Inspired by the visually saturated designs of American culture, American artist Thomas Colletta represents the innumerable varieties of vernacular objects and architectural facades in his meticulous portrayals of the cultural fabric surrounding us. Colletta is a discriminating observer of the world, transforming his visual recordings in to a sensitive constellation of meaning and emotion. Confidently constructed compositions, stark tonal distinctions and lustrous textures expose an amazing stylistic accuracy, which Colletta achieves in a focused realism.
By introducing unique objects with particular historical distance, as demonstrated in his American Icon series, Colletta recycles time and resurrects these familiar objects from the background, reminding us of the panorama of inventions and beauty in our everyday landscape. With their nostalgic and poetic savoring of American life, Thomas Colletta's emblematic canvases exalt the object and the spirit of a time past and present.
Solo Shows: 2008 - Campton Gallery, New York, NY. 2007 - Campton Gallery, New York, NY. 2006 - Caldwell Snyder, San Francisco, CA. 2005 - Trajan Gallery, Carmel, CA; Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, New York. 2004 – Recent Works and Lecture – Trajan Gallery, Carmel, CA. 2003 – “Its About Time” Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA. 2002 – “American Icons” Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, New York. 1998 - “American Icon” – Powell Street Gallery, San Francisco CA. 1995 - “Romantic Realist” - Colleen Yoho Gallery, San Francisco CA. 1994 – “Angels in San Francisco” – Spectrum Gallery, San Francisco CA. 1991 - Peel Gallery – Danby, VT. 1989 – “Boston Remembered” – Haley & Steele, Boston MA. 1986 - Hartford Arts Council Award Exhibition, Jubilee 350 – Hartford CT. 1985 - “Visions of esteryear” – Fairfield University, CT. 1983 - The Meeting House – Hartford, CT. 1980 - The Different Drummer Gallery – Hartford, CT. 1980 - Widner Gallery, Trinity College – Hartford, CT. 1979 - The Different rummer Gallery – Hartford, CT.
Group Shows: 2005 - San Francisco International Art Expo, San Francisco, CA. 2004 - San Francisco International Art Expo, San Francisco, CA. 2003 - Art Chicago – Chicago, IL. 1993 - “Three For The Third”, Peel Gallery – Danby, VT. 1991 - Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts Annual (CAFA). 1991 - Copley Society Portrait Show – Boston MA / 1991 - Carriage House Gallery Portrait Show, Guilford, CT. 1990 - CAFA Annual / 1989 - The Connecticut Vision – Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT. 1989 - CAFA Annual. 1988 -Glastonbury Art Exhibit – 2nd Prize – Glastonbury, CT. 1988 - CAFA Annual. 1987 - CAFA Annual. 1986 - Mystic Maritime Gallery Invitational – Mystic, CT; 85th Annual New Haven Paint and Clay Exhibition, New Haven, CT. 1985 - Greene Art gallery – Guilford, CT; CAFA Annual. 1984 - Americana Show – Greenwich Workshop Gallery – Greenwich, CT. 1984 - 83rd Annual New Haven Paint and Clay Exhibition, New Haven, CT. 1982 - National Juried Exhibition – Terrence Gallery- Palenville, NY; Green Art gallery, Hartford, CT; Hartford Show – Artworks Gallery – Hartford CT. 1979 - Connecticut Painters and Sculptors Annual – Stamford, CT