Christopher Castelli
Growing up in New York’s Greenwich Village, my earliest recollections involve my fledging artistic activities in school and at home. My formal art training began at Queens College (CUNY) where I was inspired and influenced by the great expressionist painter, Charles Cajori. He encouraged me to apply to Cooper Union, where I completed my BFA degree in 1970. A few years after graduation, fellow Cooper Union alum Christine Brenner and I moved to rural Connecticut to begin a life of painting.
The flood plain along the Connecticut River has been a frequent subject of my landscapes, and for many years I have painted in the olive groves of central Italy. More recently, my landscapes incorporate views of southern Vermont.
My early training with Charles Cajori was based on still life compositions and they continue to be an integral part of my work.