FEDERICO CASTELLUCCIO (Italy)

Click here for a very well written article about Federico's work, by Steven Schloeder.

Federico Castelluccio, is an internationally renowned realist painter, art collector and connoisseur of old master, baroque painting. He was born in Naples, Italy and moved to the US in 1968. From an early age it was evident that Federico had talent and an innate ability for drawing and painting and was determined to pursue a life in art. In 1982 he received a full presidential scholarship to the School of Visual Arts, in New York City, earning a BFA in painting and media arts. At age 17, prior to commencing his studies at SVA, an opportunity arose to paint a portrait for veteran actor, George Burns. Burns loved the painting and was impressed by Federico’s ability to capture his likeness and felt compelled to help the young artists career, by introducing him to executives at PBS, NBC and ABC, all of whom hired the Federico to create paintings and illustrations for their TV programs and publications.

Castelluccio has received many awards for his paintings and has appeared on national talk shows and radio programs regarding his art. He has been featured in numerous magazines and art publications, including American Artist and People Magazine. Various documentaries have been made on his work, including “Night of Hearts”, which focuses on the process, making of and journey of a large figurative painting entitled “Vita”. Federico was privately commissioned by art benefactor Christine E. Lynn and presented the painting to the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida. “Vita” was unveiled on November 16th, 2006 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

Federico has traveled extensively to Europe for the sole purpose of drawing and painting. He has spent time working in France, Italy and Germany, inspired all along by the European old masters and contemporary realists. Castelluccio’s focus has been mainly on painting the figure and still life, as well as, trompe l’oeil and landscape. He works strictly from life and has drawn praise for his paintings and for his exceptional quality and high level of technical ability.

Castelluccio’s paintings have been exhibited in prestigious galleries throughout the United States and Europe. His works are held in the collections of Palazzo Chigi, in Ariccia, Italy, Yale University Museum of Art, in New Haven, Connecticut, Kresge Art Museum, in East Lansing, Michigan and Tisch Fine Art Collection, NY. His works can be found in major private collections throughout the United States, South America and Europe. In addition, many well known actors and celebrities own Federico’s original work, including, Whoopi Goldberg, Caroline Rhea and Joe Pantoliano, to name a few.

The Kresge Art Museum showed Castelluccio’s paintings in an exhibit titled “Masters of Illusion”. The show highlighted paintings on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts, including paintings by 19th Century trompe l’oeil masters, John Frederick Peto and William Harnett. One of Castelluccio’s paintings titled, “Torn Titian Taped” was acquired after the exhibit and now hangs in the permanent collection of The Kresge Art Museum, in Michigan.

Castelluccio has lectured at numerous art schools, public events, and universities, including Michigan State University, and a lecture on Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, at Stony Brook State University, New York. In 2009, he was “Master of Ceremonies”, honoring Nelson Shanks, at the Union League Club in Philadelphia.

Federico is a passionate collector and connoisseur of old master paintings, early European sculpture and Roman, Greek and Egyptian Antiquities. His collection of 17th century Italian, Baroque paintings, has been highly regarded by scholars, experts and professionals in the art world. He sometimes incorporates artifacts and objects from his collection in his own work.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS:

Poets Den Gallery – New York, NY, a group show, AKUS Gallery - Eastern Connecticut State University, a group exhibit, including renowned painters, Nelson Shanks and Vincent Desidero. 2010 - MACC Museo ArteCasa Colombo, Jersey City, NJ, a group exhibit with four artists from Italy. In 2009, Castelluccio painted a portrait of Prince Agostino Chigi, which is on permanent exhibit in the museum at Palazzo Chigi, in Ariccia, Italy, which is also the summer residence of The Pope.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

