Niclas Castello
Niclas Castello emerges as a contemporary German artist who weaves together the influences of Pop Art, Street Art, and Neo-Expressionism reminiscent of Jean-Michel Basquiat, to create dialogue between painting, sculpture, and popular culture.
Born on July 21, 1978, in Neuhaus am Rennweg, East Germany, Castello's artistic journey began during the transformative events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall. The sudden influx of new cultural artifacts and art directions sparked in the artist a lifelong fascination with vibrant colors.
Involved in the vibrant street art movement of Germany during the late 1990s, Castello later ventured to Paris in 2001. In France, he continued to delve deeper into the realm of painting. Following a brief stint in Germany for formal art education, he made the pivotal move to New York, where he found mentorship under the esteemed performance artist Arleen Schloss. With Schloss's guidance, Castello laid the groundwork for his career, exhibiting at prestigious international art fairs such as FIAC 2011 in Paris, Art Stage Singapore 2013, and Art Basel 2014.
Niclas Castello's artistry is seen as an ongoing dialogue between sculpture and painting. This enduring conflict reached a panicle in 2016 when Castello unveiled his groundbreaking "Cube-Painting-Sculpture", a work art historians regard as a response to the antique Paragone dispute. For these wroks, Castello paints on a canvas, large Basquiat inspired works, which he proceeds to destroy and frame in large, clear cube boxes. By transforming large-scale oil paintings into tangible, three-dimensional objects, "The Cube-Paintings" bridge the perceived gap between sculpture and painting.
Castello's paintings and sculptures form a captivating dialogue with commercial imagery and luxury brands. Evident in his celebrated series "The Kiss," paying homage to Jeff Koons's oversized appropriations, and his luxury-branded fire extinguishers that evoke the playful spirit of Takashi Murakami's toys.
Drawing inspiration from the imagery of popular culture, Castello creates works that serve as commentary on the symbiotic relationship between consumerism and the realms of art and society. This theme pervades Castello's works in which he explores the intersections of art, commerce, and contemporary culture, imbuing his work with layers of meaning and significance.
Currently, Niclas Castello divides his time between New York City, NY, and Berlin, Germany, where he continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art with his innovative and eclectic creations.
