Artist in Focus - Getting to know Dairo Vargas

Colombian by birth, Dairo Vargas is a contemporary fine artist who specialises in abstract landscape and portraiture. While involved in mental health initiatives across the UK Dairo also looks to increase awareness in countries across the world.

While Dairo's two predominant themes are very different in mood and style, his paintings reflect ethereal qualities of nature and the human physical form. Accepting his first commission at sixteen, gave him the confidence to develop as an artist. London-based Vargas graduated from Kensington and Chelsea college of Art in 2008 and is now one of the most promising emerging artists of today. He creates lyrical and abstract work inspired by dance, movement and everyday life, revealing layers of emotions, inner energy and feelings immersed in our communication and interaction.

His landscapes are inspired by places in the UK that hold a particular resonance – Sussex’s South Downs, the Black Mountains in Wales, the Yorkshire Dales and the British coast. Each piece aims to evoke a sense of awe and tranquillity in the viewer. Despite a busy international exhibition schedule, he partners with a number of children’s charities in Britain and abroad, mentoring young people, while also teaching adult art classes for recreation and rehabilitation.

As part of his involvement in mental health initiatives here in the UK, Dairo attended the Global Mental Health Summit in October 2018. From this experience Dairo created #theartlistens, an initiave set up to educate others about mental health awareness and the use of art in as therapy to restore self esteem, creativity, and confidence. 

Dairo visited his hometown of Huila, Columbia, to talk to students about the #theartlistens / #elarteescucha project. Dairo also visited El Agrado, a small town where did several seminars, workshops and murals allowing people from the community to participate and be part of the campaign.

On October 11th 2019, Dairo will be travelling to Kathmandu to volunteer in a British-based charity in Nepal called ChoraChori. They rescue trafficked Nepali children from abusive situations.

His goal is to help the children heal from those traumatic life experiences, by using art workshops and teaching skills to empower positive thoughts, the project will culminate in the children’s first exhibition in a Contemporary Arts Centre.

Love Dairo's work? visit our Artist pages to see a selection of available pieces.

Each week we will take a look at one of our resident artists with our Artist in Focus blog, we will also share more about their work and insight into the artists on our social media. Sign up to our newsletter to get our Artist in Focus Blog delivered to your inbox every 2 weeks.