CLEO PÈTRA

Cleo Pètra is an Ethiopian/Swedish contemporary artist based in Los Angles California.

Cleo has always had a passion for art, and started her career as a tattoo artist. After 14 years she decided to pursue her painting more seriously. Keeping and incorporating many aspects and techniques that she learned over the years tattooing with her, and she continues to still occasionally tattoo.

Through out her life, Cleo has been meeting a variety of people while traveling. She decided as a kid to both photograph and journal her adventures. Cleo has come to the conclusion that her years of images, journals, and continued photography tells a complete story. She has decided to culminate that story through portrait creation. Her work is also very much inspired by the women around her. The creations pull on Cleo’s strong African roots and has served as a way of connecting with her own mixed heritage.

Cleo’s portraits weaves a story of humanity. Through basic human interaction, she cleverly creates portraits that tells a story of unity. Her life mantra is, “though we all come from various walks of life we are all connected individuals”. Through art, she feels that her story of unity is on full display. What’s more human than feeling understood? People are all similar despite socio- economic, geographic, race, or creed.

ART

Cleo has ventured into creating portraits that have hidden layers. Working with current technology, a DNA sample of each individual is mixed into the paint. She incapsulates the individuals as she experiences them. Her portrait creation, using DNA samples goes beyond the feeling that the individuals and the experiences are showcased. The individuals and the experiences are now memorialized.

Cleo’s art pieces are created by using mixed media, Oil, pencil, charcoal, pastel, acrylic, digital, plastic, and DNA.

CHARITY

Cleo is a WaterAid Ambassador for The Operakallaren Foundation, Sweden's largest private yearly charity, where all funds raised at the auction goes to organisations that makes sure people in East Africa will have access to clean water. The Operakallaren Foundati­on has raised over 40 million Swedish krona to increase access to clean water.

Cleo has raised 86.000€ (103.600$USD) with her paintings for the organization so far.