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I was born in Havana, Cuba to Spaniard and French parents. By the age of sixteen I was already a television singing star on Havana's Hit Parade. A few years later I moved to Miami,
where my dream of becoming a painter - [ Picasso, Modigliani, Dali] - was put on hold, because food had to be put on the table. As a Cuban immigrant, I had an inherent work ethic that had me working as many jobs as I could, but still finding time for sketching and sculpturing lessons in Coconut Grove, along with classes in hairstyling [Gordon's Beauty School], where my sculpturing talents found further expression.
I had a keen artistic eye and a natural talent with my hands, which brought me instant success,and, as is my style, I gave myself a specific time limit to conquer the Miami clientele and
eventually making the move to New York City, where I quickly set up shop in the West Village. The shop was an instant success and before you knew it, I made the move into Television - daytime TV, Opera and Theatre, becoming 'first call' [personally] to such luminaries as Julie Christie, Joan Sutherland, Trish Van Der Vere, George C. Scott, Rex Harrison and many others.
I often flashback to the ages of nine and eleven, when I was sent to New York
City to learn to speak English, realizing it was there where I first discovered I had a gift for painting. I was compelled to paint the multi-colored clotheslines of Baruch Place on Manhattan's Lower East Side, with the Brooklyn Bridge serving as a very dramatic backdrop. My art teacher's
response was so strong that the painting was published in the school paper. I was very proud.
Even though I went on to enjoy success in every field of endeavor - as lyricist and book writer for the Musical Theatre Works production of the musical SUGAR HILL, [with Composer -
Louis St.Louis], garnering a rave review in the New York Times - along with an Emmy Nomination for my work in daytime TV [under the name Roberto Donzi] - still I felt I had not completely fulfilled my true artistic destiny - [my Cuban American Dream]. And so, again,as is my style, I gave up everything and moved to Denver, Colorado to begin my new life,
solely, as an 'artist'.
MENTORS:
DALE CHRISTIAN - Collections at The National Museum of Art, and Denver Museum of Contemporary Art.
ROB GRATIOT - 1999 American Artist Magazine Finalist, Today Competition, John Lennon Sunglasses, numerous national galleries, and Denver's
Sandra Phillips Gallery.
CHUCK CERASO - Denver Museum and Bolder Studio
ERNIE WALLACE - Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona, Professor of Drawing and Painting
DON BAIN / La Voz, Denver, Colorado writes: Roberto's bold and provocative art invites you into a creative partnership. His works are
seldom titled, some , something reserved for the viewer - or the future owner. "My work falls under the spell of the individual who appreciates it - so who better to bestow a name
on it?", says Roberto. Color and sensationalism in his strokes plays counterpoint to deep and hidden hues - each piece having both pure simplicity and intriguing complexity. But,perhaps most fun of all, is how his work takes on different lives as the lighting upon it changes - be it natural daylight or variable wattage spot-lighting. Something breathes in Roberto's work ...let your mind get close enough and you'll hear life coming from the canvas.
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