FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ HTTP://TWITTER.COM/ARTBUSINESSNEWS • JOIN US ON FACEBOOK @ WWW.FACEBOOK.COM 2322 ART BUSINESS NEWS • SEPTEMBER 2010 •ARTBUSINESSNEWS.COM
CHRISTOPHER DERUBEIS
BORN IN: Los Angeles
GALLERY LOCATION: Key West, Fla.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATION: Salvador Dali
PUBLISHER: David Smith
STYLE/MEDIUM: Mixed-media on metal
YEARS IN THE BUSINESS: Seven
CONTACT: derubeisfi neart.com; 786.430.9805David Smith, [email protected]; 808.463.9643
a landscape, it’s something cool and diff erent. Th ose kind of reactions inspire me.”
DeRubeis has received many notable honors. His work was featured during the telecast of the 2000 American Music Awards. And, in July 2005, DeRubeis was honored with two nomina-tions by ARTV in the “Mixed Media” and “New Movement” categories and was the recipient of the first annual ARTV Awards in “New Movement.” Also, as the exclusive airbrush artist for MGS Custom Bikes, DeRubeis’ airbrush art played the key role for their f lagship chopper, “Dragon Slayer,” which continues to earn many awards, including “Best Paint” at the 2005 Grand National Road Show. He has appeared with his work on the Playboy Channel and has been featured on the DIY net-work and HGTV.
DeRubeis says his dimensional, abstract and sensual technique has evolved mostly by trial and error through mixing diff erent chemicals and heating up the paint. His favorite piece is an original called “Day Dream” hanging in his home. “I won’t sell it. It calms me and takes me to another world,” he says.
In 2007, DeRubeis was signed by art pub-lisher David Smith who immediately saw the
future in Chris’s art. Now, DeRubeis is has become one of the most popular-selling art-ists with his works on permanent display in high-end galleries throughout the United States and abroad.
Another unique twist to DeRubeis’ artwork: his pieces are rarely shown in frames. When asked why his work is always “fl oated,” Chris simply says with a smile, “Why not?”
Growing up, DeRubeis was inspired by the works of Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.
“Dali was so diff erent and unique for his time,” he says. “I could look at his art for a long time and notice diff erent things. I also love Pablo Picasso’s abstract style and color palette.”
In March 2010, DeRubeis opened his own signature gallery in Key West, Fla. His goal is to open as many franchise galleries as he can and to be recognized with his own signature artwork.
His advice to up-and-coming artists: “Put yourself out there and believe in the work you are doing. Meet as many people as you can, go to the expos, even if you don’t sell anything, the exposure is important and positive. Stay focused and good things will happen to you.”
Viewers can keep an eye out for DeRubeis ever-changing artwork in galleries worldwide and on many of the cruise ships.
Christopher DeRubeis, dubbed the “father of a new movement,” was given an airbrush by his grandfather when he was a boy. Th at gift gave birth to unrestrained creativity featuring the artist’s signature holographic imagery and abstract sensualism.
While working as an airbrush artist for Harley-Davidson, DeRubeis noticed he could create diff erent designs and patterns with the tools. Although he started with fi gure painting, DeRubeis says his style has changed over the years.
“My work—referred to as abstract sen-sualism—is very dreamy and relaxing, the images are soft and calming, which is my sig-nature style,” says DeRubeis, whose ground-breaking mixed-media metal paintings and sculptures also depict a masterful manipula-tion of light. I favor aluminum because it is
soft and pliable and I can combine a form of sculpture as the foundation for my expression. It enhances my ability to communicate emo-tions more intently.
“All art should inspire and evoke emotion. It should be something you can actually feel.”
DeRubeis says his biggest challenge, like most artists, was introducing his distinct style to the public. “Once I got into some art galleries, it was a domino eff ect and I started seeing sales right away. I no longer had to convince buyers. Now, people from all over the world and from all walks of life—from high-end businesses to fi rst-time buyers—collect my work,” he says. “First-time buyers, especially, are intrigued with my work. Th ey say it has changed their perception of art—it’s not just an oil painting of
“Fire and Ice”
“With In”
“Earth Wind”
“See Beyond” “Day Dream”
“All art should inspire and evoke emotion. It should be something you can actually feel.”
— Christopher DeRubeis
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE!Watch an extended slide show of this artist’s work in Art Business News’ special e-publication. Link to it at artbusinessnews.com.
