Avanzando (Moving Forward)

Romero Britto’s Avanzando embodies the artist’s commitment to humanitarian work, stimulated by his underprivileged childhood and lack of access to art supplies. In 2007, he established the Britto Foundation to provide arts education and literacy programs to underserved children, giving them the kinds of opportunities that were once denied to him as a young, aspiring artist. Britto painted Avanzando in the same year, connecting his artistic practice with his desire to give back to his community. A smiling Earth clad in a patterned suit strides forward with arms outstretched. The continents of North and South America comprise Earth’s face, perhaps a reference to the artist’s identity as a Brazilian-American. Avanzando ’s bright color palette and graphic, geometric shapes declare Britto’s tireless commitment to helping others through his art and his joyful embrace of the world.

Text credit: Produced in collaboration with the University of Maryland Department of Art History & Archaeology and by Leah Standing