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| How Big Mike, a Barbershop Painter, Broke Into the Art World | How Big Mike, a Barbershop Painter, Broke Into the Art World |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Michael Saviello sat on a little stool in a Chelsea art gallery wiping sweat from his forehead as his new gallerists breathlessly praised his latest paintings. Mr. Saviello, known to everyone as Big Mike, was taking the day off from Astor Place Hairstylists, the East Village barber shop he has managed since 1987. He was preparing for his first solo show, which would mark his debut to the New York art world. | Michael Saviello sat on a little stool in a Chelsea art gallery wiping sweat from his forehead as his new gallerists breathlessly praised his latest paintings. Mr. Saviello, known to everyone as Big Mike, was taking the day off from Astor Place Hairstylists, the East Village barber shop he has managed since 1987. He was preparing for his first solo show, which would mark his debut to the New York art world. |
| And from the sound of it, the New York art world wanted a piece of Big Mike. | And from the sound of it, the New York art world wanted a piece of Big Mike. |
| “You can instantly tell this is a Saviello,” said Guillo Pérez, gesturing to Mr. Saviello’s painting of Tupac Shakur wearing a bandanna. “You can see this was painted by someone chiseled from the effects of life. Every brush stroke has a human fingerprint.” He added: “Mike is not some young buck. He’s not some nobody. Big Mike is a mover and shaker. We start him at $5,000.” | “You can instantly tell this is a Saviello,” said Guillo Pérez, gesturing to Mr. Saviello’s painting of Tupac Shakur wearing a bandanna. “You can see this was painted by someone chiseled from the effects of life. Every brush stroke has a human fingerprint.” He added: “Mike is not some young buck. He’s not some nobody. Big Mike is a mover and shaker. We start him at $5,000.” |
| He was joined by another gallerist, Blake Emory, who stood before a painting Mr. Saviello made of his wife, Harriett, an elementary schoolteacher, surrounded by flowers. “Mike’s work incites controversy,” he said. “How dare he use such colors?” | He was joined by another gallerist, Blake Emory, who stood before a painting Mr. Saviello made of his wife, Harriett, an elementary schoolteacher, surrounded by flowers. “Mike’s work incites controversy,” he said. “How dare he use such colors?” |
| Paul Calendrillo, who runs a gallery nearby, had stopped in to study Mr. Saviello’s work. “The turmoil in these brush strokes reminds me of Joan Mitchell,” he said. He also gave Mr. Saviello some advice. “Critics? They’ll come once. Then never again.” | Paul Calendrillo, who runs a gallery nearby, had stopped in to study Mr. Saviello’s work. “The turmoil in these brush strokes reminds me of Joan Mitchell,” he said. He also gave Mr. Saviello some advice. “Critics? They’ll come once. Then never again.” |
| Mr. Saviello listened quietly. Afterward, he needed to clear his head. | Mr. Saviello listened quietly. Afterward, he needed to clear his head. |
| “I feel like I’m intruding on the art world,” he said. | “I feel like I’m intruding on the art world,” he said. |
| He strolled through some galleries in the building. He came upon Mary Tooley Parker, who was setting up an exhibit of her hooked rugs, which pay tribute to folk artists like the quilters of Gee’s Bend. It was her first solo show, she said, and she’d won a prestigious grant making it possible. | He strolled through some galleries in the building. He came upon Mary Tooley Parker, who was setting up an exhibit of her hooked rugs, which pay tribute to folk artists like the quilters of Gee’s Bend. It was her first solo show, she said, and she’d won a prestigious grant making it possible. |
| “Where have you shown before?” she asked. | “Where have you shown before?” she asked. |
| “People know me on Instagram,” he said. “This is my first show, too.” | “People know me on Instagram,” he said. “This is my first show, too.” |
| “Oh,” she said. | “Oh,” she said. |
| Big Mike’s arrival on the New York art scene was triggered by a perfectly modern sequence of events, including a flush of Instagram fame, and he still doesn’t know what to make of it. When Mr. Saviello started painting at the barber shop during his lunch breaks two years ago, he never thought anyone would want to buy his work, or that he’d end up with a show in a Chelsea gallery. His solo show opened earlier this month at the ESP Gallery in the Landmark Arts Building and it runs until early July. | Big Mike’s arrival on the New York art scene was triggered by a perfectly modern sequence of events, including a flush of Instagram fame, and he still doesn’t know what to make of it. When Mr. Saviello started painting at the barber shop during his lunch breaks two years ago, he never thought anyone would want to buy his work, or that he’d end up with a show in a Chelsea gallery. His solo show opened earlier this month at the ESP Gallery in the Landmark Arts Building and it runs until early July. |
