Mateo Blanco (born 10 September 1981) is an American artist, singer and art collector. Blanco uses non-conventional items to create art.

Mateo Blanco
Mateo Blanco in his studio The United States of America 2023
Born (1981-09-10) 10 September 1981 (age 43)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known forusing non-conventional items to create Art

As an artist, Blanco is also known for his unique renditions of the American flag using uncommon textiles and materials. Many of Mateo's creations are acquired by Ripley's Believe It or Not.[1][2][3] The Boca Raton Museum of Art, The Butler Institute of American Art , The Museum of Art - DeLand and Maja Museum in Jericó , Antioquia , Colombia is home to some of the world's most iconic pieces of art by Mateo Blanco. As an American tenor, he recorded an album titled Mateo Blanco 7:24.[4][5] Currently, he lives in Orlando, Florida.

Early life and education

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Mateo Blanco with Débora Arango

Although he was born in the United States, his parents moved to Medellín in 1986 where they built the San Mateo house in honor of their son. There, he lived his childhood and youth from the age of five to 19 (2000) in Colombia. In the capital of Antioquia he grew up in an environment surrounded by artists and politicians, which allowed him to strengthen ties of friendship with artists, presidents, intellectuals and musicians who formed and influenced him such as Fernando Botero and his wife Sophia Vari. The latter would show and advise him - in Mateo's words - to be a complete artist with knowledge and discipline.

Mateo Blanco began his formal training under the supervision of Débora Arango in Medellin. He studied with Arturo Estrada Hernández, Jesusita Vallejo de Mora and Lola Vélez. Further, he studied Goldsmithing and Jewelry in Medellin, and, later, commercial music at Florida Atlantic University.[6] Mateo received a training on classical opera singing, performed in La traviata, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni and Il Trovatore. Blanco was a part of Opera house in Colombia. Blanco has also make presentations accompanied by Aretha Franklin and performed for former president George H. W. Bush at his birthday dinner.[7][8]

Key Art-Works

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Native Flag By Mateo Blanco 2023 Boca Raton Museum of Art Collection
  • Credit Flag by Mateo Blanco, 42 credit cards 2024.
  • Native Flag by Mateo Blanco, Textile 2023.
  • Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice by Mateo Blanco, Textile 2023.
  • A 78X55 inches Jennifer Lawrence's portrait with 9,658 Planters peanuts.[1]
  • A portrait of Tennessee native Dolly Parton made of piece of clothes without paint.[9]
  • A series, “Joseph, Coat of Many Colors”, as an honor to Jewish history.[10]
  • Cheetah sculptures made from Cheetos Puffs.[11]
  • Portraits of singer Madonna, with wooden slits carved over her image for a 2D effect.[12][13]
  • A 3D replica of a FedEx truck with dog hair.[14]
  • A 3D sculpture of Sofía Vergara using feathers.[15]

Books Mentioning

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2018 "Odd is Art." Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

2019 Meyer, Edward. "Buying the Bizarre: Confessions of a Compulsive Collector".

Films About

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2021 "Caged Bird" (film about Mateo Blanco), Fusion Fest; Orlando, Florida

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Nuttiest Jennifer Lawrence Portrait". HuffPost India. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  2. ^ La gente se comía pedacitos de sus obras: el inconveniente de crear arte comestible - CNN Video, retrieved 2019-04-23
  3. ^ Mateo Blanco | Season 2015 Episode 170 | WUCF Artisodes, retrieved 2019-04-23
  4. ^ "Artist Mateo Blanco honors strong women in Boca Raton gallery debut". www.ellatino.com. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  5. ^ DiDomenico, Jennifer. "Local musician Mateo Blanco celebrates 10 year anniversary of debut album with re-release". Osceola News-Gazette. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  6. ^ "Artist Mateo Blanco Honors Strong Women in Boca Raton Gallery Debut". www.bocaratontribune.com. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  7. ^ "Mateo Blanco: American dreamer turned successful American tenor". floridant.com. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  8. ^ "Mateo Blanco". Rosenbaum Contemporary. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  9. ^ PR, Ripleys (2016-06-09). "Ripley's Believe It or Not! Acquires One-of-a-kind Dolly Parton Portrait". Ripley Entertainment Inc. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  10. ^ Sedam, Lauren (2018-04-30). "Artist Mateo Blanco pays tribute to Jewish history in his new work". Miami's Community News. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  11. ^ O'Brien, Kayla (7 December 2017). "Artist uses thousands of Cheetos to make sculpture". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  12. ^ "Mateo Blanco's art is on display at Cinco Tacos + Tequila in Winter Park". Food & Beverage Magazine. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  13. ^ Diaz, Johnny (28 November 2017). "Miami artist pays homage to Madonna in Coral Gables exhibit". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  14. ^ "Artist creates FedEx truck out of dog hair". WMC Action News 5. March 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  15. ^ "Pulgas casi arruinan escultura de Sofía Vergara hecha en plumas". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). 2017-07-13. Retrieved 2019-04-23.