Informed by research in psychology, quantum science, and Eastern philosophies, New York based artist Richard Pasquarelli (b.1968) explores and comes to question the nature and perception of physical reality through his work. An adherent to representational art, Mr. Pasquarelli, in his recent work, seamlessly segues from the hard-edged clarity of American Precisionists like Edward Hopper and Charles Sheeler to the compelling psychological ambiguity of Alfred Hitchcock and beyond to David Lynch. What the artist describes as his “compulsive photo taking” has abetted this transition, evident in the almost cinematic quality of his aquatint Cleveland.
Mr. Pasquarelli was intent on creating an image specific to the city. To facilitate his creative process, he was given access to Key Tower, Cleveland’s tallest building, central to downtown. He recalls the experience:

“Although I had access to the highest floors of the building, on the evening I had planned to shoot my photos, the upper floors of the building were encased in a dense fog. I couldn’t see more than a foot or two from the glass. No cityscape. Luckily, a local friend of mine knew someone who worked on the 12th floor, and as it turned out, his offices were located just below the fog. From 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm, I walked around the perimeter of the office space, taking photos of the views to the north, east, west, and south.
When I returned to my studio, I reviewed my photos and noticed lights in various windows turning on and off throughout my three-hour photo shoot. As I prepared my studies, I decide to focus on those windows which might help me build the strongest visual composition. In essence, this print is an amalgamation of three hours of time; a condensed time lapse.”

Richard Pasquarelli - ClevelandThe aquatint Cleveland is not a mere recollection of Pasquarelli’s nocturnal urban experience. The work gently cajoles the viewer into rekindling his or her own experiences, to psychologically occupy the image to complete it. The artist seeks for himself and for the viewer a better understanding of the relationship between the mind and its physical surroundings. His current mesmerizing oils and watercolors delve further into the innate need to affect a sense of order as manifested in the extreme with OCD and hoarding. With this new work, Pasquarelli hopes “to encourage a public discourse about our psychological relationship to our belongings and the implications of that relationship to consumption and our sense of self.”

To produce the Cleveland edition, Pasquarelli collaborated with VanDeb Editions in Long Island City, NY. While making his plate, he utilized the aquatint process to obtain a velvety, flat field of color for the background. To achieve the print’s rich, deep dark blue colors, Pasquarelli used a combination of ultramarine blue with a touch of black, then he individually hand-tinted the windows with watercolor.

For more information visit www.richardpasquarelli.com

EDUCATION

1990 B.F.A. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART, CLEVELAND, OH
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ART, DETROIT, MI
U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON D.C., BLACKBURN WORKSHOP HISTORICAL COLLECTION
PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ART COLLECTION, CLEVELAND, OHIO
THE ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION, LONDON, GB
MACANDREWS & FORBES, INC., NY, NY
WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL MUSEUM, NY, NY
GENERAL DYNAMICS INC., CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, FALLS CHURCH, VA
J. CREW, NY, NY
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ART COLLECTION, SYRACUSE, NY
MISUMI ART COLLECTION, TOKYO, JAPAN
BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, NY, NY,

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2016
COMPULSION, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, NEW YORK, NY

2015
DUSK TIL DAWN, GALERIE S.E., BERGEN, NORWAY

2011
FREEDOM, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, NEW YORK, NY

2010
RESTORING THE VIEW, PUBLIC INSTALLATION, CURATED BY BRAVIN LEE PROGRAMS/DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, NEW YORK, NY
SECRET GARDENS, PUBLIC INSTALLATION, CURATED BY BRAVIN LEE PROGRAMS/NY DOT, NEW YORK, NY
HOURS OF THE DAY, “W” HOTEL PUBLIC INSATALLATIO, CURATED BY BRAVIN LEE PROGRAMS/DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, NEW YORK, NY

2008-09
WORKED EXCLUSIVELY ON PRIVATE COMMISSIONS WORKS ACQUIRED BY WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL MUSEUM

2007
9:06 PM, GALERIE S.E., BERGEN, NORWAY

2006
RICHARD PASQUARELLI, GALERIA ESPACIO 21, MADRID SPAIN
BEACH TOWN, WESTHAMPTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER GALLERY, WESTHAMPTON, NY

