My Timeless Masterpieces
Experience The Culture
As time progresses, my work grows and evolves into something bigger, more intriguing, and better. As an artist, there is no greater pleasure for me than finding genuine growth and improvement in my projects. I never went to Art school, so teaching myself new techniques and gaining new knowledge has been breathtaking for me. I am delighted to share all of my recent pieces with my critics, spectators, & collectors as they get to see firsthand intrinsic details that are unique in this modernized art world. As I have grown and matured, so has my art. Below are some of the pieces I recently created in my studio, Im sure you will enjoy viewing them as much as I loved creating them.Â
All of these paintings glow in the dark under UV Fluorescent Blacklight.
Death Trap
December 2018
30" x 40"
Acrylic & 24k Gold Leaves on Canvas
Rico's final piece he made to be displayed at the SPECTRUM MIAMI ART SHOW during Art Basel Week. Rico calls this piece "Death Trap" because as his background he used his own hand prints on the canvas, stamping it all over and dragging his hands all over the canvas as if he were trying to escape. On top of that layer of Acrylic latex paint he paints his signature surreal skull. As the eyes of the skull he paints paints one with the eye of the horus which includes a 24k Gold leaf eye. The other eye is painted with gold acrylic paint which is made up of the Om.
Cozy Bunny
November 2018
30"x40"
Acrylic on Canvas
Rico created this piece for display for his upcoming show at Spectrum Miami during Art Basel week. Continuing his ongoing Cartoon x Street Art series he includes a lavish Gucci robe & "OFF-WHITE" belt just to show off the lavish coziness thats accepted by today's society. In this painting Rico uses various mediums of Acrylic paint, spray paint, oil paint, and KRINK marker ink.
Thugs Bunny
November 2018
30"x40"
Acrylic on Canvas
Commissioned painting for a collector in Miami for Art Basel. Rico still sticks to his street art, and graffiti roots as he gives Bugs Bunny a little remix. His signature bandana covers Bug's mouth hence the brilliant title "Thugs Bunny" many different mediums are used from spray paint, inks, oils, and KRINK markers.
Kids On Wall Street
October 2018
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
The Rico Collection participated in a charity event hosted on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange in partnership with Members Handicapped Children's Fund. A non-profit organization dedicated to aiding and helping many handicapped, and disabled children as well as institutions that serve their needs. Rico donated his infamous bugs bunny piece where it accrued many bids. Great night for a great cause
Mickey Mouse
September 2018
48"x72"
Acrylic on Canvas
This is the final painting for a commission job Rico completed for the restaurant Jue Lan Club located in Manhattan, NYC. They requested some cartoon characters with an urban twist to it with graffiti background. The rest was up to Rico. These massive masterpieces are now hanging at the most renown asian restaurant in the country. Each cartoon character has their face covered with a bandana, but these bandanas are filled with Chinese writings promoting positivity. Words such as Love, Peace, Laugh, & Happy.
Princess Jasmine
September 2018
48"x72"
Acrylic on Canvas
This is just 3Â out of 4 paintings for a commission job Rico completed for the restaurant Jue Lan Club located in Manhattan, NYC. They requested some cartoon characters with an urban twist to it with graffiti background. The rest was up to Rico. These massive masterpieces are now hanging at the most renown asian restaurant in the country. Each cartoon character has their face covered with a bandana, but these bandanas are filled with Chinese writings promoting positivity. Words such as Love, Peace, Laugh, & Happy.
Cinderella
September 2018
48"x72"
Acrylic on Canvas
This is just 2Â out of 4 paintings for a commission job Rico completed for the restaurant Jue Lan Club located in Manhattan, NYC. They requested some cartoon characters with an urban twist to it with graffiti background. The rest was up to Rico. These massive masterpieces are now hanging at the most renown asian restaurant in the country. Each cartoon character has their face covered with a bandana, but these bandanas are filled with Chinese writings promoting positivity. Words such as Love, Peace, Laugh, & Happy.
