We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bruno Casiano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruno, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Bruno Casiano is a Puerto Rican artist based in Cleveland Ohio who combines traditional and contemporary art. Born in Gary, Indiana, the son of a steelworker, Bruno’s family moved back to their hometown of Juana Diaz, a rural community in Puerto Rico. When he was 10 years old. Young Casiano developed an interest in the arts on arrival, awakened by the rural surroundings and tropical living on an Island, this made a long-lasting impression on him. Presently, in his work, regardless of the technique he chooses, he emulates the look and touch of hand-pulled serigraph, important in the tradition of Puerto Rican Art. In addition to that, the imagery and patterns of mountains, mangos, ceiba trees, caves, leaves, branches, water, colors, and forms in high contrast are common themes in Casiano’s work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Bruno Casiano is a Puerto Rican artist based in Cleveland Ohio who combines traditional and contemporary art. Born in Gary, Indiana, the son of a steelworker, Bruno’s family moved back to their hometown of Juana Diaz, a rural community in Puerto Rico. When he was 10 years old. Young Casiano developed an interest in the arts on arrival, awakened by the rural surroundings and tropical living on an Island, this made a long-lasting impression on him. Presently, in his work, regardless of the technique he chooses, he emulates the look and touch of hand-pulled serigraph, important in the tradition of Puerto Rican Art. In addition to that, the imagery and patterns of mountains, mangos, ceiba trees, caves, leaves, branches, water, colors, and forms in high contrast are common themes in Casiano’s work.

In Puerto Rico, in the early 80’s he studied studio painting at the School of Fine Arts in Old San Juan. In 1986, he was awarded a scholarship in fine arts and illustration at The School of Design, Altos de Chavon, Dominican Republic. In 1996, He receives a BA in illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art in Ohio. For some years, he owned and curated major art shows at the Bruno Casiano Gallery in the Gordon Square Arts District on the West side of Cleveland. He has also, for more than two decades been a featured chalk artist for the Cleveland Museum of Art Chalk Festival celebrated in the prestigious University Circle.

Recently, in 2021, he was commissioned to hand paint a major, inside mural located in the newly opened Pivot Community Art Center sponsored by the Cleveland Museum of Art. In the near future, he is planning to open a new Studio/Gallery in the upcoming Old Brooklyn neighborhood with the prospect of featuring local visual artists. Bruno Casiano continues to know and is known by most artists in the area.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the creative process itself.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society / Communities should set aside a budget dedicated to the arts: murals; sculptures; urban parks and spaces designed by artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: brunocasianogallery.com
• Facebook: Bruno Casiano
• Other: latinogreetings.com

Image Credits
Titles from left to right-top to bottom: Self portrait; Cleveland; Cabeza; Cosa; Flor; Flor II; Perro; Oso.