ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
"Ars Longa, Vita Brevis"

 

WELCOME 

 

This is a page dedicated to the works of my father, Stephen v. Grillo. A page where art is living and breathing. A place to celebrate art, engage with others, and inspire creativity. My father always said "no one wakes you up in the morning and says - get up! go be creative! It's something that burns within you." My hope is that his work continues to ignite. 

The page will be updated with new works from the collection. 

​​​​

ABOUT THE ARTIST

​

Stephen V. Grillo was born and raised in Providence, RI. Stephen's love and passion for art was evident from a young age winning one of only two statewide scholarships to RISD’s afterschool studies program in figurative drawing which he attended 7th through 12th grade. This experience led him on a path to a Bachelors of Arts at Providence College, and a full scholarship to Boston University where he was awarded his MFA in Fine Arts in 1971. He attended Berklee School of Music and Boston Conservatory playing clarinet and alto saxophone and was proud to play in the Rhode Island National Guard 88th Army Band.

​

In 1972, Stephen and his wife, writer and playwright Jean Bergantini Grillo, moved to New York City, establishing careers in the arts. They moved into a loft in little known "Tribeca" and the family remains to this day. Stephen was a Professor and Artist-in-Residence nationwide including at Brandeis University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Westminster College. He was the Art Director of the Westchester Music and Arts Camp, an English and Social Studies teacher at Mount St. Charles Academy, and maintained a 30+ year career as a Graphic Artist and Lead Print Estimator at design houses around New York City.

​​​

Stephen’s art career was lifelong as he was painting and drawing in his studio just months before his passing in May of 2024. A favorite saying of his, “Ars longa, vita brevis” - art is long, life is short. He lived a wonderful life, and his memory will live on in his work and his family who adored him.

​

Stephen was a member of the Artist's Choice Museum, both participating in and curating several shows. He was the Editor of The ACM, the museum’s monthly journal, featuring articles by Mr. Grillo and others. 

 

Stephen’s art has been in many curated and group shows as well as one man exhibits:​

• The Terry Dintenfass Gallery

• The Sherry French Gallery

• The Bowery Gallery

• The Queens Museum

• The James Joyce Finnegan’s Wake Society

• Colby College

• Providence College

• The Butler Institute of American Art

• Westminster College

​​​

His art hangs in private and public collections worldwide.

​

​

​

Please reach out to us via the contact page for any information