Donald Duck
September 2018
48"x72"
Acrylic on Canvas
This is just 1 out of 4 paintings for a commission job Rico completed for the restaurant Jue Lan Club located in Manhattan, NYC. They requested some cartoon characters with an urban twist to it with graffiti background. The rest was up to Rico. These massive masterpieces are now hanging at the most renown asian restaurant in the country. Each cartoon character has their face covered with a bandana, but these bandanas are filled with Chinese writings promoting positivity. Words such as Love, Peace, Laugh, & Happy.
Welcome to the Jungle
August 2018
28"x36"
Acrylic on Poster Print
(Scavenger Hunt/Art Drop Series)
Throughout the years Rico has built a reputation and many supporters. To be honest if it wasnt for the support this collection would be no where. So in a way to give back to his supporters he decided to do a 5 week art drop in the Tri-State area for FREE!!!!!! Each week Rico hand painted new prints which were to be released every week. Each week was a different location for 5 consecutive weeks. Locations included Paterson, NJ | Bronx, NY | Paramus, NJ | Queens, NY | Manhattan, NYC. Each week he let out certain clues where the painting would be dropped off at and each week he had supporters waiting and hunting down his free pieces. "I did it as a way of giving people a piece of me, the part of me some people can't afford. I wanted real people from the culture to own some of MYÂ culture".
Death Comes in 3's
July 2018
24"x36"
Acrylic on Poster Print
(3 Prints Series)
One of Rico's most influential piece ever. This is apart of a 3 print series he completed. One day he went to the MoMA in NYC looking for inspiration for new pieces. They were giving out free posters. Rico, however saw them as free canvases. Later on, when he went home he realized the posters were actually obituaries of victims due to gun violence in America in the month of May. It was about over 300 obituaries all containing small stories on tragic gruesome deaths that involved guns. Rico wanted to speak out on this controversial issue of gun violence. He decided to paint a skull over the poster which represents death for all of the victims. He dressed up his deathly looking skull with vibrant colors and designs, because we as Americans like to cover up deaths due to gun violence. We tend to cherish the 2nd amendment a little too much. We should put the guns down and pick up the love, for the greater good of our remaining culture.
Sold Out Souls
May 2018
36"x72"
Acrylic Paint, & Clay Sculptures on Canvas
This was the first Sculpture & Canvas piece Rico has meshed together. He painted the big skull on the canvas. Who is suppose to represent the King. From the top of the canvas Rico hung (4)-clay skulls hand painted and drilled hanging by masonry string. It represents that no matter who the King is were all dead and we'll all be the same eventually. As humanity we need to stop seeking for a sense of title for validation and focus on making the world a better place. Its bigger than just us, we need to help restore this world. Thinking about ourselves all the time isn't the answer.
Self Proclaimed King
March 2018
65"x65"
Acrylic on Canvas
We live in a society where its easy for someone to claim the "King" title without working for it and earning their spot. People want to be King but no one wants to work like one, no one wants that responsibility, no one wants to dedicate their whole life to making a name for themselves. Yet we claim we're Kings but majority of us lack simple King qualities. Hence Self-Proclaimed Kings.
A Chaotic Ode
February 2018
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
Rico hasn't created a famous surreal face piece in a while, this was the first piece using his earlier inspirations from Dali and Picasso. Yet he hasn't lost his urbanizing touch. He added a very detailed graffiti influenced background. Even the eye included a powerful quote. The quote in the eye reads; "In life what are you living for? You rather be happy and poor, or rich and miserable? Because in life it'll never truly let you be both Happy & Rich"
Cash Over Religion
December 2017
36"x48"Â
Acrylic on Canvas
We say were religious. We say we still have our values. We say we still believe in God. So why is it we only pray in need of guidance and aid only when our backs are against the wall? Why don't we always pray even when we are blessed to see another day? We like to dress up our religious beliefs just like how we like to dress up in expensive things to cover up whatever it is we're self conscious about.
