From the start, Bruno Pagliano envelopes you with his joie de vivre, but beyond the senses; he also has a sharp, clear eye that sees everything in detail without judgment. His artwork reflects his life and how he lives it. His paintings are inspired by Bruno’s life experiences and how he has grown as a human. They are full of vibrant colors that help to portray Bruno’s interpretation of the world as he sees it. Bruno told me, “I have used strong colors since my first crawling steps as an artist. I define my style as a fierce love of savage sensibility.” As an observer, you can see that Bruno not only sees his art but also hears it as he paints the drumbeats and vibes of the world as he moves through it.
He was born in Rosario, Argentina. Rosario is one of the largest cities in central Argentina and sits serenely by the blue Parana River with its classical European architecture. It is known as a place for revelry due to its young population and various bars and clubs. Its urban chic, laid-back attitude and outdoorsy atmosphere helped define Bruno as a person and artist since it is where he has created most of his work thus far. Bruno believes that one is born an artist, and from his earliest memories, he felt a yearning to express his creativity.
Bruno began his journey in art at the age of 14 in theater and music. Then at the age of 17, he began to draw incessantly. Eventually, he started to paint and make sculptures. Bruno is self-taught but so talented that he has traveled the world exhibiting his work in places such as the Louvre, Polanco in Mexico, DF, Chile, Tenerife, Madrid, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, and Argentina. His patrons come from all walks of life, from famous designers and entrepreneurs to regular people who want to cherish his work in their homes quietly.
Some of the paintings by Bruno Pagliano.
Although Bruno has had many adventures, he chooses not to boast about his life; he prefers to demonstrate his feelings through his vibrant paintings, which are wild with color and emotion. You can sense a cascade of passion from joy to tears and back again in his work. It is a dichotomy of savage, raw emotion with sensitivity. Technically, Bruno has experimented with various painting mediums, but today, his technique focuses on using canvas and paper with acrylic, oil, enamel, and pastels. One of his current works in progress depicts seeds as they flower. The painting is powerful with its green, purple, and orangey-red bursts of life encircling the growing seeds. Again and again, Bruno depicts life as it matures with vibrancy and sweetness in the sheer prettiness of the imagery.
My conversation with Bruno was frankly enchanting. He is, at heart, an achingly kind man conscious of others’ feelings but never someone who allows himself to be taken advantage of. We spoke of his joy in creating art—all sorts of things, not just paintings, sculpture, music, and writing. Like so many others, Bruno’s life has been full of joy and sadness, but he takes all his experiences and uses them to create his art, which is undoubtedly full of hope and the excitement of being alive. We talked for hours about travel, art, and the people drawn to his work. Interestingly, Bruno successfully attracts ingenues and serious art collectors to his work.
I got a sense of Bruno’s patrons; he would never be so indiscreet as to talk about them specifically, but they are people drawn to Bruno as a personality and his work. He creates relationships with his patrons, and Bruno never conducts a mere transaction. He talks with his fans and tries to understand their desires from his art. I recall seeing Bruno present his work at an AVESSA party early in 2023. During the event, a constant cluster of smiling men, women, and children eagerly interacted with him. From hipsters and straitlaced businessmen to children with wide eyes and smiles, they all were attracted to Bruno’s work and the life force he infused into his art. They also all had one thing in common: they were people who seemed optimistic and curious, which are attributes that Bruno values intensely.
Bruno is constantly reflecting and considering how to express himself. He consistently travels to display his art and to talk with patrons about their lives as well. Bruno sweetly told me of the constant loves of his life, his dogs, and of course, his son Juan which also helped to inspire him. I would never try to classify such a joyous artist, but I have noticed some similarities in his work. Bruno has a fascination with eyes and smiles. They can be tearful or exuberant, but they always express and focus on human emotions. His art showcases the joy and sadness of being alive and free to make choices and learn from experiences.
Bruno is constantly moving, so his next steps take time to predict. He paints and explores in reaction to how his patrons and moods call to him. He presents his work throughout the year in art shows and gallery presentations globally, and as he stated only in late May, “Life pulsates, we are only here on this earth for a little while, I don’t want to stand waiting nor do I want to pressure myself unduly. Instead, I have confidence in everything in my life. I believe in everything and nothing. I don’t want to believe and live in one universe; I believe in living in a multiverse.”
Bruno makes one feel connected and hopeful. I suspect most of Bruno’s patrons and friends feel the same way as I; one is left to anticipate meeting him again and seeing what new fantastic imagery is ready for the world to see.
