Romero Britto, Friar's Club Award for Tony Bennett, 2016, Sculpture

Romero Britto

Friar's Club Award for Tony Bennett, 2016

Mixed Media Enamel and Iron Sculpture on marble base

This sculpture is signed by the artist with permanent marker on the base with hologram sticker on the underside; serial number 017277

Unnumbered

17 1/4 × 6 × 1 inches

This sculpture is signed by the artist with permanent marker on the base with hologram sticker on the underside; serial number 017277. This is the award given to legendary American singer Tony Bennett given to him at a star-studded event to celebrate his 90th Birthday by Friar's Club in New York City. According to the Hollywood publication Variety "Tony Bennett received the Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award on his 90th birthday." The event was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. Attached for your reference are photographs of Bennett being presented the sculpture by Robert de Niro, and then posting next to it. Tony Bennett died in 2023 at the age of 96.
This work was acquired from a sale of the Estate of Tony Bennett.
More about Tony Bennett:
as an American singer who was best known for his song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". During his career, he won 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

The Friars Club is an exclusive private club in New York City. Famous for its risqué roasts, the club's membership is composed mostly of people who work in show business. Founded in 1904, it is located at 57 East 55th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.

More about Romero Britto:
razilian-born and Miami-made, Romero Britto is an internationally renowned pop artist who uses vibrant color, playful themes and hard-edged compositions to capture the attention of both youthful spirits and educated art collectors.

Born in Recife, Brazil and self-taught at an early age, he painted on newspapers, cardboard or any scraps that he could find. In 1983, Britto traveled to Paris where he was introduced to the works of Matisse and Picasso. After exhibiting in galleries and private shows, Britto was encouraged to travel to the United States where Pop Art was flourishing.

In 1988, he was selected alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring for Absolut Vodka's "Absolut Art" campaign. He combined his influences including cubism and Pop to create an iconic style that, as The New York Times described, “exudes warmth, optimism and love.” It is this artistic voice which has established Romero Britto's reputation and granted him widespread international recognition. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries, including the Salon de la Societé Nationale des Beaux Arts exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre in 2008 and 2010. In December 2013, Romero Britto was the first living artist to be invited to exhibit at Museo Soumaya in Mexico City.

He has created public art installations for the O2 Dome in Berlin, John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Cirque Du Soleil at Super Bowl 16, and has been credited with the largest monumental sculpture in the history of London’s Hyde Park. He served as an official artist for the 2010 World Cup and was recently appointed Ambassador to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Over the years, Britto’s pop sensibility has lent itself to many collaborations with international brands such as Audi, Bentley, Coca-Cola, Disney, Evian, Hublot, Mattel, and Technomarine.

Romero Britto is an artistic advocate and activist for charitable organizations worldwide and in Florida and has served on several boards such as Best Buddies International and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hosptital. Most importantly, he is an artist who believes "art is too important not to share." Britto has donated time, art and resources to more than 250 charitable organizations. A firm believer in the role of an artist as an agent of positive change, Romero Britto is committed to developing and supporting the powerful role art plays in world issues.
-Courtesy Florida Department of State