ART10573

Artist Portal

Welcome to the ART10573 Artist's Portal!

ART10573 2025 Registered Artist's Bios and Examples

Michael Angelis

Born 1977 in Haverhill, MA. Graduated BFA SUNY Purchase, New York 2000 with a concentration in painting and printmaking. Studied with Antonio Frasconi, Michael Torlen, Murray Zimiles, Cassandra Hooper, Bob Berlind, Phil Listengard. Graduated with Masters of Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York in 2005. Full-time studio art teacher in a public high school in Fairfield County, CT from 2005 to present. Program of studies include Foundation, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Art History.

Michael’s work focuses on landscapes in flux, such as urban ruins or highway construction, as well as fast-food and carry-out packaging. All works are painted from direct observation or from photos taken by the artist. The artworks intend to capture images or concepts that are not typically preserved or memorialized - often the most interesting objects are those which are not intended to be presented as beautiful. The images can often be interchangeably celebration or criticism of the cultural circumstances which provide the presentation of the abandoned object or landscape. There is a deep understanding and reverence for light and shadow on forms, as well as texture -- qualities which help the viewer create a visceral understanding of the presence of the scenes or objects depicted.

July, 2024

Port Chester, NY

April Dessereau

My name is April Dessereau and am a lifelong resident of Port Chester. I decided I loved art and wanted to go into it at five (my mother always painted). I attended Port Chester High, the Corcoran School of Art for the foundation year, received a BA in Art from SUNY Oswego, a MS in Art Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a MA in Humanities from Manhattanville.

I professionally was an art teacher at Port Chester High School for thirty-eight years and taught a variety of courses including AP Art and International Baccalaureate Visual Arts which familiarized me with extensive handling of many media. I am retired and working primarily in watercolor, photography, printmaking, fibers, and drawing media.

Sam Fiorino

Sam has been doing art since he tried to copy his older brother’s drawings of ninjas and soldiers back in the mid 80’s. Evolving this interest into a career of tattooing, painting, and occasionally retail to fill the gaps, he is known for his colorful and creative character designs. Inspired by the American West and the fringes of popular culture, Sam is developing his art in a new path of kitschy western imagery under the alias Xavier Littleflower. Sam is a resident of Rye Brook with his wife, Steph, who is also an artist, and their creative son Myles.

Stephanie Fiorino

Stephanie Fiorino was an art major at Manhattanville College- her main medium being photography. She works in the Bronx in a NYC public elementary school and has been teaching visual art for 15 years. She had 4 students' work exhibited in the PS Art citywide exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of art and 8 in the Bronx Borough arts festival at Lehman College Gallery.

During the pandemic the school lost one of their assistant principals to Covid. Stephanie led a team to paint a mural in her memory that is on display in the school. During the process she found herself challenged and enjoyed painting sea animals with texture- In February 2023 Stephanie lost her mother and found having a side project this summer kept her mind busy and was a channel for healing- She chose to ask her immediate family what their favorite animals were and then challenged herself to paint them in a large-scale format with lots of attention to texture. Stephanie also enjoyed making an abstract background with Klimt like patterns and colors. She found that removing the choice of which animals to paint created an exciting challenge. The first two paintings were a Great Horned Owl for her son and a Rabbit for her husband.

Stephanie is deaf with a cochlear implant and uses ASL and English. She believes art is a universal language. She currently resides in Rye Brook with her husband Sam and her son, Myles. She has shown her work locally at Larchmont library and in Norwalk, CT at Valencia Luncheria Restaurant. She also takes commissions for pet portraits.

Nora Freeman

I have always been intrigued by attractive jewelry, but only began to make it myself in 2014, after my mother’s death. She also loved beautiful jewelry and had an eye for anything that was distinctive and striking. It feels like a way to connect with her now that she is gone. So I design and produce necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Each piece is handmade and one of a kind. Using a variety of beads including semi-precious gemstones, freshwater and faux pearls, shell, ceramic, glass, metal, wood, seeds, bone, and horn, I strive for harmony of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures.

Ear wires are nickel-free and it is my ongoing goal to maximize the amount of recycled and repurposed beads that I use.

Donna Greto

I’m Donna Greto, the creative designer of The.Beadgarden. I have taken on different approaches to create unique pieces of jewelry, with the aim of pleasing my audience. I enjoy utilizing a wide array of colors and bead textures, including glass, clay, wood, and various other materials. I am truly having so much fun on this creative adventure.

Please feel free to follow me on Instagram, where you can find me at @The.beadgarden, and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or requests you may have.

Kevin Koch

Kevin Koch, a resident of Port Chester, who works with photography. I was taught photography by my ex-wife April Desserau, a former Port Chester High School Art teacher. Photography has been my current medium of choice for the past twenty plus years. It has been a creative hobby for me and allowed me to explore nature, local museums and zoos. April encouraged me to exhibit with her this year. I teach Special Education, Regents Social Studies at the Hallen School in New Rochelle, N.Y. for the past 32 years.