2005
RANDOM ALLEGORY, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY

2004
RICHARD PASQUARELLI, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LUBIN HOUSE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY

2003
LAST SITES, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY

2001
PONSEF: A NEW AND IMPROVED SOURCE OF WATER, 3 PERSON COLLABORATIVE, MONK GALLERY, BROOKLYN, NY
DIPLOMA, 60’ X 3’ DIGITAL PRINT INSTALLATION, SALENA GALLERY, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, BROOKLYN, NY

1997
VARIABLE PAINTINGS, ALICIA TORRES GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
AN INSTALLATION, WINDOWS ON FLATBUSH, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, BROOKLYN, NY

1996
RICHARD PASQUARELLI PAINTINGS, THE APPLE, NEW YORK CITY, CURATED BY ELIZABETH HESKIN, ANITA FRIEDMAN FINE ARTS

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017
SPRING BREAK ART SHOW, BLACK MIRROR, PERSONAL TESSERACT, CURATED BY ANNE SPALTER, 4 TIMES SQUARE, 23RD FL. NYC
STUFF, CURATED BY REBECCA PELLY FRY, LUBOMIROV ANGUS-HUGHES GALLERY, LONDON, UK
(FALL 2017)
MUSE IN THE MEWS, CURATED BY JAMES SALOMON, THE PRINTING HOUSE, 421 HUDSON STREET, NYC (MARCH-APRIL, 2017)
DOMESTIC, CURATED BY JENNIFER TERZIAN, ECKERT FINE ART, KENT, CT (JUNE 2017)

2016
WORKS ON PAPER ART FAIR 2016, VANDEB EDITIONS, NEW YORK, NY
LAKE LIFE, CURATED BY JAMES SALOMON, ONE GREEN HILL, WASHINGTON, CT
SATELLITE MIAMI BEACH 2016, BERLIN COLLECTIVE, BOOTH 27, PARISIAN HOTEL, SOUTH BEACH, FL
EAB PRINT FAIR, VANDEB EDITIONS, NEW YORK, NY
34TH ANNUAL PRINT FAIR, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART, VANDEB EDITIONS, NEW YORK, NY

2015
EAB PRINT FAIR, VANDEB EDITIONS, NEW YORK, NY
THE NY SOCIETY OF ETCHERS 15TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW, NATIONAL ARTS CLUB, NYC, CURATED BY ROBERTA WADELL
MYKONOS BIENNALE, "ANTIDOTE", MYKONOS, GREECE
33RD ANNUAL PRINT FAIR, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART, VANDEB EDITIONS, NEW YORK, NY

2014
CRISE ET PAGANISME, GALERIE VANESSA QUANG, PARIS, FRANCE
NIGHT OUT, CURATED BY JENNIFER TERZIAN, R. DERWIN,LITCHFIELD, CT
LAST NIGHT, CURATED BY MERILL MAHAN, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, NEW YORK
DALLAS ART FAIR 2014, DALLAS, TEXAS, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY

2013
MYKONOS BIENNALE, MYKONOS, GREECE
DEVILS HEAVEN, BYRD HOFFMAN WATERMILL SUMMER BENEFIT, WATERMILL, NY

2012
BAD FOR YOU, CURATED BY BETH RUDIN DEWOODY, SHIRAZU GALLERY, LONDON

2010
50 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR LOVER, GALERI S.E., BERGEN, NORWAY
PLANK ROAD, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, NEW YORK, NY
HUNT AND CHASE, (CATALOG) SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, EASTHAMPTON, NY
IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY, ISLIP ART MUSEUM, ISLIP, NY
GROUP INSTALLATION, WINVIAN, MORRIS, CT

2009
WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL MUSEUM, NEW YORK, NY, ACQUISTIONS
SEEING IS BELIEVING: REALISM IN THE NEW AGE, JENNIFER HUNT GALLERY, BIRMINGHAM, AL
ECONOMIES OF SCALE, MILLER BLOCK GALLERY, BOSTON, MA
EVERYBODY COUNTS, JERSEY CITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, JERSEY CITY, NJ

2008
SCOPE HAMPTONS, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, EAST HAMPTON, NY
SPRAWL, JERSEY CITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, JERSEY CITY, NJ

