florida State Legislature
• Fedora Restaurants, Kansas City, Missouri, Washington, DC
• American White Cross, New Rochelle, NY
• Lee Memorial Health Park, Ft. Meyers, FL
• Aquarius International, Boca Raton, FL
Selected Exhibitions:
• New York Art Expo
• Tokyo Art Expo
• Los Angeles Art Expo
• Deligny Gallery
• Belleli Gallery
• Livingston Gallery
• Museo de Arte Moderna, Brazil
Fundação Álvares Penteado, Brazil
O filho de um General do Exercito Brasileiro muito respeitado, Otto de Souza Aguiar se graduou com honras e concluiu o mestrado em Artes Gráficas e Desenho na Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) de Belas Artes, Brasil.
Depois de ensinar suas técnicas de desenho e design para alunos da faculdade de Arquitetura, Otto começou as extensas viagens pela Europa que eram sua indução no mundo da Alta Costura e Desenho de Interiores.
Como um dos top models do Brasil, seus compromissos levou para Milão, Paris e Londres. Lá, com suas atribuições em Harpers Bazaar Italia e outras publicações mais prestigiadas do mundo, Aguiar desenvolveu uma percepção estética inspirada, que se manifesta com ousadia em sua dramática mistura de sumptuosa cor, textura e douramento.
Intransigente na sua sede de criatividade, Otto combinou seu vasto conhecimento da moda e fundo teatral com sua experiência diversificada nas artes visuais. Assim, o seu trabalho tem sido caracterizada pelo retrato de elegância e graça. Sua tranqüilidade interior manifesta em suas pinturas como ele retoma a beleza exuberante, tropical das praias brasileiras e jardins de sua juventude. Aguiar foi fortemente inspirado pelo charme intemporal e romance do período barroco e colonial da história do Brasil, particularmente evidenciado pelo uso de elementos arquitetônicos em seu imaginário.
Característica de muitas de suas obras é o guarda-chuva. Extremamente sensível à desintegração espiritual do homem, para o guarda-chuva Aguiar simboliza o escudo da esperança e proteção, uma cobertura para toda a humanidade. Ele sente o seu trabalho é o tributo direto a Deus, que inspirou e dirigiu sua vida, e ele aspira a retratar a beleza da criação de Deus em tudo o que ele faz.
Embora o artista tenha recebido inúmeros prêmios e honrarias por sua pintura, ele acredita que a gratificação mais importante vem daqueles que são capazes de perceber a alegria e a harmonia expressa em seu trabalho único. Reconhecido pela sua integração magistral de trompe l’oeil e distinto estilo figurativo, o trabalho de Aguiar foi um aprimoramento extraordinário para ambientes residenciais, públicos e corporativos em vários continentes, por quase 30 anos.
Alguns de seus clientes são:
• A Prefeitura de Miami Beach
• Graycliff Pousada “Relaix e Chateaux,” Nassau, Bahamas
• Assembléia Legislativa do Estado da Flórida
• Fedora Restaurantes, Kansas City, Missouri, Washington, DC
• American White Cross, New Rochelle, NY
• Lee Memorial Health Park, Ft. Meyers, FL
• Aquário Internacional, Boca Raton, FL
Exposições Selecionadas (convidado):
• New York Art Expo
• Tóquio Art Expo
• Los Angeles Art Expo
• Deligny Gallery
• Belleli Gallery
• Livingston Gallery
• Museo de Arte Moderna, o Brazil
• Fundação Álvares Penteado, o Brazil
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