A Torso / Toxic Drawing by Romero Britto

A Torso / Toxic Drawing

Romero Britto · 2011

Scroll

“Stop and examine this small but mighty artwork, "A Torso / Toxic Drawing," by Romero Britto. Its bold colors and collage technique create a lively, almost puzzle-like image of a human form, offering a unique take on pop art.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

This vibrant work, titled "A Torso / Toxic Drawing," immediately draws the eye with its riot of color and pattern. A headless, limbless torso, rendered in a mosaic of bright hues and bold lines, dominates the small composition. The figure is not anatomically realistic, but rather a playful, almost abstract form, pieced together from various patterned segments that suggest clothing or perhaps even internal organs reimagined as decorative elements. Look closely and you'll see the work is a collage, with torn and stapled pieces of white wove paper forming the base, over which acrylic paint, colored pencil, and black fiber-tipped pen have been applied. This layering of materials adds a tactile quality, making the surface as interesting as the image itself. The dynamic interplay of geometric shapes, stripes, and polka dots creates a sense of movement and energy, characteristic of the neo-pop and pop art movements.

DETAILS
Artist
Romero Britto
Date
2011
Medium
Acrylic paint, colored pencil, and black fiber-tipped pen on collage of torn and stapled white wove paper
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
29.3 × 31.5 cm (11 9/16 × 12 7/16 in.)
Collection
Prints and Drawings
Culture
United States
Credit line
Gift of Karen Lennox Gallery
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

A Torso / Toxic Drawing
01

The visible staples holding the paper collage together.

02

The distinct patterns on each segment of the torso, like a patchwork quilt.

03

The bright, almost neon colors used for the figure.

04

The stark black outlines that define each shape and pattern.

+1

1 more detail is waiting.

See all 5 in Art Whisper →
AUDIO DEEP DIVE

Stand in front of it and listen

The full narration walks you through A Torso / Toxic Drawing — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.

0:00Preview · 0:30Free preview · 0:30 Hear the full story in the app
THE ARTIST

Romero Britto

1963 · Brazil

Romero Britto, the Brazilian neo-pop artist, transforms cubism and graffiti into vibrant expressions of joy, famously designing for Absolut Vodka and Disney.

Read Britto’s full story
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by Britto

1 / 2
KEEP EXPLORING

More works to explore

Beyond Britto: works from the same years.

Hear A Torso / Toxic Drawing’s storyFree in the Art Whisper app Open