You Can't Even Trust Mickey
November 2017
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
This was the first cartoon character Rico painted with his own twist to it.Kids grow up watching innocent characters like Mickey Mouse. In this piece Mickey represents our youth. We grow up and leave our innocence. We get placed on a path searching for one of two things... Love or Money, which is what deteriorates that innocence out of all us. We trade our values in for name brands to stay up to date to impress people thats not even paying attention.
Kids See Surrealism
September 2017
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
Surrealism is the untapped portion of someone's conscious. Its tapping the creative side of your mind that allows you to recreate pictures in many different ways. Rico believes kids are the first ones to experience this because of their imaginations, and the cartoon characters they are used to seeing. In this piece there are objects that represent a young kid from cartoon characters to videogame characters but also thru Rico's use of surrealism one can see there are also objects of adulthood. This is to show how the transition from a surrealist kid can turn into an adult who still believes deeply in surrealism.
Stained Glass Beauty
May 2017
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
This was a commissioned piece Rico completed for close friends of his. A beauty & beast theme was requested. Rico chose to paint Beauty and changed it into a stained glass look adding very minor details to her dress. This piece was meant for a couple getting married, her eyes are closed because she's trusting her loved one with her life, for better and for worse, you must trust your loved one with all your might.
If We Love Were Gucci
March 2017
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
This piece was made with a simple concept in mind....Love! Thats it! If we had the same amount of love we have for materialistic items for other people in this world maybe, just maybe, we would improve civilization.
Rocafella Kings
January 2017
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
Rico was influenced by a great dynasty growing up...Rocafella Records, the greatest rapper ever known and business mogul Jay-z has become a household name in the early years for Rico. Growing up on Jay-z he became Rico's idol. Its just something about the Rocafella chain that just says power. Its a chain you earn, a chain that represents the NY culture, which is the main objective of "The Rico Collection" pushing the culture forward and passing it down. In this piece Rico stuck with his surrealism style, he said all the piece needed was a crown and the Rocafella chain, those 2 things would make the painting very powerful.
Hamsa Vibes
August 2016
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
The "Eye of Horus" has always been a crucial key in all the The Rico Collection's pieces. It symbolizes everything positive such as wealth, health, prosperity, peace, and guidance in life. With the Hindu religion background Rico comes from he infuses his love for the eye of horus with the hamsa hand to promote a piece that represents good energy, and good vibes with his street graffiti style added at the end with a special touch.
You Think You're a Rich Man?
January 2016
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
Continuing the influences from Dali and Picasso, Rico wanted to use their style to infuse his sense of graffiti pop art to portray a man who has many material things. Material things mean power and happiness...or atleast thats what were trained to think, but reality is, that isnt true happiness. Here the man has both love and money in his soul and the love for the 2 of them will never let you live. Which is where the fire from the eyes and mummification begins, because he is a dead man holding onto things he thinks he needs.
Peace of Pop
November 2016
36"x48"
Acrylic on Canvas
Going off the previous painting that was made this is the sequel to the "Hamsa Vibes". Except no graffiti is used in this piece which is very rare for Rico. Just various vibrant colors randomly placed on the canvas to promote the positive energy of the hamsa hand & eye of horus.
The Surreals Sees Eyes
October 2015
36"x36"
Acrylic on Canvas
At this point Rico was fascinated with the anatomy of the eye. Most importantly the colors and the shapes. Being the surrealist artist he is, he threw random eyes together on a canvas, morphing them into shapes and wierd objects tying them together with a submersion of pop art characters with comical characterisitcs and gestures.
Surreal Man
August 2015
24"x36"
Acrylic & Resin on Canvas
This piece was inspired obviously by the great Pablo Picasso. Rico was always intrigued by his use of abstract lines and shapes on how it can form faces and shapes of bodies. In this piece Rico uses that same style but puts his own urban twist to it.
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