Vargas is a world-renowned body painter, photographer, and creator of “Body Realism,” a genre that fuses fine art, illusion, and the human form, transforming bodies into living canvases, intricately painted with vibrant colors and mesmerizing details. A sampling of Vargas’ works in various styles is now on display at Olyaa Gallery, 704 76th Street.

 

His bodypaint work has been showcased on the runways of Jean Paul Gaultier in Vienna, Fashion Week NY, and Cali Colombia, and he has worked with top designers around the globe. His body art has been featured in several TV series on the SyFy Network, Skin Wars, and countless art galleries. His world-famous “Pin Ups and World Cup” calendars saw him named “The best bodypainter in the world” by the Associated Press.

 

Celebrated for his surreal and emotionally charged compositions, Vargas draws inspiration from masters such as Dali and Magritte, yet his work remains unmistakably his own – transforming ephemeral performances into timeless visual masterpieces.

 

As a photographer, Vargas has been awarded and displayed at the Louvre in Paris, the Museo de Bellas Artes in Venezuela, and the Rotunda in the White House, where he was recognized as one of the most distinguished artists in the United States. He was photographer for Miss Universe pageants in the U.S. and Ecuador and created the project “Best Places to Visit in the World.”

 

Vargas teaches photography and FX at Vargas Beauty and Arts Academy in North Bergen and creates workshops around the world. A few of his celebrity clients include Placido Domingo, Donald Trump, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and Mark Anthony.

 

Joining Vargas in the current exhibition is internationally celebrated artist Youngsup Han, recognized for his mastery of Hanji paper. The exhibition is on display through Sep. 28. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.