The thinker & the bird, 2014

Jorge Blanco  

Blanco began drawing and painting in 1967 and sculpting in the early 1970s. He received formal training at the Neumann Institute in Caracas, where he graduated in 1971 with a degree in industrial design. After graduating, he worked as a graphic designer. From 1975 to 1979, he lived in Rome, Italy, where he attended open classes at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1980, Jorge Blanco created the comic strip "El Náufrago" (The Shipwrecked Man), which was published in the Caracas newspaper El Diario. This comic strip, recounting the adventures of a man shipwrecked on a deserted island, was a great success and was distributed on various media such as notebooks, phone cards, and T-shirts. Among his notable public sculptures are "Go Bongo" at Ghent Station in Norfolk, Virginia, "Swimming in Jupiter" in Jupiter, Florida, and "AIR" at the MARC Athletic Center in Park City, Utah. His work "Smile," located on the Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, Florida, exemplifies his signature style, combining clean lines and vibrant colors to evoke positive emotions.

Blanco's work is often compared to that of Paul Klee, Joan Miró, and Alexander Calder. His sculptures are distinguished by their use of primary colors and simplified forms, aiming to convey an optimistic vision of everyday life. His works, primarily made of painted aluminum, are designed to interact with their environment, inviting viewers to a playful and contemplative experience. Jorge Blanco's works have been exhibited internationally, notably in Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Asia, the United States, and South America. His sculptures are part of public and private collections, and he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions. His work has also been featured at prestigious auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's.

Since moving to the United States, Jorge Blanco has lived and worked in Sarasota, Florida, where he continues to create public sculptures and works for private collections. His commitment to public art reflects his belief that art should be accessible to all and enrich community spaces.