Through his latest project, the Mini Green Slime Chair (2022), Barroso provides a piece that is attainable for those who may be novice collectors while also reiterating the notion that the realm of art doesn’t have to be elusive or stuffy. For Barroso, it is all about connecting to his inner child and keeping that sense of wonder alive, one unconventional piece at a time.
office spoke with Barroso about the new project, his nostalgic inspirations, and more, below.
How did your artistic journey begin and do you feel it has been enlightened by your ability to move between different mediums, such as furniture, fashion, and sculpture?
I’ve enjoyed drawing since I was a little kid. I would spend summers in my room filling up sketchbooks. In high school, I discovered graphic tees and the world of street culture. The combination of T-shirts, hip-hop, and sneakers inspired me to learn about industrial design. I was intrigued by industrial design because it felt like it was a framework for thinking rather than a medium-focused discipline. Learning about industrial design and sculpture simultaneously has given me the freedom to experiment with materials and fabrication methods. It’s empowering to know that by leveraging digital fabrication tools in tandem with production methods, such as casting, I can independently fabricate most of my ideas in studio. This sense of limitlessness and exploration, allows me to cross into any space, whether it be shoes, chairs, sculpture, or whatever I choose to try next. Sticking to one medium, material or process feels unnecessarily limiting to me.
Your choice of material also varies from piece to piece, ranging from 3D printing to papier-mâché. How do you decide what materials to employ for each project?
All my projects are rooted in conceptual thinking. Once I feel like I have a concept I’m excited about, then I explore different materials and fabrication methods to best tell the story.
How did spending time in cities like Boston, and now your home base of New York, influence your perception of pop culture and the arts?
The first time I ever went to an art museum I was 19 years old and visited the MFA in Boston. Then, I visited New York for a project and fell in love with the chaos and the boldness of the people. Visiting museums with friends became something I’ve enjoyed doing and it’s always so interesting to hear the connections to different references, ideas, and memories that my friends have between art and their personal life. Even with all the technological advancements and cultural shifts, we still share so much with people 5,000 years ago and all of that can be expressed and studied through objects and artifacts.