Moreau of Paris Hosts Famed Artist for Live Fundraiser for Charity….

Recently, I was invited by Luisa Rangel de Alba, Brand Manager of Moreau Paris and Assouline Books, and Omar Contreras, General Manager of Assouline, in River Oaks District, as a guest at a special event that she was hosting at Moreau location. The event, spearheaded by Luisa’s good friend, Blanca Lozano, that was highlighting a young artist from Barcelona, Spain, Jacob Vilató, who was not only an accomplished artist in his own right but also just happened to be the great nephew of the famed artist, Pablo Picasso. He was there to personally paint “live” on a Moreau leather one-of-a-kind tote bag, while we all watched. The Collection’s finished Studio Tote, is currently on display at the Moreau Boutique in ROD and will be auctioned off for a charity to be determined.

I was in for a treat in many respects…..the store was overflowing in special luxury product, the crowd was lovely and enthusiastic and above all, I became acquainted with the amazing young artist, Jacob Vilató, that i was very curious to meet. First, was his unquestionable fame as a descendant of a family centered around a home that was filled with paintings and drawings. As has been said, Jacob’s approach to art came from the cradle and in the most natural way. He learned at an early age, being surrounded by this culture-rich environment, to appreciate beauty. Creativity was not only nurtured but encouraged all of his life.

I learned of his first plunge into the architectural world, and his furniture design, where he spent 15 successful years as the leader of a firm that was represented globally. Also, he then spoke to his ‘return to his roots’ in 2018 and in 2019 he launched Vilató i Vilató with business partner Itzel Culetro, and the world of painting that had surrounded him his entire life.

Vilato’s imagination is limitless. His appreciation of multiple design disciplines, born out of his upbringing and his career experiences allows him to paint and design with no barriers. Each piece speaks on its own. The artist sums up his style or his desire to not confine himself to one style is here below…..

A summary of the artist’s creative approach, in his own words………

“I don’t have and I’m not looking for a style of my own. That’s not for me. I paint what I think.”

Jacob Vilató

Getting to Know the Artist…

Following is some further edited insight from my most enjoyable chat with Jacob Vilató, his historically creative life and just what makes this uber-creative guy tick!!

MRG: Ok, Jacob…..this is your life! Please tell me about you and please explain what I have read many times that you did not want to have a signature style and that you wanted each piece to stand on its own. Can you elaborate on that?

JV: I came from architecture where I created buildings for people. Either the ones that you built it for or for the ones that would be using it. The building can be for their needs and I feel it would be very selfish for me to only want it to reflect what I want or like for my own ego. I didn’t want to make it about me and make me the center. Also, I have a thing about death, always have and how that fits into here is that the only way I can combat that is to build memories. It gives me pleasure to feel I’m leaving something and that each is special and unique on its own.

MRG: So if I lined up eight of your paintings would I be able to look and know that they were “Jacob Vilató’s paintings”?

JV: Yes, you probably would but it would not be on purpose. I feel if I do too much of the same thing twice I will become an artisan and a copy of myself and that doesn’t feel right to me. So if I do copy myself I try to at least make it better, but not always! (he adds with a chuckle!)

MRG: I’m sure that there is nowhere you can go that people don’t want to talk about your being Picasso’s nephew and what is that like? However, in terms of influence….you do come from quite a family of artists, so if you come from that family you probably “paint before you talk”, is at your root, right?

JV: Yes, you are right and I still do that. I don’t talk much!! Of course Picasso is an influence, I can’t avoid it…..its on my walls, in exhibitions all over the world, it’s always there I cannot avoid, if I wanted to. Other than that, it would be African Art. My father liked African Art and was always bringing some piece or taking me somewhere and that went deep into me.

MRG: Do you feel that you are compared to Picasso? Do people say that you are better or worse or that you look or feel the same in a particular aspect of your work or overall have the same feel as your famous uncle?

JV: Yes, all the time! (he laughed and said) I wish!!? No, people are usually very cautious and they look very hard for a likeness. (Example: “that looks like a Picasso eye?”)

MRG: I know that you did architecture first…..was that to separate yourself from all of that art that surrounded you? Is that a part of your portfolio that still exists or have you given it up completely to pursue your creative arts?

JV: So my family was either artists or doctors. So I didn’t want to go into painting because there were already too many painters and my father (his father’s bloodline is the Picasso connection) agreed with that. I started in architecture, doing residential which I loved and did also some museums, many residential towers and hotels and that was fine for 5 yrs, then 10 and even 15 but I had to stop as it had become too much of a business and not creative for me anymore…..I did not want to become a businessman but needed to be creative and gave it all up. It is all shut down now.

MRG: So now you have moved back to your roots of painting, sculpting, and even I learned today, ceramics……you said to me that you travel a lot, …..when do you have time do all of this creating?

JV: Well, all of this travel is quite recent, wasn’t always that way. Now I do travel and when I’m back in Barcelona I spend all of my time in my studio or in my home, working on my art. I am not very social and don’t do much else…..just work, work, work!!

MRG: So what’s in the future for Jacob Vilató? Where do you see your life going? You do travel a lot and do you feel that will continue and have an impact on your work?

JV: I don’t know, I think it’s exciting not knowing not caring even. The only thing regarding my work is to become better at what I do; going deeper into my work and seeing more than I can see now. I do get quite a lot from my travel. I approach it that I observe it all and take it into my head and even though I don’t sketch as I see it, I can translate it into my mind and see what I am going to draw. I think it’s essential for my art to observe and it influences very much my work. Plus it’s important for me to get out of Barcelona to get feedback and to learn from that feedback. I get that from traveling, it opens my mind, as I get no feedback, really, in Barcelona.

MRG: So if I wanted to purchase one of your paintings, how would I do it? Do you sell online, in galleries (I was told that two of the paintings at Moreau event were sold!?) How could I do this?

JV: You would go to her, my partner, Itzel. All very personal, do not sell any other way, must be direct. I have good production but not like a big business where I would sell 100 pieces a day. I work very fast and that is why I work in acrylics….do not like to spend a lot of time on one piece. If I don’t like it I can paint over it or throw it away and move on!!

MRG: I hate to ask this, but I must……do you have a favorite Picasso? I read that you have one that has been at the end of your bed, most of your life?

JV: No, I am asked that all of the time and I wish, but I do not have one. But yes, that painting is very personal. It’a a father and a boy and the boy is holding a bird….and the bird is on a leash and it’s always been funny for me to think of a bird on a leash and how can that be, feels cruel….who could do that?? The thing about Picassos are that there is a painting for every moment…..there can be one that I don’t like much but a few years later when I have learned more about it, I get it and I do like it!!

MRG: Could one of the next steps for you would be to do a book? You have much to talk about with unique paintings, sculpture, ceramics?

JV: I would love that. I also even still do furniture design in addition to all of my art. (editor’s note: we will have to wait and see but it would be great, right??)

Lastly, a look at the day…..

The Artist at Work…

The Audience….

Photos by Michael Anthony, Natalie Ariz, MyRedGlasses