In this interview, Vincent Desiderio, a multifaceted artist known for both his paintings and teaching, dives deep into the essence of what it means to be an artist today. Across an engaging hour, he shares insights that blur the lines between the intellectual and the instinctual aspects of creating art, offering a refreshing take on traditional painting, education, and the role of art in society.
Vincent Desiderio's candid conversation offers a compelling view of his art philosophy, blending a critical eye with a passion for the genuine and tangible aspects of painting and teaching.
- Who's Vincent Straight from Philly to the Big Apple, Vincent wears many hats: painter, teacher, family man. Teaching at the New York Academy and showing his work around, especially at Marlborough Gallery in New York, he's all about living and breathing art.
- The Art Vibe Vincent challenges the traditional vs. modern art debate, claiming that true art transcends these labels, reaching a different consciousness level only accessible through the act of painting itself.
- Education Rant He's not holding back on the current art education scene. For Vincent, it's not just about teaching skills; it's about awakening the mind. He calls for a shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to nurturing individual artistic voices.
- Politics Meets Paint Desiderio takes a jab at art that wears its politics on its sleeve. He believes art inherently carries political weight but argues for subtlety and depth rather than blunt messages.
- Technique on the Edge Forget about mere skills; for Vincent, the magic is in the technique - that delicate dance on the tightrope of creativity where one wrong step could mean disaster. Yet, it's this very danger that breathes life into art.
- Material Matters In a world obsessed with digital sheen, Vincent advocates for the gritty, tangible reality of paint on canvas. He's all for embracing the physical messiness that comes with creating something real.
- Timeless Art in a Tech World Vincent doesn't shy away from technology but insists that traditional painting still holds a unique power to convey complex human experiences that tech simply can't replicate.
- All You Need is Love Ending on a high note, Vincent reflects on how love fuels his creative process. It's this profound connection, whether with family or his students, that infuses his work with genuine emotion and depth.
Who is Vincent Desiderio?
Vincent Desiderio has a solid knowledge of two different matters: concept and technique. They usually operate in completely different ways, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but Desiderio has the superpower of merging thought and painting to such an extent that you would say they are the same thing.
It’s not necessary to explain all his merits here, if you are reading this it’s because you already know that he is one of the great artists of our time. And, lucky us, he is an open guy with a remarkable vocation as an instructor.
However, in no way should you should take him for a usual teacher. It would be fairer to talk about him as a mentor, rather than as a teacher. He is an artist who talks about his experience from the field, not from a topic written by a bureaucrat just to fill a file. His intention is light years away from pretending to teach you.
You see, Vincent Desiderio wants to renew the pedagogical agenda of art –especially painting– in order to endow it with a purpose that goes beyond the mere acquisition of skills. His ambition is that you can express yourself with your own voice, and prevent yourself from the siren songs you will hear on your trip.
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