Philadelphia artist Carlo Russo paints landscapes and figurative work, but his emphasis is on still life.
Russo is one of those still life painters who manages to convey a feeling of stopped time in his paintings, a sensation of quiet focus and contemplative stillness. His portrayals of rough textured crockery, weathered wood, and tarnished copper pots bring to mind the textural marvels of Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin.
Though his still life subjects also include such staples as fruit and flowers, Russo is more likely to choose pumpkins or gourds, objects that are rich with texture. In his recent work, he is also experimenting with other textural challenges, painting difficult objects like feather dusters and sheepskin.
Russo studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He teaches classes at the Woodmere Art Museum and occasionally takes on students in his studio. His South Philadelphia studio will be on the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours event on October 2-3 of this year.
Russo currently the subject of a one man show at the F.A.N. Gallery here in Philadelphia, that ends this Saturday on September 25th, 2010.