O GRINGO

We would like to introduce O Gringo, the artistic name of Bastien Tomasini, a French artist born in Nice, on the French Riviera, in 1988.

Fifteen years ago, his unique artistic journey began to take shape through an absolute passion for drawing, geometry, photography, history, and philosophy. Over more than fifteen years of rigorous aesthetic research, the artist has developed a distinctive visual language that brings together heritage, history, urban art, and contemporary techniques, establishing himself today as a leading figure in Mixed Media and Hybrid Art.

O Gringo has developed a remarkably rich material ecosystem in which his works function as narrative portals. Through his art, he tells global stories that travel from Asia to Africa, flowing into Europe to explore the Arab heritage left in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as well as the significance of the city of Delft in the Netherlands and its famous quest for the legendary blue. Crossing borders and eras, the artist revisits the history of France through its iconic Marianne, journeys with Portuguese azulejos to Mexico to rescue the figure of Frida Kahlo, and places all of his favorite characters within a unique universe that masterfully blends history, theory, and imagination.

His hybrid artistic practice challenges two-dimensionality through a bold fusion of raw materials sculpted by the artist himself and avant-garde elements: ceramics, wood, and hand-sculpted Portuguese azulejos combined with canvas, fine art paper, structural cardboard, cement, marble, liquid resin, acrylic paint, oil paint, charcoal, and spray paint.

The institutional recognition of his work is unquestionable. In June 2022, his career reached one of its most significant milestones. At the invitation of the former Director of the National Museum of Azulejo, Dr. Alexandre Pais—now President of Museums and Monuments of Portugal—O Gringo presented the solo exhibition Esperança Além do Horizonte (Hope Beyond the Horizon) at the National Museum of Azulejo in Lisbon, a production by Paris 75 Image. The exhibition occupied the museum's main gallery for more than six months and included guided tours and social outreach workshops.

Over the following three years, the artist's career continued to expand internationally. Major milestones include the opening of the Portuguese Capital of Culture in Aveiro and Ovar with a 300 m² solo exhibition, the publication of the book Azulejo Vivo (distributed by FNAC, Bertrand Bookstores, and Ler Devagar), and the exhibition Émotions at Place des Vosges in Paris, attended by the Director of the National Museum of Azulejo in Lisbon. These achievements were followed by notable appearances during Art Basel Week in Miami, as well as exhibitions in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

Now based in Portugal, O Gringo develops his work from his permanent studio, open year-round, while maintaining a regular exhibition program at La Smart Galerie, located in the renowned LX Factory in Lisbon, as well as in several other galleries around the world. His artistic practice reflects the continuity of a serious and consistent body of research, further consolidating his recognition within the international art market and among prestigious private collections.

O Gringo is represented by Paris 75 Image.

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