ABOUT | Victor Spinelli

Victor
Spinelli

Photographer, painter, sculptor, illustrator, writer & free spirit

I'll describe a little bit about my life below but I can say that art, which has profound significance, is very critical to our awareness on the planet. We live on a magical paradise which we call Mother Earth but seem to often overlook her splendor. My adventurism and optimism have led me to travel through 85 countries and has shown me that we must respect her in every way, and with good intention. A few thoughtful series of mine that I have created in the last several years emulate this belief. Most notably they are my: Crucifixion Series, Beast of Burden Series, Balance Series and Read my Lips Series (Not shown).

During most of my adult life I have split my time between New York, Colorado, the Mediterranean and California. Prior to embracing my artistic calling, I ventured into the sky as a Commercial Hot Air Balloon Pilot and started a hot air balloon bungee jumping and skydiving company. Presently, I still gracefully navigate the skies of Ibiza.

The photography skills and artistry I developed along my travels have evolved into several multimedia platforms such as film, commercials, music videos, documentaries, print campaigns and now graphic novels. My globetrotting eventually led me to Mykonos, Greece where I first started making a living with my photography skills for three enchanting summers. After which, I was drawn to another island in the Mediterranean: Ibiza, Spain. While in Ibiza,

I was brought on board by Manumission, a surreal theatrical clubbing party, to document the inside of its production. Many of my photographs captured the “Fellini-esque” happenings of Manumission and have gone down in Ibiza lore.

Good fortune arrived in 2011 when I was graciously commissioned by Ibiza Rocks to outfit their newly acquired Pikes Hotel in Ibiza, Spain. Then, in 2013 a venture capital group invested in my work and creative foresight and opened the first installment of “SPiN Galleries” in Shanghai, China. This was also a deeply appreciated blessing.

I earned a Bachelors of Art degree in Architecture from the University of Buffalo. Previously in high school I was merited with the title of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in Boy Scouts of America, and this has taught me how to live a rich and fulfilling life.

In 2022, I orchestrated the construction of an 8 meter (24 foot) fiberglass and steel sculpture of my popular photograph “Diver UP” for Burning Man. This symbolized a metamorphosis of not only the evolution of Diver UP, but also a demarcation point in my career thus beginning a new chapter within it.

2024 will ring in the first edition of the SPiN Art Residency in Ibiza, Spain, (linked here) which I am organizing. Its objective is to help bring awareness to our worlds' population about the important issues on our planet, through art. Each selected artist will attend for free, to mix progressive ideas within this critical thinking bouillabaisse of artists. A symposium of ‘Art for the betterment of the planet’ will commence in November of 2024.