2017
- Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, MI, "The Transported Man"
- Chetkin Gallery, Federico Castelluccio
2015
- Chetkin Gallery, Alain Bonnefoit & Federico Castelluccio
2014
- Chetkin Gallery, Federico Castelluccio & Jean Grimal
2011
- Poets Den Gallery Group Show NY, NY
2010
- AKUS Gallery – Eastern Connecticut State University Group Exhibit
- MACC Museo Arte Casa Colombo New Jersey - “Inner earth project” (group exhibit)
2009
- Palazzo Chigi Museum, Gabinetto dei Ritratti - Portrait of “Prince Agostino Chigi”, permanent collection Ariccia, Italy
2008
- New York Botanical Garden “Inspired by Nature” - (invited artist)
2007
- Gallery Yellow - “Views of Italy” - New York
2005
- Cavalier Gallery, Madison Ave., New York City, New York “Contemporary Realism 2005” Awarded Artist
- Cecil Hirsch Gallery, Chappaqua, New York “Fine Art Painters”
- Kresge Art Museum, Michigan State University, MI “150 Years of Trompe l’oeil Art in America” (with loans from the Philadelphia Museum of Art / Detroit Institute)
2004
- Andreeva Portrait Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico “Masters of Illusion”
- Steigrad Fine Arts, New York City, New York “Renaissance” - solo exhibit
- APEX Gallery - Washington, DC “Realism Today -20 “A” artists”
2003
- Resorts, Atlantic City, New Jersey “Artist at Heart” - one-person retrospective
- Phoenix Gallery, New York “Visions of Diversity”
2002 - 2001
- Phoenix Gallery, New York “Group of Seven”
1999
- Lisa Kurtz Gallery, Memphis TN “Contemporary Realism”
1998
- France: Loire Valley “Les Paysage”
1997
- Paterson Museum, New Jersey “Four Corners” (curated by Federico Castelluccio)
1996
- “Salmagundi Club 197’ Annual Open Painting Exhibition, New York
- “Festival of the Visual Arts- First Annual Painting Exhibition”, New York
1995
- Silverstein Gallery, New York
1994
- Ambassador Galleries, New York
1993
- Paterson Museum, New Jersey “Paterson Artists” - (curated by Giacomo DeStefano)
1992
- Paterson Museum, New Jersey “Art Continuity” - (curated by Fred Diugen)
1991
- Phoenix Essex Gallery, New Jersey “Paterson Realists”
1990
- Liberty State Park, New Jersey “Festa Della Republica” - solo exhibit
1987
- Adonai Foundation, NYC “Art for Life”
1986
- Master Eagle Gallery, NYC “What Will Survive” (curated by J. Endewelt)
- School of Visual Arts Gallery, NYC “Federico Castelluccio Paintings” - solo exhibit
- SI Museum, NYC “Announcing New York Artists!”
- Art Directors Club of New Jersey- solo exhibit
1985
- New York Art Directors Club, NYC - solo show (curated by Richard Wilde)
- Master Eagle Gallery, NYC “Comet” (curated by J. Endewelt)

SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS - PERMANENT COLLECTION OF:

- Palazzo Chigi Museum, Gabinetto dei Ritratti - Ariccia, Italy
- Yale University Museum of Art, New Haven, Connecticut (four paintings)
- Kresge Art Museum - East Lansing, Michigan
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Joe Pantoliano
- Caroline Rhea
- Geoffrey Holder
- Hector Neumann
- Donald J. Paget
- Richard Brown Baker
- Wilson and Elliot Nolen
- Donald Trump
- George Burns
- Paul Hogan
- Buddy Guy
- Allan Dolby
- Paul and Mary Ellen Dillon
- Neysa Demann and Chris Case
- Stephen and Jill McDonnell
- Leonard and Ellen Polaner
- Peter Schivarelli
- Holt McCormick
- Tisch Fine Art Collection
- Exclusive Commissions:
- Christine E. Lynn for benefit of Boca Raton Community Hospital
- FRIS Vodka
- Davidsohn Group
- National Geographic Society
- CBS
- NBC
- PBS (Public Broadcasting System)
- Grammy Awards
- Time Magazine
- Warner Lambert Industries
- Gillette Corporation
- Schering Plough Industries