Description
Florida Art explores Florida’s multicultural identity through a vibrant composition built upon the Florida flag. At the center appears a reinterpretation of the iconic Coppertone girl, a historic symbol of American pop culture. However, the artwork transforms her original meaning: while her skin remains fair, the visible tan takes on a Latina tone, representing the human, cultural, and economic imprint that Latin American migration has left on the state.
The figure’s shorts incorporate the flags of various Latin American countries, serving as a visual metaphor for a contemporary Florida shaped by diverse roots, histories, and migratory movements. The piece invites reflection on belonging, identity, and cultural transformation: in a territory where almost everyone comes from somewhere else, diversity becomes a driving force for renewal.
Emblematic elements—such as the McAlpin building in Miami Beach, a classic car, Mickey Mouse, an alligator, space exploration, Interstate 95, and the State of Florida seal—interact to construct a visual portrait of Florida’s collective memory. Through the language of Pop Art, Carlos Apitz fuses nostalgia, cultural critique, and a celebration of Florida Art diversity, creating a piece that transcends the typical tourist souvenir to become a statement on Florida’s Latin roots.
Brand
Carlos Apitz
Carlos Apitz is a Venezuelan visual artist and designer whose career bridges graphic design and illustration with a vibrant, contemporary pop art aesthetic. A 1984 graduate of the Higuera Academy of Drawing and Design, he began as a commercial illustrator and art director. A pioneer in digital design by 1988, he also taught computer-assisted design in the 1990s. He masters various techniques, including drawing, acrylics, oil painting, airbrush, and surreal hyperrealism. After moving to the U.S. in 2014, he redefined his artistic vision with a fresh pop language—giving rise to Venezuela POP and El Ávila en Tres Tiempos. Since his 2017 Miami debut show, New Pop, his style has evolved into a colorful, emotional synthesis aligned with New Pop Art. His work merges American pop culture—celebrities, symbols, landscapes—with Venezuelan imagery, addressing themes of identity, consumerism, and diaspora. Pieces like Juan Dollar and his Ávila series showcase bold lines, kinetic compositions, and visual wit. His Pop Art reinterprets memory, emotion, and cultural icons with intensity and irony. Based in Miami, Apitz continues to exhibit in galleries, art fairs, and international events, blending mixed media, digital art, and cryptoart. His signature style offers a reinvention of Latin American Pop Art that is both personal and universal.
General Inquiries
There are no inquiries yet.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.