| The day after he met with his gallerists, Mr. Saviello, 58, was back at Astor Place Hairstylists, barking into a telephone that constantly rings and yelling to his fleet of barbers. He seemed fatigued, but he was excited. | The day after he met with his gallerists, Mr. Saviello, 58, was back at Astor Place Hairstylists, barking into a telephone that constantly rings and yelling to his fleet of barbers. He seemed fatigued, but he was excited. |
| “I had to look up Joan Mitchell — I thought they said Joni Mitchell,” he said. “To be perfectly honest, I’m still processing everything that’s been happening to me. My wife keeps saying I’m a disrupter in the art world right now. They don’t know what to do with me.” | “I had to look up Joan Mitchell — I thought they said Joni Mitchell,” he said. “To be perfectly honest, I’m still processing everything that’s been happening to me. My wife keeps saying I’m a disrupter in the art world right now. They don’t know what to do with me.” |
| As a longtime manager of Astor Place Hairstylists, Mr. Saviello presides over the legendary subterranean barbershop, a cash-only haircut factory that retains more than 40 barbers with names like “Zack Attack” and “Don Fifi.” | As a longtime manager of Astor Place Hairstylists, Mr. Saviello presides over the legendary subterranean barbershop, a cash-only haircut factory that retains more than 40 barbers with names like “Zack Attack” and “Don Fifi.” |
| Mr. Saviello’s ritual commences at lunch. He walks to the storage room that has become his studio, and he shuts the door. He pours himself a glass of red wine, slips on a ragged shirt, puts on some Tony Bennett and sits in front of his easel. The room is lined with his paintings, which include portraits of Biggie Smalls, Marilyn Monroe, Rihanna and his wife. Last year, he painted Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has had his hair cut at Astor since he was a student at New York University. | Mr. Saviello’s ritual commences at lunch. He walks to the storage room that has become his studio, and he shuts the door. He pours himself a glass of red wine, slips on a ragged shirt, puts on some Tony Bennett and sits in front of his easel. The room is lined with his paintings, which include portraits of Biggie Smalls, Marilyn Monroe, Rihanna and his wife. Last year, he painted Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has had his hair cut at Astor since he was a student at New York University. |
| And on a recent afternoon, Mr. de Blasio sat for a trim with his security detail standing nearby. As a razor buzzed his sides, he discussed Mr. Saviello as an artist. | And on a recent afternoon, Mr. de Blasio sat for a trim with his security detail standing nearby. As a razor buzzed his sides, he discussed Mr. Saviello as an artist. |
| “I’m a big fan of Canaletto,” the mayor said, “and what Canaletto did was sit in the plazas of Venice studying people and taking in their humanity, and then he realized them with dignity in his paintings. I think that’s true of Mike. Every day, Mike watches this great swath of humanity enter through this barber shop, and it has influenced him as an artist.” Mr. Saviello’s painting of the mayor currently hangs in Gracie Mansion. | “I’m a big fan of Canaletto,” the mayor said, “and what Canaletto did was sit in the plazas of Venice studying people and taking in their humanity, and then he realized them with dignity in his paintings. I think that’s true of Mike. Every day, Mike watches this great swath of humanity enter through this barber shop, and it has influenced him as an artist.” Mr. Saviello’s painting of the mayor currently hangs in Gracie Mansion. |
| As a boy growing up in Bayonne, N.J., Mr. Saviello dreamed of becoming an artist. Every summer, he visited relatives in Italy, and he became mesmerized by the works of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. When he was 11, he said, he won a national drawing contest for his picture of Tippy the Turtle. | |
| But in high school, Mr. Saviello played varsity football, and after graduating from Rutgers University, he started running a pizzeria. “I always wanted to paint my whole life,” Mr. Saviello said. “But I came from a working-class Italian family. My dad was like, ‘You want to be a painter? Who are you kidding? You’re going to become a construction worker.” | But in high school, Mr. Saviello played varsity football, and after graduating from Rutgers University, he started running a pizzeria. “I always wanted to paint my whole life,” Mr. Saviello said. “But I came from a working-class Italian family. My dad was like, ‘You want to be a painter? Who are you kidding? You’re going to become a construction worker.” |
