FLORE

Born in Brooklyn, New York’s Marine Park neighborhood, contemporary fine artist Christopher Florentino, also known as “Flore,” grew up surrounded by art. His aunt Weezy, a major influence during Flore’s childhood, was a sculptor, and she immersed her nephew in the New York art scene from an early age. 

Flore was drawn to the Museum of Modern Art, not only to the energy of 20th-century abstract works by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, but also to mid-century modern furniture for which he developed a particular passion. Today, Flore has a large collection that includes pieces by Eero Saarinen, Herman Miller and Knoll, among other legendary designers, from which he pulls inspiration from for his art. 

Flore studied design before working in a number of creative roles, from fashion (both as a stylist and a T-shirt designer) to crafting window displays. Flore wanted to become an artist but worried about the profession’s viability — a widely shared concern among budding artists. At age 30, however, he made the jump to become a full-time painter. At the intersection of Abstract Expressionism and street art, with touches of both Willem de Kooning and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Flore’s distinct style, which he describes as “urban cubism,” is vibrant both in its scintillating colors and in the energy of its brushstrokes. Text also features prominently in many of his works.

Today, Flore works out of his studio in Miami. He also spends time in Winter Haven, Florida, where he owns a concrete-and-glass mid-century house designed by architect Gene Leedy, which the artist has restored as a case study. The artist has expanded into working in more abstract styles and has exhibited in the US, Europe and Asia. Flore’s work can be found in the collections of quite a number of high-profile clients, including Beyoncé and Eva Longoria, as well as the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection in Hokuto, Japan.