T.R. Colletta Art

T.R. Colletta (Born 1952) was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in the Town of Tonawanda which is nearby. He was born to German/American mother, whose ancestors entered the U.S. in the 1800's. His father was American/Italian, who entered the United States in 1921 through Ellis Island at the age of six. Colletta received his first set of oil paints while he was in the 8th grade. When he joined High School, he studied piano, took classes in music theory and composition, and played French horn in the orchestra and school band. And when he joined the State University of New York College, he entered a history major but graduated cum laude with a Bsc. degree in Graphic Design. His years at the university were also filled with lessons in bagpipes and classical pipe organ. In 1971, the First Presbyterian Church in the City of Tonawanda, New York gave him a position as an organist which he accepted. After his graduation, he worked as an assistant Dr. Edna Lindemann. Later on, he was appointed as the Technical Director for the Charles Burchfield Center. His duties included the design of promotional material, brochures and exhibits. In 1975, the Longin Studio in Niagara Falls, NY, hired him to work for them as a professional photographer. Colletta’s love for architecture and art prompted several trip s to Europe, where he experienced the Western history of art in person. In 1978 he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he devoted himself to painting full time. Today, framed T.R. Colletta art adorn the walls of many buildings around the world.