| Mr. Saviello got a job at Astor in 1987, and over the years, he’d encounter artists like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol when they stopped in for haircuts. “I’ve met so many artists here and they’re always struggling,” he said. “It made me realize I’m a practical person. I wanted to be an artist, but not the broke kind.” | Mr. Saviello got a job at Astor in 1987, and over the years, he’d encounter artists like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol when they stopped in for haircuts. “I’ve met so many artists here and they’re always struggling,” he said. “It made me realize I’m a practical person. I wanted to be an artist, but not the broke kind.” |
| “There’s an art professor from Cooper Union who comes here,” he said. “I showed him my paintings. I said, ‘What is art?’ He couldn’t tell me. No one can tell me. I’m trying to figure it out, but no one will tell me. One guy said, ‘Art is whatever they will pay for it,’ and that’s the best explanation I’ve gotten yet.” | “There’s an art professor from Cooper Union who comes here,” he said. “I showed him my paintings. I said, ‘What is art?’ He couldn’t tell me. No one can tell me. I’m trying to figure it out, but no one will tell me. One guy said, ‘Art is whatever they will pay for it,’ and that’s the best explanation I’ve gotten yet.” |
| Today, Mr. Saviello lives with his wife in the Poconos, where he raised his two children, and he wakes up every day at 5 a.m. to drive into the city. He enjoys his work at the barbershop, and his gift, the barbers say, is his knack at pairing customers with the stylist suited for them. “I judge someone the moment they walk through the door,” Mr. Saviello said. “I know who I am going to send them to before they even talk. I see their soul in their eyes. I can even see bad people.” | Today, Mr. Saviello lives with his wife in the Poconos, where he raised his two children, and he wakes up every day at 5 a.m. to drive into the city. He enjoys his work at the barbershop, and his gift, the barbers say, is his knack at pairing customers with the stylist suited for them. “I judge someone the moment they walk through the door,” Mr. Saviello said. “I know who I am going to send them to before they even talk. I see their soul in their eyes. I can even see bad people.” |
| But he always regretted not pursuing art. One night two years ago, as he was closing up the shop he noticed a canvas sitting on a heap of trash, and he salvaged it. A month later, he surprised his wife with a painting of her. Shortly after, she was given a diagnosis of breast cancer. | But he always regretted not pursuing art. One night two years ago, as he was closing up the shop he noticed a canvas sitting on a heap of trash, and he salvaged it. A month later, he surprised his wife with a painting of her. Shortly after, she was given a diagnosis of breast cancer. |
| Painting suddenly didn’t feel as urgent, but as she endured chemotherapy, Mr. Saviello felt drawn to his easel, and he started laboring on a new painting. Finally, he emerged with a surrealistic work that featured him protecting his wife from the grim reaper. | Painting suddenly didn’t feel as urgent, but as she endured chemotherapy, Mr. Saviello felt drawn to his easel, and he started laboring on a new painting. Finally, he emerged with a surrealistic work that featured him protecting his wife from the grim reaper. |
| “Mike is not a reflective person,” said Harriett Saviello, 58, whose cancer is in remission. “He hates talking about his feelings. But he started using his art to process what was happening to me. | “Mike is not a reflective person,” said Harriett Saviello, 58, whose cancer is in remission. “He hates talking about his feelings. But he started using his art to process what was happening to me. |
| “Our dog, Luigi, just died,” she added. “He doesn’t like talking about that either, but I think he’ll start painting Luigi soon.” | “Our dog, Luigi, just died,” she added. “He doesn’t like talking about that either, but I think he’ll start painting Luigi soon.” |
| By that winter, Mr. Saviello had found his stride as a painter. And then his art career got an unexpected boost. | By that winter, Mr. Saviello had found his stride as a painter. And then his art career got an unexpected boost. |
| A young customer wearing a Yankees cap named Nicolas Heller sat down for a haircut one afternoon, and he noticed Mr. Saviello’s painting studio. He took a picture and posted it to Instagram. When he got another haircut a few weeks later, he posted another picture. Before long, young followers of @NewYorkNico were making pilgrimages to visit Big Mike, and after Mr. Heller made a short film about him, people started stopping him in the streets. | A young customer wearing a Yankees cap named Nicolas Heller sat down for a haircut one afternoon, and he noticed Mr. Saviello’s painting studio. He took a picture and posted it to Instagram. When he got another haircut a few weeks later, he posted another picture. Before long, young followers of @NewYorkNico were making pilgrimages to visit Big Mike, and after Mr. Heller made a short film about him, people started stopping him in the streets. |
