From the time Carlos A. Navarro could hold a pencil, his innate passion for art became apparent. When asked “How long have you been painting?” His response is “basically all my life.” As the time approached for him to choose a career path, surprisingly he chose the corporate route. After spending years in what he calls a structured environment, he decided that the monotony of a regular work day was no longer fulfilling.
In 1992, Navarro was approached by a friend of one of his brothers to paint a mural for a hotel on South Beach. Even though the project never came into fruition Navarro had already created some sketches and decided to apply them to canvas. His individual style emerged from the influences of Pop artists such as Peter Max, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring; he incorporates his own style using vibrant colors with black outlines (the contrast make his paintings distinguishable) and fuses Pop Art with traditional Cuban-Miami themes, inspired by his heritage and upbringing. His work depicts different subject matters ranging from nostalgic to political and humorous to sensual.
The term ‘Pop Suave’ indicates Navarro’s style - a softer version of traditional Pop Art. It was created by an editor who was interviewing Navarro about an upcoming exhibit. She referred to his work as definitely Pop but “mas suave.”
Navarro’s work has been celebrated nationally and internationally. He has exhibited in Milan and Bergamo, Italy and in Bermuda. His paintings have been commissioned by Perry Ellis International, Bacardi, Campo Viejo Wine, Ford Motors, The Related Group of Florida, Chispa Restaurant, Cuba Nostalgia, Miami Dade Community College, and Amigos for Kids.
In 2002, he had three flamingos on display as part of the ‘Flamingos in the Gables,’ an Art in Public Places project. Collectors of Navarro’s work include Celia Cruz, Anthony Abraham (Miami businessman / philanthropist), Jorge Perez (The Related Group )Marc Randazzo, (1995 World Cruiserweight Champion & owner of Randazzo's Little Italy Ristorante in Coral Gables), Norma Jean Abraham (Miami socialite / philanthropist), Ana Bencomo (Telemundo TV Reporter), Klaus Braemer and Alan Zelinger (both are influential New York businessmen and art collectors). He has also painted portraits of Cuban icons Beny More (singing legend), Compay Segundo (famous singer / musician), and Kid Chocolate (boxing champ from the 1930's) in honor of his heritage.
On April 1, 2005, Navarro opened the doors to his highly anticipated gallery, ‘Pop Suave’ on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, Florida. Since then, this unique studio has been the venue of choice for Pop art aficionados to collect his original paintings, giclees, sculptures, sterling silver ‘micro sculpture’ jewelry, cuff links, and decorative wine bottles.
Just one month later, May 2005, Navarro’s rendition of legendary salsa queen Celia Cruz was displayed in a new exhibition, Azucar, honoring the Latin superstar at the Smithsonian National Museum. He presented Celia with a reproduction of an original painting he created of her in 2001 at ‘Cuba Nostalgia’, an annual Cuban-inspired event in Miami honoring the island’s most glamorous times. The exhibition is scheduled to begin its national traveling tour in 2007.
Over the years, Navarro has lent his talent and time to many philanthropic causes including Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Jackson Memorial Foundation, The Vizcayans, American Diabetes Association, Barry University, Children’s Home Society, University of Miami Center for Autism & Related Disabilities, The Cushman School, Hands on Miami, Coconut Grove Junior Chamber of Miami, Mercy Hospital, and Amigos for Kids. Due to his unyielding dedication to his community, he has received proclamations from Miami Dade County and the City of Miami. In fact, November 24, 2000 was named Carlos A. Navarro Day in the City of Miami. Carlos served one term on the City of Miami Cultural and Fine Arts Board and is currently on the Board of Directors of Amigos for Kids and the Kids and Families Foundation. He is the recipient of the 2004 "Huellas Astrales" Award in Art given by the Latin American Friends of the Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium.
Navarro has been profiled in several publications including Ocean Drive en Espanol, Ego Miami, Vis a Vis, the Miami Herald, Cosmo Florida, Details Magazine and others.
