Artists

TR Colletta

Born in Buffalo, New York, Thomas R. Colletta grew up in the nearby Town of Tonawanda. He received his first set of oil paints in Eighth Grade, having always exhibited a penchant for drawing, and has painted ever since. In High School he took classes in music theory and composition, studied piano and played French Horn in the school band. At the State University of New York College at Buffalo, though entering as a history major, and studying pipe organ and bagpipes as well, Thomas reverted to an artistic ability evident throughout his life and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design.

That September he became Technical Director of the Charles Burchfield Center, where his duties included the design of exhibits, brochures and promotional material. In 1975 he became a professional photographer for the Longin Photography Studio in Niagara Falls, expanding his portrait photography and darkroom techniques. His passion for art and architecture prompted several trips to Europe. From Sweden to Sicily and from Paris to Prague, Thomas absorbed the masterpieces of Western Art.

Moving to Hartford, Connecticut in 1978, Thomas devoted himself to painting full time. He started exhibiting his work in juried shows and established galleries, while accepting illustration commissions from publishing houses in Boston and New York. Almost exclusively his canvases depicted historic urban landscapes - called by one critic "pictorial time machines" - that were equally fine paintings. The consistent quality and integrity of his art earned Thomas a membership in the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art. During these busy years, Thomas expanded his music as well: he accepted the position of Organist and Music Director for Saint Mary's in New Britain, CT and sang with the professional chorus, CONCORA.

In 1987 Thomas' work underwent a major transition. He began tutelage in portraiture with Richard Whitney, a former pupil of R.H. Ives Gammell and exponent of the Boston School of visual impressionism. Color became a much stronger focus for Thomas and his subject matter expanded beyond urban scenes to portraiture and figurative work as well.

In 1992 he moved to San Francisco, began exhibiting his figurative work and started securing his position as an exceptional portrait artist. His musical interest did not wane. He sang in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus with whom he shared a Grammy for their recording of the Brahm's Requiem. In 1995 he began a series of paintings titled: American Icons - a personal vision of everyday objects which accent our culture. While exhibiting on both coasts, Mr. Colletta continues to paint in his San Francisco studio. His work advances as an idealized realism, seeking universal truths through a singular journey.