Making the world happy: Romero Britto

If a star on Miami’s Walk of Fame wasn’t a big enough symbol of Romero’s stellar status in the artworld, his collector list certainly is. Celebrities who have owned his work include Alice Walton, Andre Agassi, Whitney Houston, Michael Jordan and Carlos Slim.

CSI Miami actor David Caruso owns an impressive 12 paintings. He told The New York Times: “There is an onus placed on many artists to go to hipper, glibber, darker places with their work to make a statement, when in reality, Romero is exploring the other side of that expression – the happiness of life.”

Raised as one of nine children to a single mother in Recife, Brazil, Romero has never forgotten his humble roots. Living by his own motto - ‘Art is too important not to share’ - he has donated time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organisations, including The Prince’s Trust.

In 2017, to celebrate the singer’s 70th birthday, he donated 50 of his ‘Music Man’ portraits to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The original work sold for £130,000, with Elton describing it as a “fun, fabulous, rock ‘n’ roll portrait” and all proceeds going to the charity.