He was born to a very poor family in Northeast Brazil, in the city of Recife, Pernambuco state. But his neighborhood was called Bairro dos Prazeres (Borough of Pleasures). And pleasure he found, at 8, when he discovered forms and colors.

Little Romero started drawing on walls, sidewalks, cardboard from old boxes, anywhere, all the time. His mother would ask him to spare the school notebooks, because she would not be able to afford new ones for his homework.

Life changed for Romero Britto, the Brazilian artist who took over the world via Miami Beach. His strong tropical colors, a reflection of his origin, his bright mind allied to an incredible capacity to produce endlessly and a big, generous heart that attracts people like a magnet and keeps them around - these are the key to Britto's success.

He is a best selling painter and sculptor. In New York recently on business, Romero Britto met us at an Italian restaurant on the Upper East side.

 "As a child growing up poor in Brazil, I was introduced to the darker side of humankind. The result was, I started painting to bring light and color into my life.

 "I know that there are terrible things happening around the globe. I do not want to repeat what I see on the front page in my art.

 "To me, that would only perpetuate the sadness in our world. I was born to paint life in a different way rejoicing in the beauty our world has to offer."

 Romero Brito

When we approached the table where the artist was sitting, we could feel the admiration, almost adoration from those around him. Everybody seemed to be in high spirits.

As soon as we greeted Romero, we knew why. The artist has that kind of energy about him, inspiring and happy. Light. Like the strong colors of his paintings and sculptures.

Almost childlike, an open smile and shy eyes that sparkle, checking you out and hiding, all at the same time. A very special kind of charisma.

Romero started to talk matter of factly, speaking a little about himself, in a voice so soft, that it took a while to realize that the interview had started.

Encouraged, he started talking about his childhood, his first exhibit in Recife and how he ended up in Miami, where he came to visit friends.

And life was not easy then. He did all kinds of odd jobs, the kind reserved for poor immigrants, doing dishes, cleaning, serving. And he loved two of these jobs, gardening and washing cars.

He has always loved gardens and cars had long been one of his dreams. He loved being so close to all those wonderful machines, making them shiningly clean and he could fantasize driving them.

Before he knew he was meeting people, who started meeting his drawings and paintings. And of course they were impressed.

It is impossible not to be impressed by those strong colors and the beauty of form as presented in the art of Romero Britto.

A woman who worked as a promoter at the First National Bank of Miami and loves Brazilian culture, was so impressed with his work that she told him she was going to organize an exhibit.

From that point on, things went pretty fast. Absolut Vodka saw Romero's work and how well it communicated to people. The Absolut campaign came around, taking Romero Britto's art everywhere through every media.

A street-smart, it was not hard for Romero Britto to figure things out, which is something he does very well. Surrounded by competent people capable of discussing business with his clients, he can just interact with them on a personal basis and charm them with his simplicity and generous smile.

With a good team taking care of business and practical matters, the artist spends all the time he needs completely given to his work. He is sociable and the Miami Beach gallery makes Romero's work accessible to just everyone.

And he sounds very proud when he says, "It is true that I have recently sold a five store high sculpture for half a million dollars. But I have things in my gallery selling for one thousand dollars. I want everyone who wants, to be able to have my work. I love that."

What does he do with his money? Romero has a collection of expensive cars he fancies, but he is modest when it comes to money talks. His public relations informs that he gives quite a lot of money to charity and poor children are a major concern for the artist. Of course. Romero Britto has not forgotten the hard days of his own childhood.

Romero was recently featured in an episode of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice," creating a design for a collector's item T-shirt for the show. He has done work for the United Nations, for the US Postal Office and the Brazilian Postal Office, designing stamps.
He recently met Pelé and the two bonded immediately. They are now working on a collaborative project, Romero is painting aspects of Pelé's life, the two intertwining their experiences of two successful men with very modest origin.

"Pelé will be the inspiration," he says. The paintings will not all have Pelé's image, rather things related to him, and to both of them.

Romero is also about to start a campaign for Avian water. Romero's touch will differentiate their product. That's how his art works, it communicates. It talks to people. Then off to Europe, where he will have exhibits in Switzerland in June. Two gallery shows in Munich and a full agenda of contacts and connections.

In 2006 Romero will do a monumental sculpture for Montreux, for their celebration of the Jazz Festival 40th anniversary. As the festival's special guest artist, Romero will also design the look of the celebration.

The work agenda is full and intense. "I am managing my time all the time, otherwise I cannot do it all. So I try, I'm always trying. I want my art to reach as many people as possible and when I do campaigns and festivals, like what I will be doing for Montreux, I am doing exactly that. And this is very fulfilling, because I'm still doing what I like to do, I'm painting, I'm creating."

And when Romero Britto describes himself, "I'm a person filled with happiness; I'm positive; I have joy," one can only look at his paintings and see that it is all there: the joy, the colors, the smiles.

Clara Angelica Porto is a Brazilian bilingual journalist living in New York.  She went to school in Brazil and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  Clara is presently working as the English writer for The Brasilians, a monthly newspaper in Manhattan.  Comments welcome at clara.angelica@gmail.com.

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