He knew at age six he wanted to paint. Now, after a long career teaching art, North Bergen resident Cris Cristofaro continues his passion, painting and sculpting his way to bliss.
A native of Chicago, Cristofaro attended the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture in Madison, Maine, and the Art Institute of Chicago, before teaching art for more than thirty years at CUNY in Queens. He retired from teaching when COVID hit.
He moved to New Jersey to continue his passion, and works daily out of his home studio. He says a writer once described him as “having the mind of a sculptor and the heart of an a painter.” He begins each day by working on thumbnail drawings, as many as 18, which lead him to his next painting, which are done geometrically. Cristofaro says this leads him to create without having to worry about subject matter.
His studio is filled with paintings that are both small and large, some as big as 72′ x 66′. There are also sculpted works, such as miniature people in a gallery setting.
He has exhibited his works across the United States and has won numerous awards. If you want to learn more about his work, visit criscristofaro.com.