Artists

5 minutes with Felipe Barreiro

Felipe Barreiro is an artist based in Argentina whose paintings have been featured in solo exhibitions nationally, as well as in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Italy. In his compositions, he celebrates beauty through the lens of the human experience. Inspired by the great academic painters and impressionists, Barreiro cites precision and experimentation as being the core elements of his artistic practice. He primarily creates using oils on canvas. We sat down with Felipe Barreiro to talk about his current projects, inspiration, and the start of his artistic career.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

As a young kid, my grandmother had a great influence on my upbringing. She was a history teacher and usually referred to great works of art and architecture to tell me about the past. So many stories and so much knowledge had been immortalized in stone, canvas, and every other material possible. I always knew that I wanted to be a part of that legacy. To leave my mark on the wall.

Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?

The core principles behind my work are tradition and innovation. To incorporate the best of what art history has to offer, and to adapt it to themes and interests of our times. The impressionists, the academic painters, and the Hudson River school are my primary sources of inspiration. Names like Sorolla, Bouguereau, and Bierstadt are on my list.

Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others? 

Due to the nature of my work I usually prefer to work on my own. The mind needs complete focus for achieving the level of detail that my paintings require.

I do, however, get together with other artists in plein air painting sessions. Art should always have a social component.

Can you tell us about a project you’re currently working on?

For the time being, I am working on a series of landscapes from places I have visited. I was always drawn to the great outdoors and to me nature is the ultimate source of beauty and inspiration.

The earth provides both great beauty and limited resources. It is in our best interest to look after our home. By painting these landscapes I hope to show that protecting nature’s beauty is worth our best efforts.

What do you think you would you be doing if you weren’t an artist?

That is a hard question. Choosing to create an artistic legacy is like crossing the Rubicon. It demands all the energy, dedication, and effort one can master. Especially when the standard for success are men and women whose legacy shaped history. There is no plan B for some of us.

Monaco 1955 (2021), Felipe Barreiro

Have you found any other artists on SINGULART whose work you admire?

I did, yes. Fortunately, there are a lot of high-quality artists on SINGULART and it is an honor to be part of this group. I think we inspire each other not only with our artistic projects, but also in relation to the mindset and dedication that our particular craft demands.

What advice would you give to young artists starting out?

It is not an easy path. However, if you’re dedicated and talented, you can do anything that has been done before and much more. Focus on quality by studying what humanity has valued over the centuries, not just a couple of decades. Real value lasts while trends fade away. Defy the rules, explore ideas, endure the storms. I wish you all the best in your journey.

Click here to view the SINGULART profile of Felipe Barreiro