365 Squarey Monsters: What Art Teaches Us About Friendship

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Earlier this year, I wrote about how art helps us grapple with life's biggest questions, like why we're here and how we come to terms with our mortality. Paintings, music, and stories don't offer neat answers, but they give us a way to process the mystery.

But, as I've been reflecting further, I've realized something else: Art not only helps us understand the big, eternal questions but also the smaller, everyday moments.

Picture the way Norman Rockwell brought ordinary moments to life on canvas, or how Henri Matisse used color to evoke the warmth of a summer afternoon. Contemporary artists like Drue Kataoka, who blends various materials inspired by Zen philosophy, continue the tradition in new and thought-provoking ways. These artworks show us that joy isn't reserved for grand occasions but rather in the quiet rituals that make up a life.

And perhaps no everyday joy is more universal than friendship. Some of the most powerful works of art reveal how friendships look and feel. Even if you're feeling down, friends remind us of the comfort of companionship and the human need to be understood.

The art of friendship

On a recent visit to Miami — which always feels like a vibrant city in South America and New York's sixth borough all rolled into one — I had the pleasure of spending time with an artist whose work radiates joy, color, and the warmth of true friendship.

Romero Britto's style blends pop art and street art, with clear nods to Picasso's cubism, the playfulness of Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein, and the bold color of Matisse. But what makes Romero Britto's work unmistakably, well, Britto, is the optimism that shines through every brushstroke.

When I stepped into the Britto Palace (yes, he really has one!), I was immediately struck by the scale and vibrancy of his work. His art doesn't just depict connection; it celebrates it.

One piece in particular — "Friendship" from 1995 — captures the joy of being loved just as you are. It shows a cat and dog in a happy embrace, the cat mid-lick, both smiling with unselfconscious delight. Surrounding them is a riot of color and pattern, Britto's signature dots, stripes, and zigzags creating a sense of movement and emotion.

There's a childlike innocence in the piece, but also a universal truth: Friendship, at its best, is colorful, loyal, spontaneous, and full of heart.

Capturing the joy of friendship

One of the joys of art is how it helps us connect across time and place. But often, when we talk about the world's great artists, we're left wondering what they would say because they're no longer with us. Fortunately, that's not the case with Romero Britto. He's very much alive, thriving, and creating.

In this week's Celebrate Your Story podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Britto about what inspires him. I discovered that his work isn't just about friendship. In many ways, it exists because of it. From painting on scraps of newspaper in the streets of Miami to installing public art in cities around the globe, Britto's journey has always been fueled by connection and the friends who believed in him.

Born in Brazil as one of nine children, Britto, 61, showed artistic talent early on but had limited resources. When he decided to leave law school and pursue art full time, it was the encouragement of friends that helped him take that leap.

After moving to the United States, he began selling his work on sidewalks, often supported by friends who helped him find materials or introduced him to local shop owners. One friend connected him to a store in Miami's artistic neighborhood of Coconut Grove, where Britto's work started to sell. Eventually, a small gallery gave him the shot that led to his first major break: a commission from Absolut Vodka, which had previously featured artists like Andy Warhol.

From there, Britto's career skyrocketed. He partnered with Disney, Coca-Cola, FIFA, and the Olympics. And yet, through it all, he's never lost sight of the people who helped him get there. As he told me: "My closest friends don't ask me for anything, and I don't ask anything from them. That's how you know it's real."

How friendship is like a splash of color

As our conversation came to a close, Britto said something that's stayed with me:

"Life without color wouldn't be the same. Just imagine it — everything in black, white, and gray. Color brings energy. It creates emotion. It inspires."

That describes art and friendship. Without our friends, life would be flat, muted, and more than a little bit lonely. Our friends are the splash of color in our lives.

Britto's art reminds us that even in uncertain times, we can choose joy. We can choose connection. And we can brighten someone's day in ways both big and small. That's why I'm especially proud of a project I've been working on with Britto that combines the joy of flowers with the joy of his art. Each vase bursts with his style of vivid patterns, bold colors, and the energy of connection. And they'll last even after the blooms are gone.

