Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Apitz.
Hi Carlos, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a passionate Venezuelan artist and graphic designer. My journey in the world of art and design dates back to my youth when I discovered my love for creativity and illustration. Since then, my career has been marked by an exciting journey. I started as a young artist, honing my skills in caricature and illustration. Over time, my focus expanded to graphic design, where I could blend my passion for art with visual communication.
My work as a graphic designer has been an integral part of my career. I have had the opportunity to collaborate on diverse projects, some of which have received recognition and awards in my home country. These projects ranged from creating brands and creative advertising materials to web design, video production, and more. My goal has always been to effectively convey messages through design and art, using colors, shapes, and typography strategically.
Furthermore, my role as a political cartoonist has given me the opportunity to capture public attention and contribute to social discussions through my satirical and critical illustrations. These cartoons have been a powerful means of expressing my views on political and social issues in Venezuela and beyond.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to showcase my work in various galleries and events, primarily in the United States. I am grateful to this country for welcoming me after I left Venezuela due to my political convictions. Each exhibition has allowed me to share my artistic vision with a diverse audience and connect with individuals passionate about art and design.
Today, I remain dedicated to my passion for art and design. My work is not only an expression of my creativity but also a way to tell stories, convey messages, and bring ideas to life through dynamic and colorful visual aesthetics. I am thrilled to know that my artistic work also contributes to American audiences gaining a better understanding of Venezuela and allows Venezuelans to see their country from my artistic perspective.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, my path in the world of art and design has not exactly been smooth or easy. As with any creative career, I faced challenges and obstacles along the way.
When I was young, starting as a young artist and graphic designer in the mid-eighties in a Latin country in an economic crisis led to financial uncertainty and the need to establish myself in a highly competitive field. The search for opportunities and the construction of a solid portfolio were initial challenges that I faced with optimism, patience, and creativity. Constant education and learning were necessary, sometimes self-taught.
Partnering and changing focus was something I did to develop myself, the transition from being a Graphic Designer and artist in a small creative Boutique to having partners and being a director of an advertising agency, allowed me to develop new skills as well as reach the big names. clients in my country and to create designs for important projects in different sectors.
With the new century and the growing popularity of the internet, social networks, changes in business, and the arrival of communism in my country, I changed the focus of my creative career again in 2001. The Chavez regime and then that of Maduro and Commercial and advertising restrictions led me to make constant adjustments. An adjustment that I painfully made was to pause my artistic production for several years and start political cartoons as a protest, on some occasions placed on clandestine flyers and posters, without a signature, criticizing the Chaviz regime.
Migration was one of the biggest challenges in my career, the need to leave Venezuela due to my political convictions, and the economic restrictions on me for being on the Tazcon List among many other reasons, led me to abandon everything and leave my country in 2014. Immigration to the United States was a complex transition that involved adapting to a new culture and establishing myself in a different artistic market.
Despite the obstacles, each challenge helped me grow as an artist and designer. I learned to overcome adversity, continue pursuing my passion, and find new forms of expression through art and design. Perseverance and determination were key to overcoming struggles and getting to where I am today in my creative career.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist and graphic designer, and my activities are diverse and highly creative. They can essentially be divided into two categories:
Artistic: This includes painting, creating artwork, and teaching drawing and painting. It also involves adapting my work to clothing, footwear, handbags, and more. Participating in art events and exhibitions is also part of my artistic endeavors.
Marketing: In this aspect, I handle all my commercial work as a graphic and web designer for projects assigned by various clients, both within and outside the United States. These projects vary widely, ranging from creating brands or strategies to producing all sorts of printed materials, websites/online stores, photography, and videos. More recently, I have also served as an external consultant or creative director for several projects, managing remote teams.
I am known as a creative professional who enjoys thinking outside the box to find solutions and create brilliant and innovative designs. As an artist, I am widely recognized for my colorful works and the way I incorporate elements of both US and Venezuelan POP culture.
Being able to connect with the Venezuelan diaspora in Miami and having Venezuelans and other residents of the city recognize my work fills me with pride. Teaching art classes is also very fulfilling for me as I see my students improve their artistic skills.
What sets my work apart? Let me tell you. My work is incredibly colorful, and in 2015, I developed my style, which I named “Venezuela POP.” It involves incorporating elements of popular culture from my country, such as characters, landscapes, products, etc., with vibrant synthetic colors and graphic motifs reminiscent of pre-Columbian petroglyphs. This style also has a variant I call “Three Times,” where I paint a landscape on a single canvas with lighting at three specific times of the day: sunset, noon, and night. This allows the viewer to appreciate the changing colors within a single painting. The “Avila in Three Times” is one of my famous pieces.
Other well-known works of mine include “Jose Gregorio POP,” “Doña Arepa,” and “Juan Dollar.”
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I love working in teams; I believe that working with others allows one to expand their creative skills further and achieve better results. Social interactions are essential for connecting with your audience. I don’t believe in designers and artists working in isolation, away from everything and everyone.
People and businesses can work with me very easily by simply contacting me on my social media or through my website: CarlosApitz.com for design/marketing projects, visiting me to see my artwork, inviting me to a fair or art exhibition, commissioning a special piece, or booking a spot in my painting classes. We meet, talk, have a coffee, and… that simple contact can be the beginning of a great friendship.
I’ve always enjoyed collaborating with other artists and designers, whether it’s a group exhibition or supporting and even promoting the work of a fellow artist. I’m always willing to help.
If you want to collaborate with me and support my work, you can visit me at the events I participate in, purchase my works on my website, and leave comments on social media. You can also invite me to fairs and exhibitions; it’s important to me that anyone can enjoy my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://carlosapitz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apitz_graphic_design/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carlos.Apitz.Design
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosapitz/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlosApitz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZ2VPkf7GFLW25HJQ1rdzA
- Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/apitz-pop-art
Image Credits
Avila radiante en tres tiempos. Acrílico sobre canvas 40x16in Doña Arepa tricolor. Acrílico sobre canvas 180x18in Juan Dollar. Acrílico sobre canvas 48x24in Frida on Green. Acrílico sobre canvas 48x24in Jose Gregorio POP. Acrílico sobre canvas 18x18in Casablanca. Acrílico sobre canvas 40x30in Barquisimeto City in 4 times. Acrílico sobre canvas 40x16in Caracas Muerde. Digital art, print on paper 18x12in