Melissa Lawson

Born in Thailand, Melissa has lived throughout South Asia, the Southern United States, and now calls New York home. After attending both Parsons School of Design and graduating from The Fashion Institute of Technology, Melissa worked in the Fashion Industry as a knitwear and print designer and later became a certified Yoga instructor for children and adults.

In 2020, she founded Mindful Masterpieces with Melissa; a business dedicated to teaching young children about fine art and making it relatable to them as individuals. These classes incorporate art with guided meditation and yoga.

Melissa refers to herself as a “nature nerd” often stopping by the side of the road to photograph scenes to later paint. She considers herself lucky to live in Westchester among so much natural beauty.

Greg Maggi

Gregory Maggi is an aspiring cartoonist. Ever since grade school he would draw his favorite characters from his favorite shows and video games whenever he got the chance. His love of these characters has led him to pursue drawing comics. He graduated from The School of Visual Arts in 2013. Since then, Greg has taught in the Port Chester after school program, teaching kids how to draw and showing them how cool Godzilla is. Greg continues to learn more about art and storytelling.

Camille Meola

Camille Meola enjoyed an extensive career as a Marketing Executive with PepsiCo and, most recently, served in a dual role as the Community Liaison for the Town of Rye and Event Manager at Crawford Park Mansion until retirement in 2023.

Following her professional journey, Camille now dedicates her time to creating multi-media art. Her work spans traditional, abstract, and whimsical contemporary styles.

She skillfully combines acrylic mediums with pen and ink, further enhancing her pieces through digital techniques.

Camille’s collections are celebrated for their bold colors and modern designs. Through the fusion of various media and dynamic patterns, her art stands out for its vibrancy and originality.

Carole Nelson

Carole is a local artist and private watercolor teacher from Greenwich, CT. Her personal focus is that of transparent watercolors and she has exhibited and won awards in juried shows around the area. She has participated in Armonk, White Plains & Lyon Park outdoor shows and joined fellow artists for group shows at the Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, NJ, Pelham Manor Club, Larchmont Library and solo shows around the area. Carole studied formally at the Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, Marymount College, Tarrytown, and SUNY Purchase. She has studied with Brigitte Loritz, Shannon Kelly and Diana Faxon.

Carole fell in love with the spontaneity and surprises of this medium and has enjoyed sharing many hours with fellow artists, friends and students over the years. Her emphasis is on color and her style is impressionistic and loose. Her paintings have found homes across the country and abroad.

She is also a past faculty member of the Rye Arts Center. She helped develop the children’s weekend curriculum and taught their weekend painting and drawing classes from 2003-2007.

Patrice Pelissier

Patrice Pelissier was born in 1970 in Gonaïves, Haiti. From an early age, he exhibited a natural talent for art, often being called upon to paint designs for his school and local businesses. Growing up in a family of renowned local artists, Patrice's creative influences were shaped by those around him. He attended the National School of the Arts in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and spent many years teaching art at the School for

Young Women in Port-au-Prince.

Known for his surrealist style, Patrice finds inspiration in everyday life and uses his art to express his emotions. His work is often described as diverse, stimulating, and evocative. Early in his career, he focused primarily on portraiture, working extensively in mixed media and black-and-white formats. In recent years, he has shifted toward oil painting, with a particular focus on capturing the serene beauty of ocean scenes.

Throughout his career, Patrice has participated in numerous art exhibitions and won several awards for his work. His art can be found in private collections across the United States and Haiti. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Patrice is a self-employed art installer, curator, and professional frame designer. He currently resides and works in Westchester County, New York.

EXHIBITS

White Plains Beaux Arts Regional Competition, 1st prize winner

Solo Art Exhibit – “SPIRITUALITY” Private Home, New Rochelle

Port Chester Council of the Arts, Annual Exhibit ART10573 (Years 5, 6 and 7)

The College of New Rochelle Graduate School – Division of Professional &Fine Arts, The Untitled – Mooney Center Gallery

The Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club, Beaux Arts Exhibit – Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club, 1st prize winner

The New Rochelle Art Association’s 100th Annual Open Juried Exhibition – New Rochelle Public Library

Peter Pezzella

Photographer

I was the kid who tinkered with things. When I found something mechanical and interesting, I played with it to see how it worked. This is how my interest and career in photography developed. When I was 15, my father brought home a 35mm camera that he used for his job. I found the knobs, lens, and how it worked intriguing. I began to “play” with it on the weekends, thinking, “This is cool”.

I got hurt playing High School football and was sidelined, so I started bringing the camera with me to take photos from the sideline. And then, “IT” happened. A player saw a photograph I took of him on the field and wanted to buy it. “What?”, I can make money from this?” That was it. I sold it to him for $5.00, and that was how my lifelong career in photography began, despite my father’s concerns about becoming a “starving artist”. I went to a photography school and started my 1st job as an assistant to a fashion photographer in NYC in 1984. After a few years in fashion photography, I realized I was more interested in product photography. Since then, I found myself working in product photography, catalogs, weddings, youth sports, and school portraits, as well as school sports photography, always adjusting to the changes in the business and the economy. I was busy all the time, working hard to support my family, but I loved what I was doing! When I reached my 50s, I realized I spent years doing photography for everyone other than myself. I always enjoyed working as a photographer, but it had become just a job. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it also wasn’t fulfilling me creatively. I felt I needed more.

