Ray Ciarrocchi

Lawrence Campbell, writing in ARTnews magazine about one of Ciarrocchi's exhibitions stated, "Ciarrocchi improvises brilliantly on natural textures---the foliage of trees, clouds and flower-bespattered meadows. Continually, the Natural edges into the Symbolist, shifting between the seen and the unseen." Richard Waller, in his catalog essay for "Ray Ciarrocchi: Landscapes 1978-91," at University of Richmond Museums, writes: " Ciarrocchi’s landscapes are more about the exquisite moment of being in that place. His landscapes are at once aesthetic and metaphysical, achieving a unity of viewing nature with the transcendent power of that experience."

Ciarrocchi's first one-person exhibition was with the Tibor DeNagy Gallery during 1971. This was followed by seven additional exhibitions at the same gallery, the last taking place in 1985. Other exhibitions were with Fischbach Gallery, 1987 and 1989 and with Rich Perlow Gallery during 1993 and 1996. Ciarrocchi continues to exhibit both nationally and abroad. An exhibition entitled "Seeking the Darkness and the Light: Drawings of Italy," was held at the University of Richmond, Virginia in February 2015.

A Fulbright Grant during 1963-64 made possible a year’s study and independent work in Florence, Italy. Seeing first-hand the work of artists Piero della Francesca and the Venetians Giorgione and Veronese, strongly influenced Ciarrocchi’s visual thinking. Living in Fiesole, above Florence, he began to draw and paint from nature, stressing the abstract figuration of the natural forms. The warm bright quality of the Italian light became a standard component of his work that continues in his current paintings.

Moving to New York City during 1961, Ciarrocchi continued painting as an abstract expressionist, influenced by DeKooning’s black and white period. He became acquainted with several of the painters who were associated with the Howard Wise Gallery including Edward Dugmore and Ernest Briggs.

Ray Ciarrocchi, the son of Italian immigrants from Tuscany and Le Marche, was born Ramon William Ciarrocchi in Chicago, IL on August 23, 1933. As a child he enjoyed drawing and during high school attended classes at the Art Institute of Chicago where he was influenced by the French Impressionists works that form a significant part of the museum's collection. After high school he enrolled and studied for two years at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts with the idea that he might eventually work as an illustrator. Military service kept him from completing his studies but brought valuable experience as Ciarrocchi was assigned to three years duty in Tokyo, Japan as an illustrator. In Tokyo he was fortunate to meet and become friends with the writer Oliver Statler, who introduced him to Isamu Noguchi and the British ceramist Bernard Leach. Studying Zen painting and attending performances and sketching at the Kabuki Theatre with its splendid color were influential in Ciarrocchi's decision to become a painter.