Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Roberto .
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My journey Began in Miami Florida, where both my parents emigrated too from Cuba in the late fifties early sixties. Being a first generation Cuban American exposed me to both countries and their cultures. This made me a unique hybrid. My relationship with art began very early. It first began with the otherworldly and childlike illustrations of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. It then progressed to Marvel Comics. I would check books out of the library and gather coins from fountains, and anywhere they were discarded, to save up for comics from the corner store. I would trace and copy as many pages as I could. Around this time there was also a show that sparked my love of illustration and drawing called The Secret City, with Mark Kistler. This show aired every afternoon on PBS after school. I would create with Mark on any medium I could find around my house. In school, I loved art class, and it was probably the only class I would sit still and listen in.
Unfortunately, life sometimes brings difficulties, and when I was nine years old, I was the victim of prolonged sexual abuse by a male neighbor. This, of course, changed the trajectory of who I would become. Art stayed in my life on and off and mostly from a distance and then disappeared altogether. From a young age, I suffered from undiagnosed mental health issues that later turned to self-medication and full-blown drug addiction. Through it, all my wife and family were always a beacon of love for me, and in late 2015, I would finally begin to get much needed professional help. As part of my recovery, I decided to turn to painting as therapy, and I was once again hooked. The art eventually allowed me to connect with that little boy I had left behind many years ago. My art practice has helped make me whole and brought me the peace that both my family and I needed. I am also proud to say I have been clean from substances for three years now.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a painter, and I mainly use acrylics on canvas. However, I sometimes work with ink, pastels, and watercolors on just about any surface I can paint. For me, it is the act, the movement, and repetition that most interests me. As I have stated before, I came to painting late in life in my early forties. It quickly became my spirituality; in essence how I connect to the world and people. My art if I had to give it my own label, would be figurative, Caribbean, contemporary, illustrative with splashes of religious and romantic period art. I will say, my art is almost completely influenced by Cuban artists. I do however get comments that it reminds people of all kinds of culture throughout the Americas and Caribbean. I even received a comment from a young lady from Vietnam recently, where she said it reminded her of the art at home. I have always felt connected to my Cuban ancestry and the Caribbean. I assume it comes from living in a household where English and American culture was almost nonexistent. My mother spoke little or no English, and she was an avid reader and would read me poetry and literature from or about Cuba all the time. She also loved to reminisce about Cuba and its beauty and culture. I have made many visits to the Island through the years, and each time my connection and longing grows. This I believe comes out in the vibrancy of my art. Therefore what I hope a person experiences when they look at my work is first a smile, and then for them to reminisce with somewhere or someone that once brought them passion, happiness, and nostalgia.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Artists today have a facility for exposure that is greater than ever before. Accounts on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, and a website can be created for little or no money. A smartphone makes artists accessible in real time whenever they choose. Therefore in my opinion exposure is not the issue, quality and authenticity is. The originality or creativeness of the art suffers. So many creatives nowadays give in to the curating of their artistic lives to emulate internet art stars. This has created a very superficial and homogenized art world. Cloning and copying have become prevalent, and art sometimes becomes boring and lacks excitement. I do believe that Miami is fighting that and becoming a juggernaut in the industry. The Latin American influence and street art prevalence, has made it very exciting here locally and internationally. I have been very fortunate to be embraced so amazingly here by a very established and inclusive Cuban American art community. The established artists that I so admire have taken me in and been so generous. As far as internationally, I think my art has benefited tremendously by leaps and bounds because of Wynwood and Art Basel. Many local Latin events piggyback on the international acclaim of both Basel and Wynwood, creating local events during those times of the year that I have been lucky enough to be invited to. These events have once again opened Latin American art to Young Collectors from all over the world.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My art can be seen in Hialeah, Little Havana, Miami, and Coral Gables, through various exhibits and art festivals although I have private collectors throughout the United States! My suggestion is to follow me on Instagram and check out my Website. I update these constantly with exhibit information. I welcome questions through my IG account, website, and email or just call me. I have included all my information below.
Contact Info:
- Website: jrobertoart.com
- Phone: 7862103012
- Email: roberto.julio@ymail.com
- Instagram: _jroberto_art
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
