ART · SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI

FROM THE ARCHIVE · THE EARLY WORKS

Before the
Pop!

Before the bold became bolder.

Landscapes, wildlife, portraits and drawings reveal another side of Mariano Picos Pelegri. Explore the early works—and the curiosity, character and playful imagination that connect them to the art that followed.

30 SELECTED WORKS · ONE EVOLVING IMAGINATION

A different chapter. The same curious eye.

Not every story begins in bright pop color. Here, quiet landscapes sit beside watchful animals, expressive faces and characters with a sense of humor. Together, these works offer a glimpse into an artist’s developing visual world.

Inside the archive · Select any artwork for a larger view.

Landscapes · Wildlife & nature · Portraits · Drawings · A playful imagination

01 · Landscapes & Seascapes

A sense of place. Quiet water, distant mountains and places that invite a longer look.

A figure in a pink kimono beside a river and bridge, with a snow-capped mountain and flowering trees beyond. — Japanese landscape · PP-BTP-01

A tall sailing ship with billowing sails crossing deep blue waves beneath a golden sky. — Sailing into the light · PP-BTP-02

A lakeside house, small boats and reflections, with pale mountains in the distance. — Life by the lake · PP-BTP-03

A white watermill and cottages beside calm water, framed by tall trees. — The watermill · PP-BTP-04

An old stone arch spanning a steep ravine, with buildings, foliage and small figures below. — The stone archway · PP-BTP-05

Foaming waves break against dark coastal rocks beneath a softly lit yellow-green sky. — Waves at dusk · PP-BTP-06

02 · Wildlife & Nature

A world of character. The watchful, the wild and the wonderfully familiar.

A spotted big cat beneath colorful birds and curling branches on a turquoise jungle background. — Spotted cat in turquoise · PP-BTP-07

A close-up portrait of a tricolor collie with an expressive face and long black, tan and white fur. — The collie study · PP-BTP-08

A tiger resting on a large branch in a leafy forest, above warm-toned water. — Resting tiger · PP-BTP-09

A front-facing basset hound with long ears against a dark blue and pale green background. — The basset hound · PP-BTP-10

A colorful mandarin duck standing among reeds and patches of snow. — Mandarin duck · PP-BTP-11

Two red-faced birds perched among green thistle stems and pink flower heads. — Birds among thistles · PP-BTP-12

Two red parrots with long blue and green tail feathers perched on leafy branches. — Scarlet parrots · PP-BTP-13

A rearing brown horse with a flowing black mane against angular pastel shapes. — Horse in motion · PP-BTP-14

03 · Portraits & Character Studies

An eye for the individual. Expression, gesture and the details that make a face its own.

A black-and-white portrait drawing of a man wearing a flat cap and open-collared shirt. — Portrait in a flat cap · PP-BTP-15

A reddish-brown portrait drawing of a curly-haired child looking to one side. — A young face · PP-BTP-16

A reddish-brown drawing of a long-haired woman resting a hand near her chin. — A moment of thought · PP-BTP-17

A reddish-brown portrait sketch of a woman looking back over her shoulder. — Over the shoulder · PP-BTP-18

A high-contrast black-and-white drawing of a bowed figure wearing a crown of thorns. — Light and shadow · PP-BTP-19

04 · Drawings & Illustrations

It begins with a line. Close observation meets a more theatrical imagination.

A detailed black-and-white drawing of a dark bird perched on a small branch. — Perched bird · PP-BTP-20

Dog in profile · PP-BTP-21

A black-and-white drawing of a large hooked-beak bird with folded wings and long dark feathers. — Bird of prey · PP-BTP-22

A black-and-white illustration of two costumed theatrical figures, one seated and one standing. — The performers · PP-BTP-23

An intricate black-and-white illustration of a costumed figure surrounded by sweeping decorative forms. — The theatrical flourish · PP-BTP-24

A light pencil sketch of a long-haired woman looking down as she writes at a desk. — At the writing desk · PP-BTP-25

05 · A Playful Imagination Emerges

And then, a little mischief. Color gets bolder. Characters get cheekier. The unexpected starts to feel right at home.

An elephant in a patterned shirt and red-and-white sneakers sits on a pink stool drinking through a straw. — Elephant at the bar · PP-BTP-26

A clown in a patterned yellow suit and bright scarf sits in an ornate chair beside a candle. — The seated clown · PP-BTP-27

A surreal scene of a reclining reader beside an oversized lion head in a wood-paneled room. — An unexpected reading companion · PP-BTP-28

Two cartoon animals in colorful costumes balance together on a small bicycle against a yellow background. — Animal cyclists · PP-BTP-29

Two stylized faces in elaborate black feathered headwear and ruffled collars against a red background. — Masquerade in red · PP-BTP-30

From the archive: Captions are descriptive labels for identifying the images, not confirmed original artwork titles. Please inquire about dates, materials, dimensions, original availability and print options. These archive photographs are shown in their original proportions.

Now, turn up the color.

From these early explorations to the unmistakable personality of Picos’s pop art. Meet the bold faces, unexpected characters and South Beach attitude of the contemporary collection.

Before thePop!