Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer as well as a poet. The co-creator of cubism, he is seen as the father of the modern art period.
Born in 1881, Picasso grew up in Spain with his artist mother and father who trained him in drawing and painting. He showed great promise as a young boy and even gained admission to the Royal Academy of Art in Barcelona at the age of only 15. However, he did not fare well with formal education and dropped out of his classes early in life.
Picasso struggled with money and relationships throughout his life. He had many failed relationships, was married twice, and had four children with three women.
Despite his distaste for formal instruction and his relationship problems, Picasso was a huge success. His artistic style was fresh and vivid. His abstract approach told stories that a realistic painting could not, and people responded to them with intrigue and emotion. In his 80 years of making art he created over 22,000 works in various mediums and devoted his life to an artistic representation that was new and fresh.
Developing a whole new style of art is risky and frightening, especially for a talented but rather unknown artist. But Picasso knew what he wanted to do, followed his passions, and made a life for himself. He was rewarded with the legacy of being one of the most famous and influential artists of the 20th century. He is a true inspiration for people wondering if they should take that risk, make that leap, or go for something that hasn’t been done before.