I began searching for what originally inspired me to become a photographer in the first place. I needed to get back to my roots, get back my “eye,” as they say. It wasn’t just about selling that first $5.00 picture. It was about creating an image that stirred up an emotion in someone, a feeling that gave me a sense of satisfaction. I love being outdoors, in nature, exploring the world around me. When I look at an object or scene and capture it with my camera, I enjoy altering it to evoke a different emotion from its reality. I look to capture not only the larger picture but also all the smaller details. Even when I don’t have a camera in my hand, I find myself looking at the world, the scene in front of me. Seeing the light and how it plays on a tree trunk, watching the clouds move. Mentally, I’m always capturing a photo in my head, and many times they do make it into my camera’s lens.

This is my life; I’m photographer Peter Pezzella. There’s a good chance this is not our first encounter. Many people may not know me by name, but have heard of my company, Memorable Moments Photography. I ran a Wedding studio in Rockland and Westchester counties for over 10 years. I also covered all the Port Chester HS yearbook portraits, sports, and all other events that appeared in the yearbooks for 10 years. I also photographed different sports leagues in the Port Chester/Rye Brook area. I retired in 2021 from school and youth sports, and now I’m able to focus on my passion for nature, travel, and abstract photography.

Paul M. Rively, Jr.

Polymath

With a breadth of work and a focus in Art Education, Paul M. Rively Jr. has been involved in the local art scene in the Port Chester area for the last few years. A graduate of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a degree in Illustration, Paul has expanded his repertoire to include sculpture and sewing, as well as continuing his painting and illustration work.

Over the years, Paul has worked as an Artist-In-Residence for the Port Chester Council For the Arts, and an Art Educator. This allowed him to help the students of Port Chester learn various art techniques, and also expand classroom subjects with projects intended to tie together lesson plans with a creative bent. His projects work hand in hand with almost every subject, from social studies to math. In conjunction with a local after-school program, “Mr. Paul” helped foster an interest in art and its various techniques with a huge population of elementary aged students.

In addition to his personal projects and working as an art educator, Paul also helps develop and execute sets for local school productions as a Scenic Designer and Painter. On occasion, he is also called on to produce various prop and costume pieces, helping him stretch his creative muscles and allowing him to transition these ideas to his own work.

With an eye that finds inspiration in almost everything, Paul’s work is as eclectic as the things that spark his interest. While many of his projects focus on the fantastic, he also produces pieces in various styles, from impressionism to realism. He allows the medium to inspire his creative vision, allowing the projects to develop their own personalities. Paul is constantly working to refine his skills and enjoys nothing more than help others find and nurture their own creative strengths.

Steven Rossi

Steven Rossi is a self-taught artist who works with pen and ink and uses the stippling method. He occasionally uses colored pencils and pens in some of his drawings, but most of his work is in black-and-white. His artwork consists of a variety of subjects including sports figures, musicians, singers, celebrities, flowers and more. A native of Port Chester, his artwork was displayed at Port Chester Village Hall to commemorate the 150th birthday of the village in 2018. He has been commissioned to create illustrations for three books and was selected by a juried panel of the Harrison Arts Council to exhibit for the month of August at the Harrison Library in 2024.

Salvador Sanchez

Salvador Sanchez is a Deaf multimedia artist, illustrator, animator, and graphic designer. He grew up and works in New York. He has a remarkable gift for art and feels affection for his paintings. His graphic design work and illustrations explore visual representations of ASL signs.

Mary Tallerico

Mary Tallerico, a lifelong Port Chester resident, learned how to paint by taking night classes for three years at Greenwich High School. Her preferred medium is acrylic because those paints are water soluble and beginner-friendly. Plus, acrylic paints achieve a similar look to oil paints, but the drying time is much faster. She learned that painting provides her pleasure and happiness and inspires her to reach new levels of skills she never knew she had. She is also a self-taught wood crafter. She purchased some tools a few years ago and began making outdoor wood planters and used her artistic skills to paint decorative flowers on them. Once she improved her craft, she started making wood crafts for holidays.

Anne Versace

Anne Versace is a lifelong art lover. She was employed as a draftsman for twenty years and dabbled in commercial art on the side. Some of her work includes designing a line of Christmas cards for a local company, calligraphing wedding invitations, and personalizing Christmas ornaments for Lord and Taylor. In addition, she studied with Gregory Lysun at Westchester Art Workshop where she developed a passion for sketching and oil painting.

Seven years ago, she began a portrait study with Ismael Checo at the Rye Arts Center where her work has been on display. At age 74, Anne believes Grandma Moses shouldn’t be the only one to kickstart a career later in life. Now in her second art show of the year, she’s proving you will only get old if you stop doing what you love.

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