Domingo Zapata

Domingo grew up in Palma de Mallorca in Spain, where his mother was a painter and his father painted cars. Surrounded by “paint and fumes”, he explored his heritage and learnt about artists like Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. His art studies in London and subsequent political science degree took him to Wall Street, New York, in 1999, before he embarked on a career in the music industry and wrote lyrics for Michael Jackson. He was hugely influenced by pop culture and the aesthetics of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.  

Created in oil and acrylic, Domingo’s works incorporate mixed media, collage and graffiti. His poetic imagination is visualised through layers of text and visual cues including symbols and iconic brands and figures. He says his work is a “conversation of colours”, with its distinctive style identified by the raw strokes of paint. Each piece is designed to have a positive influence on the viewer.

Bold colours, dripping lines and swooping hearts echo Domingo’s belief in the concept of el duende: a heightened physical and emotional response to an artistic performance. Like the flamenco dance, his art expresses movement and passion, but the tranquility of the central panda creates a sense of calm, a yin to the yang of the surrounding chaos. Graffiti motifs such as hearts, skulls and crowns reflect his urban inspirations.

Domingo’s art is collected by celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and features in the collections of the Missoni family and the investment bank Goldman Sachs. His projects are as varied as his paintings: alongside joining forces with the Pope and the French street artist Mr. Brainwash, he has exhibited at New York Fashion Week and the Venice Biennale. Public installations include a five-foot stainless steel shark sculpture in the lobby of the United Nations headquarters to raise awareness of ocean pollution, and a record-breaking mural in Times Square.  

Domingo says: “No matter the subject, you’ll always be able to recognise my style. The strokes, mix of different colours and messages are unique, and that is my signature. My paintings carry a message of positivity and happiness. I just want to make the world a more beautiful place.”  

To find out more about Domingo's new Pandamonium collection, contact us.