On the 2nd of March, the artist Felipao, together with Ruinart will hold a private champagne tasting in collaboration with the Canis Majoris Foundation at the Gonzalo Casas Pessino Cultural Diffusion Center, where we will be able to enjoy a Capsule Exhibition of the artist.
Felipe García-Bañón Sanz-Briz, who goes by the name of Felipao, has lived in various parts of the world since childhood. Having been exposed to different cultures has imbued allowed him with an eclectic vision of the world, something that has marked his artistic style.
It was not until 1983 that he settled in Madrid, where, after graduating in Economics and Business Administration from ICADE, he worked in several multinational companies. In 2009, he decided to undertake a major change in his life, which was motivated by the need to communicate his experiences, his vision and what had been his passion until then. He thus began to devote himself completely to art.
Throughout these years he has exhibited in the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States, among other countries. He has held exhibitions and specific artistic projects for brands such as DS, Tag-Heuer, Glenfiddich, eBay, Beefeater, Sol & Luna, Miguel Vergara Meat Group, Bentley, Apodemia and Bulldog Gin among others.
His iconic creations are in the private collections of important public figures and have positioned him as one of the most recognized Spanish pop artists today. His sculptures are a symbiosis of art, design and decoration.
How would you describe your artistic career?
Different. I consider myself a self-taught and multidisciplinary artist. The fact of having previously been a collector, has helped me to know and understand the art world, however, creativity is something innate.
When did your interest in art begin?
Always. I invested my first salary in a painting (which I paid for by installments), later I collected works by several artists until they could no longer fit in my home.
Where does your inspiration come from?
That is not easy to answer, I don’t think you can answer in a Cartesian way … the inspiration is moments, experiences, trips, places, people … There is no exact formula.
What do you want to convey with your work?
I seek to convey a message of optimism, joy, color and sophisticated imagination.
How would you define your work?
Cheerful, colorful, elegant, different, sometimes daring, although I think it best for those who see it to define it.
What have been the greatest difficulties you have encountered as an artist?
Many … To take a 180 degree turn in one’s life, leaving behind one’s comfort zone to do what you really like and what you believe is not easy for anyone, it is a risky decision … but it has been worth it.
The artist is a lone entrepreneur without any institutional financial assistance. I am most grateful to several people who have helped me immensely throughout the years.
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