2007
LANDSCAPE, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK
ROBERT WILSON WATERMILL BENEFIT 2007, WATERMILL, NY
SCOPE HAMPTONS, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, EAST HAMPTON, NY

2006
THE FOOD SHOW; THE HUNGRY EYE, CHELSEA MUSEUM, NEW YORK, NY (NOV-FEB) CURATED BY ROBERT EDELMAN & GINA FIORE
CONFIGURATION, BENTLEY GALLERY, PHOENIX AZ
ROBERT WILSON WATERMILL BENEFIT 2006, WATERMILL, NY
L.A. ART FAIR, NEW YORK, NY, GALERIE S.E, BERGEN, NORWAY
ST-ART EUROPEAN CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, STRASBOURG, FRANCE, GALERIE LUCIE WEILL SELIGMAN, PARIS
ART COPENHAGEN, THE NORDIC ART FAIR, COPENHAGEN, DEMARK, GALERIE S.E, BERGEN, NORWAY

2005
DESIGN FOR LIVING, ISLIP ART MUSEUM, ISLIP, NY
FIAC, PARIS, FRANCE, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK
SELECTIONS, SALOMON CONTEMPORARY, EASTHAMPTON, NY
IT’S NOT ABOUT SEX, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
ROBERT WILSON WATERMILL BENEFIT 2005, WATERMILL, NY

2004
LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERE, MIAMI ART MUSEUM, MIAMI, FL (CATALOG, APRIL-SEPT)
FIAC, PARIS, FRANCE, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK
USA TODAY, GALERI S.E., BERGEN, NORWAY
FALL BLOOM, BROADWAY GALLERY/NYARTS MAGAZINE, NEW YORK, NY
STAY INSIDE, SHOSHANA WAYNE GALLERY, SANTA MONICA, CA
ART HOUSE, MARGARET THATCHER PROJECTS, NEW YORK, NY
SIMPLY DRAWN, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
ROBERT WILSON WATERMILL BENEFIT 2004, WATERMILL, NY
STOP AND STOR, LUXE GALLERY, NY, NY

2003
AMERICAN PAINTERS, GALERI S.E., OSLO, NORWAY
ROAD TRIP, MARGARET THATCHER PROJECTS, NEW YORK, NY
$99.00 SHOW, CYNTHIA BROAN GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
PAINTING, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY

2002
HOLIDAY GROUP SHOW, RUTH BACHOFNER GALLERY, BERGAMONT STATION, SANTA MONICA, CA
GROUP SHOW, LUXE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
MAJORITY RULES PART 1, FREE GALLERY, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
WINDOW SHOPPING, WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN NY, CURATED BY LARRY WALZACK OF EYEWASH

2001
HOLIDAY GROUP SHOW, RUTH BACHOFNER GALLERY, BERGAMONT STATION, SANTA MONICA, CA
ALTER EGOS (5 PERSON SHOW), R. B. STEVENSON GALLERY, SAN DIEGO, CA
SALON, CURATED BY ELIZABETH FIORE AND GINA FIORE, NYC
AFFINITIES, ANITA FRIEDMAN FINE ARTS, NEW YORK, NY, CURATED BY ROBERT EDELMAN & GINA FIORE

2000
ARTIST IN THE MARKETPLACE, (CATALOG), BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS, NY SNAPSHOT, CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM, BALTIMORE MD
INTERNATIONAL JURIED SHOW, NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS, CURATOR DAN CAMERON, THE NEW MUSEUM, NY
SPACE - TIME - LINKS, PENZENSTADLER AND SCHALLER ARCHITEKTEN, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, CURATED BY NICOLETTA WEST - GRETEL’S FILE
INTERIORS, GALLERY 214, MONTCLAIR NJ

1998
SUMMERTIME VIEWS, GEN ART, NEW YORK, NY

1997
THE ART MARKET, GEN ART, NEW YORK, NY

 

By Darlene Michitsch

CLEVELAND, The Print Club of Cleveland Publication No. 95, 2017.
Aquatint hand-colored with watercolor on Rives BFK paper.
Printed by the artist and Marjorie Van Dyke at VanDeb Editions, Long Island City, NY, 2016.

Richard Pasquarelli
“By investigating the various approaches society has taken to define our existence, I am seeing the relationship between the mind and our physical environment in new ways.”