BIOGRAPHY

Born in Santiago, Chile, Claudio Picasso moved to Miami with his mother at the age of two.
It was here that his artistic inclinations flourished and, by age 16 when his friends first
introduced to him to graffiti art, his compositions as CP1 began surging through Miami streets.
Claudio instantly fell in love with graffiti art’s bold color schemes, graphic styling, and monumental
scale, along with it’s underground culture, and means of social commentary. Still as he began to work
with spray paint, he felt the need to branch out from the traditional bright, pastel designs,
often-repetitive structure, and constraints as solely a form of word art.
Soon after graduating high school, Claudio would expand his repertoire in the Schools of Art and Art History
at Florida International University, delving into every medium he could. A Master’s degree in Education would
soon follow. After working in sculpture, printmaking, and digital art, Claudio found himself returning to
charcoal and spray paint as his preferred mediums. Crafting images with a depth and sensitivity that pushes
the bounds of spray paint, his work emphasizes the positive attributes of spray paint as a medium while
pushing to overcome both the physical limitations and preconceived notions that accompany it. Often times
monochromatic, the works leave greater emphasis to rendering, smooth gradients, shading, and the relationship
between foreground and background; positive and negative.
His current works strip down color and composition to allow line and shading to dominate work that prominently
displays roots in charcoal drawing. These works pay homage to those people close to him, and also to iconic
figures that have greatly influenced his development as an artist. Here he engages a limited, complementary
palette in a style that dances precariously between hyperrealism and abstraction.
Claudio’s work has been featured in numerous print and online publications, including Miami Herald, Miami New
Times, and most recently his mural at Sweat Records was recognized by The Atlantic in its article detailing
Miami’s alternative, cultural renaissance. In 2009, The Miami New Times dubbed Claudio Miami’s most
progressive, urban artist. For 2011, Claudio completed murals for the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason,
and Univision, along with a number of commercial and private commissions, including a local NBA star’s home.

Last year, Claudio painted murals for Phillipe Starcke and SLS Hotel, including a mobile restaurant for chef Jose Andres.

Currently, Claudio is working on mural projects in Wynwood and for Tongue & Cheek restaurant on
South Beach.

 

LINKS

Sweat Records
(Wall of Idolatry mural by Claudio Picasso)

Ground Up & Rising
(Stage design by Claudio Picasso)

Openfilm.com
(Interview with Claudio Picasso)

CNN – My City, My Life
(Iggy Pop’s tour of Miami, featuring the Sweat Records mural)

Miami Graffiti
(A selection of street art by Claudio Picasso)