Statement

Moving Toward the Infinite

"The eye, a strange balloon, moves toward the infinite" a 19th-century lithograph by Odilon Redone was the first artwork to capture my imagination when I was a teen. To me, this print speaks volumes about art life and human potential. Its foreground anchors us at the water's edge while a large hairy eyeball floats above the horizon like a mythical balloon, carrying our hopes toward the heavens. Its frightful appearance is somehow neutralized by its lofty intent.

 

The best works of art come out of this push and pull swing of emotion. Love and hate, fear and desire. The tragic to the sublime are the tensions that somewhere in between we find the intrigue we call art. Art comes from somewhere outside our conscious intentions. Too much deliberation can be toxic, leaving it void of spirit and lacking emotion, I mostly begin painting from the abstract and find my way toward the figurative. The challenge is not so much where to begin, but where to finish.

 

I like to work on several pieces at a time leaving the studio full of canvas at various stages of development. I suppose I do not consider a painting finished until the client comes and takes it away. In the course of every day, I try and move on my own path of discovery. I try not to limit myself to one medium or genre. I do prefer my work to be spontaneous expressionist and allegorical beyond that who knows where tomorrow will lead.

 

If I could paint with the fire of Picasso and the soul of Chagall, I would certainly find my nirvana. For now, I am content to paint all I can with my feet on the ground and my eye fixed on the strange balloon moving toward the infinite."   

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Biography​

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Russell D’Alessio grew up in suburban New Jersey, just outside bustling Manhattan, where his early life was filled with playing baseball, building tree forts, and riding bikes. At 17, a high school art teacher and a trip to a Picasso exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art revealed his passion for art. His father, an engineer who painted on weekends, was his first art mentor, teaching him to draw rabbits—a motif that still appears in his work.
Russ's formal art education started at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts and continued at the Arts Students League in Manhattan. He also took private lessons there.

Early adulthood brought responsibilities; Russ married young and had children, which led him to work in graphic design at local print shops. This path eventually saw Russ and his wife opening a screen print shop, showcasing his design skills. They later sold it and opened a gallery featuring fine crafts, pottery, jewelry, and Russ’s paintings. Today, his gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine, exclusively displays her vibrant works, attracting global collectors.

Russ's art, inspired by life itself. Initially known for landscapes, he evolved to create pieces that reconnect adults with childlike innocence, characterized by bright, animated colors. His intuitive process starts with a single brushstroke, leading to emotionally charged yet peaceful realms. One of his favorite projects, the circus series, stems from a childhood trip to Barnham and Bailey Circus.

Influenced by Picasso and Chagall, his greatest muse is his wife, whose support has been crucial.

Russ aims to continue creating and selling art, viewing it as essential nourishment for the soul. Through his works, he provides a slice of joy and innocence, offering solace from the complexities of adulthood.

 

With a career shaped by experience and driven by endless curiosity,  D’Alessio’s work has been showcased in various galleries across the United States, including prominent locations in Key West and Naples, Florida. Currently, his own gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine, serves as the primary exhibition space for his creations, drawing collectors both locally and internationally. It is often said that his art makes people happy, a testament to his belief in art as essential nourishment for the soul.

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"My paintings are a place where adults engage in a world of 

childish innocents. It’s about a perfect day, a place

of eternal youth.  Everything is brightly animated,

emotionally charged yet peaceful;

it is art to find your inner child."  

Russell D'Alessio

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