On this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Connectivity Council member Dr. Chloe Carmichael, licensed clinical psychologist and author of the upcoming book Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly. Together, we explore how fear, censorship, and cancel culture are reshaping how we communicate and how we can reclaim authentic dialogue in a divided world.

From writing a viral blog about child masking that prompted her move to Florida, to speaking at Fortune 500 companies and global law firms about "cancellation anxiety," Dr. Chloe shares her personal journey and professional insights on the psychology of free expression, self-censorship, and the loneliness epidemic.

We unpack the difference between healthy self-restraint and harmful repression, the risks of avoiding "real talk" in workplaces and friendships, and how groupthink and fear of disagreement can quietly erode mental health. Dr. Chloe also shares the surprising ways homeschooling and open dialogue have deepened her own thinking and her family's life.

If you've ever felt unsure whether you're allowed to speak your mind, this episode is your permission slip to ask the bigger question. And if there's something on your mind that we should think about, my inquiring mind would like to know. Email me at podcasts@celebrations.com.

Let's celebrate the friends who brighten our lives

Throughout July, the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands is celebrating all the friends who walk through life with us — the people who show up when it matters most, make us laugh when we need it, and help us feel seen and supported.

As part of our monthlong focus on the ways friends are important to us, I'd love to hear from you.

How do you keep your friendships strong, especially through the busyness of life, the distance of years or any physical distance, or the changes we all go through? Do you have a simple ritual, a meaningful story, or a piece of advice that's helped you nurture a lasting connection?

Your experience might inspire someone else to reach out and reconnect. After all, the best friendship advice often comes from friends themselves.

In addition to sharing some of your stories about lifelong bonds and rekindling connections in upcoming Celebrations Pulse letters, we're counting down to International Friendship Day on July 30. This starts with our Friendship Fridays, spotlighting the joy of chosen family, long-distance besties, and all the little toasts that remind us how lucky we are to have one another.

As we get closer to the global celebration, we'll be sharing custom greeting card ideas, reminders to celebrate the people who've stuck by us through it all, and even a few surprises from one of my favorite Amazing Moms and her friends.

Let's use this moment to shine a light on friendship, one of life's greatest gifts

Savor the snack that gives back

One of the things I love most is when everyday pleasures like a good snack can do a little good in the world. That's exactly what's happening this month with Moose Munch® Premium Popcorn and Holland America Line.

From now through July 31, 3% of net proceeds from specially marked Moose Munch at Harry & David and from onboard purchases during Alaska sailings, will be donated to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The center helps care for injured and orphaned animals — moose, wolves, bears — and works to protect Alaska's incredible wildlife for generations to come.

If you're cruising with Holland America this season, you can even visit the conservation center on one of their shore excursions. It's a powerful reminder that travel can have a deeper meaning.

So go ahead, indulge a little. Your sweet treat just might help a wild friend find its way home.

Foodie Find: Fly By Jing

Just when I thought summer couldn't get any hotter, I came across a spicy condiment that will forever have a home in my pantry.

Founded by Jing Gao, Fly By Jing is known for its bold and spicy sauces, oils, and dips, inspired by the vibrant Sichuan flavors of Chengdu, China, home to the city's famous "fly restaurants," which Jing describes as "soulful hole-in-the-wall eateries so good they attract diners like flies."

These are condiments that have the power to change your life. I'm talking about the cult favorite Chili Crisp, Spicy Sichuan Chili Sauce, and for those who like a little sweet with their heat, the Sweet & Spicy Sichuan Chili Sauce. Sure, you can use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or mix it into a noodle dish; and it's probably the most perfect sauce to elevate your salmon, but these sauces are bold and so should the way you use them. Think about adding some to your eggs Benedict and Triple Chocolate Cookies. Bold enough?

Sunday, July 13, 2025

What Art Teaches Us About Friendship

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