Conversations with Gustavo Simões

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo Simões

Hi Gustavo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Gustavo Simões, I’m 43yrs old, graduated in international business, and natural from Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

My interest in arts came from trips I took around the world, I saw so many different things that open my mind for that.

Architecture was something that always caught my attention, so I started to take photos of buildings of the cities that I’ve been, specially the different ones. It was something that I liked to do.

When the pandemic came I had to stop working and I start to focus on photography in my home town. So I decided to open an account on social media (@gustavosimoes.art) and post those photos and it started to attract the attention of people in my city.

I saw the work of some artists who mix illustrations and real photos, and it always was so interesting for me, but I had never drawn before, I thought it was impossible for me.

In the end of 2022 I had a difficult time in my life. Trying to refresh my mind I got some pictures that I had in my files and started drawing on it in my tablet, and for my surprise I liked what i did. So I got all pictures that i had of iconic buildings and touristic places of my city and started drawing on it.

Most part of my illustrations is what it looks like for me in my first impression when I see the photo that I gonna draw. For example a building could be a grater for me, a bridge could be an electric guitar neck or a heart could be connected to the city.

When I had more than 10 illustrations of the main tourist attractions and iconic buildings I started to post on social media. In few weeks it started to going viral and I got attention of the media of my city. And in some months the biggest TV company of my country contact me to tell my story and show my arts in one of its most watched programs in the country and it changed everything.

Then I started to do my arts in other cities of Brazil and after that in other countries in South America, Europe, Asia and USA.
My wife is studying in Grand Rapids and I decide to do my arts in this amazing city with its wonderful buildings and architecture.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It certainly wasn’t an easy path because I had never worked with arts before and had no knowledge of the subject. And no one knew me, even close friends and family were surprised by my journey into the world of arts.
My challenge is connect people to their cities and I love when people smiling and feel connected seeing my arts.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I get the real photos of the cities and draw on it, making a mix of real and my imagination.
I can see things different from what people usually see or a different perspective than usual.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/gustavosimoes.art
• Instagram: @gustavosimoes.art
• Twitter: @simoesart
• Youtube: @gustavosimoesart