Carlos Betancourt: Imperfect Utopia

About this book

Mixed-media artist Carlos Betancourt and his influential studio Imperfect Utopia helped to launch the Miami art scene in the 1980s. Betancourts oeuvre 
is a lush explosion of radiant eccentric colors in which he explores the kaleidoscope (multi-racial multi-lingual trans-cultural) of Caribbean and American culture. His work alludes to issues of memory beauty identity and communication. He bends the lines between art photography and nature in his photographs collages painting installations and conceptual pieces. Carlos Betancourts imagery reinterprets the past and present and offers it in a fresh context. He is inspired by Puerto Rico Miami and his extensive travels; also artist Ana Mendietas interventions in nature Robert Rauschenbergs assemblages Andy Warhols perceptions Neo Rauch compositions and a Federico Fellini-esque cast of characters for his photo assemblages. This exuberant volume explores Betancourts body of work with more than 250 images and texts by art critic Paul Laster art history professor Robert Farris Thompson and United States Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco. His artwork is included in the permanent collections of various museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art The National Portrait Gallery and The Smithsonian Institute.