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Arts & Entertainment

Robert Verdi's New Work Draws Rave Reviews

Art crowd flocks to Westhampton Free Library to view Verdi's latest work.

Friends and fans of acclaimed artist Robert Verdi flocked to the Westhampton Free Library for a reception for the artist's new work on Dec.3. It was his first solo show in three years.

Hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter and Diana Oliver Steinberg, the reception created great excitement among Verdi's collectors and supporters.  

Longtime followers of Verdi's work said they were thrilled to see the new direction he has taken, moving further into abstract expressionism.

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Verdi's signature "Barn" paintings have long been popular with East End art collectors, but his latest works, which are fresh and vibrant splashes of color, have garnered him new admirers.

John Wegorzewski, of Alchimia Marketing, who first viewed Verdi's work several years ago at Bravura Art Gallery in Southampton said, "It is always fascinating and in this case exhilarating to see an artist move into another form of expression. I have always been attracted to Verdi's work but his new works are even more impressive. He is an amazingly gifted artist." 

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Verdi stopped painting after the death of his wife, Norma Reynolds several years ago. Then, last  year, he once again picked up his brushes.

"I tried my hand on a new expression of pain on canvas with abstract expressionism," said Verdi. 

A resident of Quogue, Verdi paints with acrylic on canvas. He says he obtains tonal depth, texture and profound color saturation with the often blunt and lifeless medium.

Verdi says he has an innate sense of place and volume; of how a building "sits" on a site and how the sky and ground delimit and enhance his paintings of barns.

His paintings have the power to stay in the mind's eye long after viewing them. Last year, Barn Series earned him acclaims with Long Island Pulse on their Annual Artist VIP List.

Verdi was thrilled with the reaction of his latest works: "The guests that came to my opening appreciated seeing my new works and encouraged me to go on and do more." 

Over 150 guests attended the event, including library trustees and fellow artists Andrew Hart Adler, Joseph Stella, Barbara Marino, Don Duga, Justine Di'Anni and Daniel Pollera.

 

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