Rick Garcia

Water Wings

2017

Rick Garcia is an American contemporary artist and oil painter, born in 1953, in Havana, Cuba. Soon after his parents relocated to Miami, Florida, he was encouraged to follow his dream of pursuing and developing his talent in art. In later years, he found a deep-rooted connection to surrealism, especially the work of Salvador Dali. Garcia had become obsessed with the unique images and amazing technique of the Spanish painter and he eventually traveled to Port Lligat, Spain, to visit the home and surroundings of his mentor. After years of attending the Art Institute of Miami, where he refined his artistic vision in drawing and painting, he was soon earning an income from published illustrations.

Garcia has enjoyed a rich and diverse career, starting with the hit TV show, Miami Vice, commissioning him to create a mural on the side of a three-story building and use his paintings for interior shots. Apart from a growing number of private commissions, his distinctive images were commissioned by The United Nations Postal Administration, in 1998 and 2003. His stamps brought awareness to the growing extinction of the rainforest and its inhabitants and followed with the 50th Anniversary of the World Health Organization, bringing awareness to the vanishing supply of freshwater, where it earned him the prestige of the most beautiful stamp series of 2003.

Garcia was recognized as an Absolut Artist of the 90s, in the popular vodka ad campaign and his second piece, Absolut Electric, further drew worldwide attention. The years 1998, 1999 and 2001 garnered him the distinction of the official artist to The Grammy Awards, where his creations influenced the look of the live broadcast and graced the covers of the official program book, CDs, posters, apparel and other various items. His work included portraits of stars such as Destiny's Child, Ricky Martin, Coldplay, Santana, Celia Cruz, Black Eyed Peas, Imogen Heap and Kanye West. His lifelong passion of thoroughbred racing tapped him, in 2008, to be the official artist of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Festival.

Founder of Benihana, Rocky Aoki, gave Garcia complete creative control to design a sushi restaurant on Miami Beach. Along with sculptor, Bruce Hanners, they built and installed an 1800 sq. ft octopus, designed by Garcia, to be the massive ceiling light fixture. Other design elements included artworks and custom light fixtures throughout the restaurant, including the restrooms.