| Mr. Saviello had become one of the recurring characters on Mr. Heller’s popular Instagram account, which celebrates the city’s eccentrics. Mr. Saviello got an Instagram account of his own soon enough and he now posts regularly about his painting life. | Mr. Saviello had become one of the recurring characters on Mr. Heller’s popular Instagram account, which celebrates the city’s eccentrics. Mr. Saviello got an Instagram account of his own soon enough and he now posts regularly about his painting life. |
| “I call myself the unofficial talent scout of New York,” said Mr. Heller, 30, whose account has 180,000 followers. “Without Instagram, none of this would be possible, and it’s always interesting for me to see what happens to these people after I’ve shined a spotlight on them, and how they use the platform for good.” | “I call myself the unofficial talent scout of New York,” said Mr. Heller, 30, whose account has 180,000 followers. “Without Instagram, none of this would be possible, and it’s always interesting for me to see what happens to these people after I’ve shined a spotlight on them, and how they use the platform for good.” |
| As Mr. Saviello’s viral fame grew, one of his customers approached him. “He saw everything that was happening to me,” recalled Mr. Saviello, “and he said, ‘Mike, you’re becoming hot. It’s time for you to have a show in my gallery.’” And so he did. | As Mr. Saviello’s viral fame grew, one of his customers approached him. “He saw everything that was happening to me,” recalled Mr. Saviello, “and he said, ‘Mike, you’re becoming hot. It’s time for you to have a show in my gallery.’” And so he did. |
| At the opening for Mr. Saviello’s show, the gallery throbbed with his fans. Italian heroes were served on a buffet table, and guests stood in front of Mr. Saviello’s paintings while studying a price sheet and sipping red wine. The most expensive work was a chess board sculpted by Mr. Saviello. It was listed at $10,000. | At the opening for Mr. Saviello’s show, the gallery throbbed with his fans. Italian heroes were served on a buffet table, and guests stood in front of Mr. Saviello’s paintings while studying a price sheet and sipping red wine. The most expensive work was a chess board sculpted by Mr. Saviello. It was listed at $10,000. |
| LeRoy Mace, a musician, considered Mr. Saviello’s surreal portrait of Rihanna. “Mike’s art went viral because it speaks to the soul,” he said. “There’s no denying it.” | LeRoy Mace, a musician, considered Mr. Saviello’s surreal portrait of Rihanna. “Mike’s art went viral because it speaks to the soul,” he said. “There’s no denying it.” |
| Frank Sciotto, who was a fraternity brother of Mr. Saviello’s at Rutgers, drove in from New Brunswick to support him. “I can hardly draw a stick figure,” he said, “but it looks like Mike stuck with his art and is starting to do really well.” | Frank Sciotto, who was a fraternity brother of Mr. Saviello’s at Rutgers, drove in from New Brunswick to support him. “I can hardly draw a stick figure,” he said, “but it looks like Mike stuck with his art and is starting to do really well.” |
| By midnight, the gallery had cleared out, and it was littered with empty wine bottles. Mr. Saviello had posed for countless selfies, and he had followed dozens of people back on Instagram, but no paintings were sold. Guillo Pérez, one of the gallerists, cleaned up. “I didn’t close anything tonight,” Mr. Pérez said, “but I planted the seed.” | By midnight, the gallery had cleared out, and it was littered with empty wine bottles. Mr. Saviello had posed for countless selfies, and he had followed dozens of people back on Instagram, but no paintings were sold. Guillo Pérez, one of the gallerists, cleaned up. “I didn’t close anything tonight,” Mr. Pérez said, “but I planted the seed.” |
| As Mr. Saviello prepared for the long drive back home to the Poconos with his family, he seemed pleased with his debut. “Do I wish I could be considered a great artist one day?” he said. “Do I wish someone might look at my stuff one day and say, ‘That’s a Saviello’? Of course I do. And it’s going to happen if I let it happen.” | As Mr. Saviello prepared for the long drive back home to the Poconos with his family, he seemed pleased with his debut. “Do I wish I could be considered a great artist one day?” he said. “Do I wish someone might look at my stuff one day and say, ‘That’s a Saviello’? Of course I do. And it’s going to happen if I let it happen.” |