Behold The Captivating Hyperrealistic Drawings Of Artist Robert Leone

Robert Leone is a self-taught artist who blends multiple artistic styles to create hyperrealistic drawings of contemporary cultural icons. “When someone looks at one of my drawings often times their first impulse is to believe that it is a photograph, but upon closer examination one can see that there is a depth and resonance that cannot come from just a photo.”

The artist’s work will debut at the iconic Sagamore “Art Hotel” on Miami Beach during the upcoming exhibition Remix – an art exhibit entirely dedicated to music encompassing all media, including sculpture, photography, paintings and mixed media. This art exhibit, curated by Sebastien Laboureau, resident art and music advisor to the Sagamore Hotel, will showcase over 100 artworks from artists coming from all over the world illustrating how music is deeply impacting our everyday lives.

Art and music aficionados will have the chance to experience the captivating hyperrealistic drawings of South Florida-based artist Robert Leone during the invitation-only Opening Reception of Remix on Wednesday, September 18th from 7-10pm at the Sagamore. Visual art and music have long shared a natural connection. Their relationship is explored through the interaction of balance, form, style, design, harmony, and emotion. The Remix exhibition explores the enduring influence music and celebrated musicians has on contemporary art practices. The exhibition will be on view from September 18th through November 30th, 2019.

Robert Leone discovered his innate artistic talents early on while homebound with a medical condition from the ages of 4-6. With the gift of patience, his precision for detail, and just a #2 pencil, Leone filled his days drawing faces and figures with exacting detail from the books, magazines and posters around him.

After graduating Binghamton University (NY) in 1994 with a BA in Economics and Graphic Design, Leone put his artistic ambitions aside to focus on a more “stable” corporate career. It was around this time while living in NYC that he was first introduced to the world of hyperrealism after seeing Chuck Close’s Big Self-Portrait painting on a promotional piece for his 1998 MoMA exhibit. Fascinated by the level of detail as well as the process in which it was created, he aspired to someday go back to his roots and create a drawing in this style.

In 2018, twenty years after his last drawing, Leone finally picked up where he left off, this time armed with the knowledge and tools he lacked early on. What resulted was his first piece in years, Clarence. Inspired by a close friend and fellow music lover, Clarence would serve to be the first of several drawings for the hyperrealist artist. “Drawing for me has always been a meditative process whether I was aware of it or not. Music has always been a catalyst for this process. For me, drawing and music have always fed into each other. So it’s only fitting that it’s these images I’m inspired to draw.”

Encouraged by the responses he received to his work, and persuaded by his girlfriend Jessica to continue drawing, he eventually decided to pursue his art full time. Leone currently lives and works in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In addition to his upcoming showcase in the Remix exhibition at the Sagamore Hotel on Miami Beach, the artist will be exhibiting work at Superfine! Art Fair in Washington DC at Union Market October 30 – November 3, 2019 in Booth #15.

“Every detail is extremely important. I look at the subject, the light, the shadows, the props, the accessories, the fabrics, the textures, and any specific facial features. The more intricate and challenging to draw the better.” To learn more about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, or general information, please visit www.rleone.com