Gaspar Cunha Oil on Board one of a kind Hand Signed U.T-I Approx. Size: 24" X 16"Gaspar Cunha was born in November 19, 1951, in a small town called Santana, located in the heart of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. His parents lived in a farm, outside the city of Patos de Minas. In 1958, his parents decided to move to the city of Patos (Minas Gerais) and take over the administration of a small hotel. Gaspar was then 7 years old and attended elementary school in this city. In 1966, Gaspar's and two of his older sisters set out on a trip to a larger city (Belo Horizonte) by themselves, in an effort to find a better way to provide for the family. Gaspar was 13 when he moved to Belo Horizonte, and worked in several small jobs to help his sisters, including delivering towels to business' offices, selling silverware at a local store and working for a moving company. In front of the Picorelly's building there used to be a Military Headquarters; that called his attention and he elected to enroll in the police force. During that time, he studied the English language at ETIMIG and ICBEU (both through scholarships), learned the Spanish language by using the radio and completed high-school at Tiradentes School. He served in the Military between 1969 and 1974 as a traffic officer and official interpreter. In 1970, Gaspar started working at the Airport as a transit police officer, speaking English, Portuguese and Spanish. At that point his brother came to live with him in Belo Horizonte. Gaspar's brother was also an artist, and Gaspar developed a new interest for the Arts. He began studying Art with Wilsom Vicente, J.G. Oliver and Belchior Cunha. He left the police force in 1974 and progressed to having his first Art Show with his brother in 1975.Gaspar's work caused an impression on The General Consul of the United States, Mr. Ronald Dartford, who resided in Brazil at that time. He helped Gaspar come to the United States to study Art, and Gaspar subsequently enrolled at the Pratt Institute, in New York. It was there that he met Xavier, Jose Salles, Lidia Nakamura, and the American Master Clair Romano, a great teacher and well-known Art writer, who offered valuable guidance to the young artist, Gaspar Cunha. The year was still 1975, Gaspar worked selling hot-dogs, making pizzas and as a security officer during the night, all too financially support his studies. His mother died one year later. His loss proved to be so significant that he left school and went back to Brazil, where he started working with his brother in 1977. They both traveled throughout the country with their Art Show. He then initiated his studies at the Guinard University and opened a pizza place in Belo Horizonte. His business did not do well, and Gaspar decided to accept a job offer from a dear friend, Mrs. Linda Herzt of Grimble Bakery, a famous cheesecake supplier in Manhattan. While working at the bakery, Gaspar used the bottom of the cakes to scratch his paintings during his free time. It was during that time that he met Pel©, the famous soccer player, who came to the New York to promote soccer in the U.S. Pel© offered a job to Gaspar and his brother Belchior, offer they both refused, despite their growing friendship with Pel©.Gaspar left the bakery at a time where jobs were not too easy to find. While searching for jobs, Gaspar started working on his paintings. The market was very competitive, but Gaspar found his buyers were local restaurants and a small number of collectors. Gaspar married in 1987 and for the next few years (1987-1989) he worked in his studio in Astoria and held a part-time job in the production and restoration of artwork. His daughter Barbara was born in 1988. He subsequently separated from his spouse and made the decision to come to Miami in 1989, following a suggestion from an old friend, Benedito Luizzi, a successful artist. Not much happened until 1991; Gaspar was disappointed and missed his daughter, who was in Brazil. He made the trip to Brazil, hoping to be able to spend some time with his daughter. Once in Brazil, he stayed in Patos, Minas Gerais, at a beautiful house by the country side. The change of pace and scenery changed his state of mind and he was able to mend his broken heart. That was when he met Maria, his current wife, in 1994.The couple then traveled back to the United States, Gaspar and his brother purchased a motor home and they embarked on a continental trip from Miami to the city of Santana de Patos, Brazil. It took them 53 days to get there. A very special time of filming, drawing and taking pictures of the American Continent. In 1996, Gaspar came back to Miami and settled in Boca Raton. He met Jayson Fittipaldi, also an artist, and they started painting the isles of South Beach. They subsequently displayed their work at Zelmar Colto's Gallery, in Miami. The gallery also displayed works from other artists, such as Pedro Lazaro, Benedito, Jaisom and Albery. From 1990 to 2000, Gaspar's work had special characteristics. The paintings expressed a strong "Latin art influence". During this period, great painters emerged in the U.S. Among them, Gaspar and Mr. Britto (pop artist) stood out, gaining recognition. Both The Daily News and The Art News of New York mentioned Gaspar Cunha's work. His work for the next few years converged into the creation of a new technique, which Gaspar calls "neon". The name "neon" translates into lines of bright color straight from the tube, showing a natural light on one hand and the artificial light on the other. Gaspar considers this concept a "divine gift". This effect is brilliant, sometimes surrounding everything. Gaspar feels that it portraits our daily lives well, showing a combination of the hand of God (nature) and "Artificialism" (humanism).The subjects of his paintings are pleasant views of waterways and streets of Miami and Miami Beach, people, and its elements. The "neon" technique brings something new to the Art world.

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