Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Amaral.
Andre, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Grew up in Brasil and moved to Houston with my family in 1998.
I studied at UH-Clear Lake and it was there that I decided to look for something unique to do in art while working on my master’s thesis. I tried mixed media collages with used/recycled materials but was not very happy with the results, until I opened some discarded large format ink cartridges and started painting with those inks.
Initially was part of an artist group called the Montrose Art Society where we organized monthly shows to promote and sell our art.
Today, I work by myself mostly on commissioned work and recently have started trying a few collaborations in dance/performance.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My work is mostly pop art inspired, and usually depicts Brazilian culture/objects and refers to the nostalgia felt by those living away from their native countries. Other topics are often martial arts and dance, and the work always uses recycled ink as a medium and sometimes other recycled objects as well.
Most of the time, only the four printer colors are used: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. The colors are also painted separately and allowed to dry before the next color is added.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Conditions for artists have always been tough, especially if you aim to do it full time. It becomes easier over the years as you build a following and people get to know and appreciate more of your work.
The main thing I always encourage folks to do is to support local artists/crafts and events, especially when looking for art to put in your home.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently, the bulk of my work is on display at Piola Midtown (3201 Louisiana).
Facebook is my main tool for promoting my art at the moment, so follow Art by Andre Amaral if you’d like to hear about my new work as it comes out.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: amaraltx
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtByAndreAmaral
Image Credit:
Kristen Ellene Meza
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