Page 45 - Arts Management Magazine Iss 1
P. 45
THE ART OF PHILANTHROPY WITH JEFF KRAUSS
AMM’s Jeff Krauss
DomingoTalks with Artist and Philanthropist
Zapata
Jeff Krauss: What inspired you to become DZ: Little kids get me all the time! Can’t Domingo Zapata
an artist? help it.
Domingo Zapata: My dad was a car painter JK:You recently unveiled a 5-foot-long Domingo Zapata was born in Palma de Mal-
and my mom was a tailor so I guess I was stainless steel shark in the lobby of the lorca, Spain on December 22, 1974. He later
surrounded by paint and creativity since United Nations headquarters to raise moved to London to attend Regent’s College
I was born. I don’t remember a day in my awareness for the state of the oceans. Tell then to Washington, D.C. where he studied
life without painting or drawing something. me how that came about as that’s an im- contemporary art with a focus on acrylic paint-
JK: It definitively runs in the family! I un- pressive piece which I’m sure that must ing and pastel drawing at the American Univer-
derstand your heavily involved in raising have been a huge undertaking. sity. He is a Spanish-American artist who main-
awareness for endangered species. What DZ: It’s an honor for any artist to have tains studios in his Gramercy Park townhouse
charities are you working with? the recognition of such an important in- in New York City, the Design District in Miami,
DZ: I don’t work with any one in particu- stitution. I believe that the ocean need to be and Hollywood.
lar, however I do love to create awareness preserved and that without it we are noth-
with my work and help charities that present ing. Everything started with a casual con- For over 20 years Zapata has built a body of
a good program that protect the habitat versation with different UN ambassadors work which varies significantly in motif, while
of these beautiful animals. and it happened very organically as most consistently exploring themes of sexuality, op-
JK: How do you infuse your artwork into of the beautiful things in life happen. I ulence and vitality. He paints in both oil and
all the philanthropy you do? How does put the project together and donated it to acrylic, often incorporating mixed-media, col-
each blend into the other? the UN to make a statement that can be lage and graffiti. He is best known for his signa-
DZ: Well I try to help organizations that I seen by the Ambassadors on a daily basis. ture “Polo” series which first gained him critical
believe are working hard to help this our JK: Any legendary artists that you look acclaim. His work focuses on native Spanish
world be a better place for everyone. I love up to that have inspired you as an artist ? culture, American Pop icons and classic liter-
helping children because I have two little DZ: Picasso, Dali, Goya, Warhol and ature. His clients include Johnny Depp, Leon-
ones. Being a good father is everything to Basquiat. ardo DiCaprio and the investment bank Gold-
me. I believe I have been given so much JK: What’s next for Domingo any new man Sachs. He often draws on his experiences
in life that I love to give back to charities. projects your allowed to disclose? as a songwriter and has worked with artists such
JK: What are your biggest passions that DZ: My next show will be in Paris. It will as Michael Jackson and Jon Secada and exposes
go into each? What causes are you most be my first solo show in Paris and I am his deeply poetic imagination by incorporating
passionate about? honored and excited. ? text and visual cues into many of his works.
The artist has prepared a poignant, commem-
orative mural for the lobby of Freedom Tower
in Manhattan, the newly restored Colosseum
in Rome and the lobby of the landmark Plaza
Hotel in New York. His work is featured in sev-
eral architectural locations such as the Union
Square location of NYC’s W Hotel.
To learn more about the cause Domingo Zapata
is so passionate about, please visit:
http://www.wearetheoceans.org/
www.ArtsManagementMagazine.com I Arts Management Magazine 45
