Art Exhibit at the Conrad Hotel in Miami, Artist is the Pope’s niece

An unlikely art exhibit at the Conrad Hotel in Miami is drawing plenty of attention by an unlikely artist. Pope Francis’ niece, artist Cristina Bergoglio has her works on display at the Conrad Hotel in Brickell. The artist creates cityscapes, a reflection of her passion for architecture. Bergoglio received a degree in architecture at the National University of Córdoba in Argentina, later moving to Spain to study at the Prado Workshop of Madrid.

With strong masculine geometrical figures and feminine touches of texture and light, the Argentinian artist creates contemporary urban compositions. Bergoglio spoke about her Uncle, Pope Francis, and said she is not religious, but spiritual and she doesn’t subscribe to any one religion. “I’m not afraid to say I see the church as outdated, and that’s why I believe life has placed my uncle in a capacity to renew this particular system of thought that was getting stagnated,” said Bergoglio.

The art exhibit is open to the public and shares a space with the restaurant and bar, Atrio and Level 25 at the Conrad Hotel in Brickell. We stopped by for dinner last night to grab a bite and view the work, there was a great connection between the ambiance and the artwork. Perched on the 25th floor of the hotel with stunning panoramic views of Miami’s cityscape and Biscayne Bay, there was a nice blend of scenic composition between the urban location, the natural environment and the artwork on the walls – great vibe.

Using a diverse range of media, Bergoglio captures the energy and mystery of the urban phenomenon. Rather than focusing on the buildings, the cars or the people, Bergoglio depicts the living, breathing atmosphere of the city.  “They are ever-changing scenarios,” explains the artist. “The city is always a thing of vitality, of movement and sensuality. What I care about is the movement, the urban dance, and to achieve that – I use a brush stroke that’s intense, fast and spontaneous. Like capturing the moment in a single brush stroke.”