Artist Mateo Blanco celebrates 80 years of Batman with bust made of Smarties

TAMPA, Fla., 2019-Nov-01 — /EPR Network/ — Holy sugar, Batman! Florida artist Mateo Blanco is celebrating the comic book icon’s 80^th anniversary with a bust, created out of the candy, Smarties.

“Rusty Batman” is made of 1,939 Smarties to signify the year the Caped Crusader first appeared in the comic book world, 1939. The sculpture, which took six months to create, is believed to be the most expensive candy art in the world with a gold leaf and silver base.

The 25-inch-tall bust made its debut Oct. 29, 2019 at Tampa International Airport. It can be found right in front of Dylan’s Candy Bar at Tampa International Airport, which is in Airside A.

“Superheroes inspire us all to test our limits. Batman unites generations and people around the world,” said Artist Mateo Blanco. “By displaying my art at a public space at Tampa International Airport, I’m hoping to awaken the imagination and creativity of others.”

Blanco has previously worked with candy as a medium. He created a sculpture of Baseball Hall of Famer, Hank Aaron, out of candy wrappers and chocolate. Blanco gained national fame for his portrait of actress Jennifer Lawrence, made of 10,000 peanuts.

Blanco’s “Rusty Batman” and other pieces can be purchased through the Rosenbaum Contemporary Gallery in Boca Raton, Fla. This is Blanco’s first exhibition in Tampa.

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About Mateo Blanco

Mateo Blanco stands out for using unusual materials to create works of art, which have captured the attention of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! His art is sold at ArtSpace Virginia Miller Galleries in Coral Gables and The Rosenbaum Contemporary Gallery in Boca Raton. Blanco’s art has been displayed on five continents. Some pieces are on display at the Wafi Mall in Dubai, as well as Disney Springs in Orlando. Blanco was born in Miami in September 1981. His formal training in fine art began in Medellin, Colombia, where he studied under Débora Arango Pérez, the artist immortalized on the country’s 2,000-peso bill, known for her politically charged portrayals of nude female figures. Blanco’s studies include goldsmithing and jewelry. He holds a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. Blanco is also a talented opera singer. He sang a birthday celebration for President George H.W. Bush. For more information or inquiries, visit his Instagram @mateoblancoart.

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Alyssa Cohen

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