Artist in conversation: Bráulio Pitra

Braulio Pombal Pitra, a multi-talented artist from Sacavém (Quinta do Mocho), Portugal, has made a name for himself as a writer, composer, actor, and designer at just 26 years old. He discovered his passion for the arts through hip hop dancing and co-founded OS VMC - Victory Mob Crew - with his friends in his neighborhood. Today, Braulio and Emanuel Carvalho manage OS VMC, which is not only a successful community platform but also strives for victory in various creative fields.

Braulio's talent has been recognized on national television programs such as Fátima Lopes (TVI), Welcome (RTP Africa), and Pedro Pelo Mundo (Canal GNT Globo Brazil). As a dancer, he performed in the musical "Popota ao Vivo" produced by UAU. In 2018, he released his first single "Cara Ou Coroa," which gained him national recognition and led to a solo concert in Sacavém.

Braulio moved to London in 2020 to pursue his career as a designer and launched his trademark streetwear line and online store. In addition to his clothing line, customers can enjoy his musical work produced in various collaborations. He released two English-language singles, "Freakish" and "Carnal," before releasing his latest single, "BEST of the BEST" (prod. Cedrick Monteiro), which will be included in the EP "In Pursuit of Victory." His platform, Victory Mob Crew, was featured in an interview in December 2020 in the international magazine "Occhi Magazine."Braulio has recorded and filmed his latest song, "Victorious," in London and Q.D.M in Portugal and Leeds. He also composed lyrics for OS Quatro Ventos, a theatre company in Portugal for the musical "Terror and Misery in the Fall of Democracy."

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What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?

What inspired me to become an artist was animation movies and animated series , since i was child i was huge fan of the Looney tunes tv series,watching a captivating character such as Bugs Bunny, it really sparked a artistic light bulb above my head and since then i drew so many characters with my own style,i had to be captivating characters that can be relatable to my audience , i try to create characters with different personalities, and by giving them life through my illustrations for my stories.

In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?

The themes that I frequently explore in my work usually are family,love,finding a purpose and understanding different cultural backgrounds. While i was writing my first fantasy novel called "Lao and Chen Master your art" i went in with a open mind to create a new world where two orphan twins from a homeland that they never had a chance to grow up in, they had to follow their own journey to understand who they really are and what purpose will they have, my self as an author and artist i can relate to my characters journey because curiosity for the unknown draws me in every time while i'm creating my bodies of work.

Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?

A project that challenged me as an artist was publishing my own fantasy/graphic novel independently. I wrote the story and drew the illustrations for it, i never did something like this before but prior to the release of my book, I contemplated on giving up this idea that I was not only an artist that could draw but I was also an author that could write an amazing story. Self doubt was a wall that I had to break, and there's more walls that I'm still breaking at this moment but I have to be courageous and be bold to think outside the box, not limiting myself and letting my creativity run wild.

How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?

I stay connected with other artists though my social media, following some of my artist friends keeps me in tuned with the art industry. Also visiting art galleries allows me to be inspired by amazing bodies of work and networking with art lovers is a blessing that comes by me getting my work out there.

How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?

I incorporate the feedback from critics and audiences into the betterment of my craft, l look at the positive feedback as a "well done Braulio this your best work so far" congratulating myself for my effort and hard work. And as for the negative feedback I look at it as "not your best work so far Braulio but there is still room for improvement" my artist intuition comes to the forefront not accepting defeat i stand tall for my art willingly. I am different from the other artists, and that's completely fine because I can be myself knowing that the best artist is someone who believes that being different is beautiful and not ugly.


How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?

I stay motivated through the people that i love and admire, my family,especially my beautiful daughter, they are the reasons for what i create art, my art is my family's legacy so i take it seriously despite of the creative blocks that come toward me and still find a way to pierce through them with my purpose, leaving a beautiful Pitra legacy in the art world.

In your opinion, what role do contemporary artists play in society, and how does your work contribute to this role?

Contemporary artists play a huge role in the society, contemporary artists break the rules of the status quo, by expressing themselves through their art allows the audience that views their art to connect with the idea, there's no right or wrong with what my fellow colleagues do, myself i contribute on the same level as them, not letting society ideologies infiltrate in my creative ideas, standing firm on what i believe in and allow my art to speak for itself.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing contemporary artists, and how do you plan to address these challenges in your own work?

The most pressing issue for me is that contemporary artists are still being looked at negatively in certain areas such as politics, cultural differences, nationaltialty and so forth. I plan to address these challenges through my stories, the first part of my fantasy novel "Lao and Chen Master your art" has some hidden messages that can spark some debates in the art community as well, self expression shouldn't be a crime, it is a human right.

How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?

I feel super excited, this is my first time exhibiting my artworks from my first book "Lao and Chen master your art" in an art gallery in New York City!!! I have no words. I am truly grateful for this amazing opportunity. A huge thank you to The Holy Art team.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?

My long-term goals as an artist is expansion of my own art studio, a creative hub for amazing artists from my country Portugal and artists from all over the world. I want to release an animated movie based on my book Lao and Chen Master your art, i would love to pitch this idea to potential animation studios in the US or Canada. My huge aspiration as an artist is opening doors for others potential artists that need an outlet to express themselves.