Pablo Carreño
--Carolyn J. Bennett

A mutual friend brought Pablo Carreño to the gallery in 1994 to show us his paintings. He burst into the gallery on a wave of frenetic energy, smiling, talking, laughing and in constant motion. This is an artist riding the waves of creative energy, almost out of control like his artwork. But he's not, and it's not.

One of the world's most expressive and passionate artists, Pablo Carreño brings a brilliance and emotion to the canvas unmatched in the art world. He's a powerful colorist and a consummate draftsman. He is consumed by a driving force to achieve a higher art, an elusive and etherial goal that haunts him.

Carreño is a Cuban-born painter with an explosive temperament. He attacks his art, splashing paint on the canvas, himself and (often) his models. Ever seeking complete freedom of artistic expression, Carreño primes his canvases and paints with whatever he finds within his grasp ... eggs, herbs, flour, water, orange juice, soda. Cold espresso is a favorite touch along with the oils and acrylics. He says, "My life has been devoted to finding freedom in painting. I was born an artist. I have been painting since I was four or five. I'm definitely a self-taught artist."

At 14 he began a career as a commercial artist. A few years ago, he made a break for personal freedom giving up his position as an award-winning independent art director at numerous advertising agencies to devote his life to his artwork. That was his second break for freedom. In 1965, he left Cuba, landing in Greenwich Village after a short stay in Miami. His mother still lives in Miami, but Pablo prefers New York. "I love Manhattan," he says. "It's more individualistic."

Carreño lives in his art. His passionate attitude about life is expressed in the fearless way he experiments. "I mix the media, acrylics and oils and really use things in accordance with my feelings." His works are dominated by thrusting forms painted in vibrant yellows, purples, reds and blues.

The themes most seductive to his imagination are women, jazz players and flowers. Red stilettos or yellow sneakers can be found in many of his paintings which pay homage to Greenwich Village’s 8th Street.

Carreño paints on the floor. With his hands smeared with paint, he gives life to beautiful mulatto women, flowers, shoes and faces. He also uses pen and ink and charcoal, but prefers paint.

His most recent paintings are inspired by a passion for jazz. When he paints, the music is always playing. He’s painted Brazilian singer, Ney Mottagrosso, a whole series of Charlie Parker.

Carreño's artwork hangs in many private collections, including portraits of Donald Trump and Hong Kong businessman, David Tang, and he's been commissioned to paint New York’s Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as well as George Steinbrenner, Sparky Lyle, Joseph Lauder and Tommy Lasorda. He's done a lot of program covers for Broadway, a directory cover for AT&T and an "Absolute Carreño".

Carreño’s art has been shown in numerous solo and collective shows around the world: Paris and St. Tropez in France, New York, Miami, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and Hong Kong to name just a few cities. This is a painter with the ability to create a photorealistic work with the most minute detail completed with perfection. From this state, his vision takes the work to its wildest proportion. He tests the limits of reality with a fearless, brash and totally irreverant eye. Please check out Pablo's web page at http://justart.com/worldwideart.