Today we’d like to introduce you to Cesar Santos.
Cesar, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My story began in Cuba in 1982, I was mainly involved with sports as a kid even though my uncle Raul Santos Serpa an artist saw my potential in drawing and encouraged me to keep practicing art. My family immigrated to the U.S in 1995 taking me to the land of opportunity. Here, I took my passion for art seriously as I was accepted to a magnet school for the arts Design and Architecture Senior High. After graduating I received a scholarship to study at the New World School of the Arts College. Four years passed and I felt the training I was getting in the arts was insufficient, too much theory, too much talk and no skill development in any substantial way. I took the initiative to drop out and travel to Italy in search of Classical principals I felt were important to fulfill my artistic vision. Immediately upon graduating from a small academy in Florence The Angel Academy, I was creating works that would get me a contract to one of the most prominent galleries in Miami, Cernuda Arte which represented a wide range of Cuban artists. Since then, I’ve been creating works that aim to satisfy my artistic energy which in turn have led to many interesting shows, awards, interviews and relationships.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My artistic energy drives me to capture the monumental language of classical majesty and humanism presented at a personal level. I am experimenting with poly-visual forms that first appeared on the pages of my sketchbooks. I am brainstorming with the tradition and ongoing process of artistic expression; referring also to the contemporary visual freedoms of my time, allowing my need to search for mastery and present it in a simple, raw and honest way. My work is the result of multiple art forms orchestrated to sing in harmony the song of my life. My media for communicating involve archaic materials such as raw linen, gesso, charcoal, linseed oil and oil paints.
I wish to take my generation to a new psychological place of inspiration by offering a new sense of beauty and meaning to life through my paintings. I want to bring the high quality of pictorial art to my generation. Everyone who experience my paintings in person and feel a sense of transcendence and humanism echoes the feelings of its creation.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I would define my career as successful because I feel free to live as a creator. For me success is being grateful as I surround myself with people I love and produce work I am proud of.
The best characteristic to succeed as an artist is to work hard as you learn more about yourself and express it in a humble way that shows your true nature and vision.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can been seen at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sicily or in Important art fairs around the world. Galerie Olivier Waltman represents my work in Miami, Paris and London and Maxwell Alexander on the west coast of the US. Even though the “right way” to experience art is in person, as painting is a material component and need to be appreciated live, there are faster ways to get in touch with my work through social media and websites. I recently started a YouTube channel to share important aspects of my art and has quickly escalated to over two million views in the first year of its creation. Support is something I want to offer instead of something to ask for, I offer my artistic knowledge to artists and great company and value to art collectors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.santocesar.com
- Email: santocesart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santocesart/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015961001005&ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SantocesArt
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