An artist with heart.
by Marene Gustin
Vibrant colors, thick brush strokes, and soulful designs populate the abstract paintings of Marcelo Holzinger. The 41-year-old Argentine artist is inspired by beauty and nature in creating his paintings, graphic designs, and interior decors.
“I paint best when I’m happy, and I’m happy surrounded by nature,” he says. “I dream it, I visualize it, and then I just do it. I see each project as a dream come true.”
Perhaps his spirit comes from his mother, who told him and his brother, after separating from their father, that “Everything will be okay—we will overcome this challenge. Study hard, follow your dreams, and you’ll have everything you want in life.” And so he did.
His dream led him to Buenos Aries, where he earned a degree in advertising and art and worked his way up to art director of an advertising agency there. It then led him to New York City 15 years ago where he met the love of his life, David, at a spiritual retreat.
“I’d been here three months when we met,” he recalls. “And we’ve been together ever since.” They moved to Miami and then to Houston where Marcelo continued pursuing his art career, exhibiting his art and working hard while David pursued his psychotherapy practice. They spent five years in Houston before recently moving back to Miami—in part because the artist missed the ocean, but mostly, he admits, “because our family is here and we love them very much. We especially wanted to be near our nieces and nephews as they are growing up. But we had a great time in Houston—the people there are just amazing.”
Now back in Florida, the couple has embraced the Florida lifestyle, and Miami has embraced Holzinger’s art. He was recently feted at the annual Art Basel art fair in Miami Beach, and has garnered good publicity and more recognition as an outstanding artist. And of course, they are also basking in family love and ocean vistas.
Holzinger is currently collaborating with The Eclectic Arts Movement (T.E.A.M.) and the No Boundaries Prosthetic Foundation to organize a charitable initiative benefiting the children of Haiti on March 12.
“I’ll also be donating some of my paintings to the auction,” he says, as well as garnering other artist donations. “It’s heartbreaking when you see pictures of these Haitian children. So many of them suffered mutilation of their arms, legs, and hands after the earthquake last January.” The nonprofit No Boundaries Prosthetic Foundation provides victims of natural disasters with prosthetic limbs, long-term followup care, community-based rehabilitation services, and educational and vocational programming in the field of prosthetics and orthotics.
But this isn’t the first time the artist has donated his time and talent to help a cause. He also helped raise funds recently to bring a Chinese baby with a cleft palate to America for adoption and medical care.
Between the yin and yang of charity work, building his stature as a fine artist, and dealing with life’s everyday challenges, Holzinger finds a cosmic balance.
“I think everything we experience happens for a reason,” he says calmly. “I always feel that something very positive will come from whatever I’m involved in.”
Find out more about the artist at mholzinger.com.
Marene Gustin is a frequent contributor to OutSmart magazine.
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