Vallarino Fine Art, New York. Image courtesy of Vallarino Fine Art.

Vincent Vallarino, one of New York’s leading paintings dealers, is fiercely committed to maintaining a gallery that is exceptionally efficient and attentive to its clients. A dealer of nineteenth- and twentieth-century American and European art for nearly forty years, Vallarino owns every piece in his inventory – a rare feat for a dealer who runs a public gallery. The advantage is that Vallarino is able to cut out the lengthy back-and-forth that often bogs down the sourcing process for collectors, art advisors, art consultants, interior designers, architects, corporate consultants, and other galleries. “Things move at an incredible speed these days,” says Vallarino. “We do the proper work for [our clients] and when you make it easy for them to deal with you on these levels it makes for a more robust learning experience and keeps their interest sparked.”

Vallarino Fine Art, New York. Image courtesy of Vallarino Fine Art.

In an effort to create an even more engaging client experience, Vallarino has moved his gallery, Vallarino Fine Art, to a beautiful, light-filled duplex just off of Park Avenue. The 2,800-square-foot space at 113 East 60th Street presents works in situ, allowing collectors to visualize pieces by such luminaries as Robert Motherwell, Harry Bertoia, and Helen Frankenthaler in their own homes. Vallarino says, “One of the most important aspects of one’s environment, what it all comes down to, is the art. It’s the thing that enhances and sets the tone of your living space. You walk into the new gallery, which is very modern—full of period furniture and fabulous midcentury art—and go this is what I want my home to look like. When you see a painting over a sofa or behind a desk rather than on a gallery wall with other things all around it, it becomes more real. I feel as though this is where things are going. The art world is changing so dramatically and if one doesn’t continue to reinvent themselves one is basically out of luck.”

Vallarino Fine Art, New York. Image courtesy of Vallarino Fine Art.

In addition to the new gallery, Vallarino Fine Art has added a division dedicated to contemporary art. Helmed by Vallarino’s son, Ethan, VFA Contemporary includes artworks that serve as a link between the past and the present. Vallarino says, “Many steps have been skipped in contemporary art these days. What grabs me are people who know art history and take bits and pieces of it and add their own [touches] to develop a unique style.” The gallery’s recent contemporary acquisitions are illustrated in a new sixty-page catalogue titled Past / Present / Future. According to the catalogue’s introductory essay by Ethan Vallarino, “Our collection seeks to represent those who are consummate craftsmen following an intuitive flow in an uninterrupted manner, all taking the necessary steps that will enable their work to have a place in the future, not just a trend of the present.” Artists featured in the contemporary catalogue include George Condo, Marilyn Minter, Christian Rosa, Christopher Wool, and Keith Haring. Past / Present / Future is offered alongside Vallarino Fine Art’s 180-page modern catalogue, entitled Abstract Addictions:/ Inventing a Reinvention. For over a decade, Vallarino Fine Art’s focus has been on the first and second generation Abstract Expressionists, specifically on the New York School of action painters – this recent acquisitions catalogue is their largest to date.

Vincent Vallarino's studio in Millbrook, New York. Image courtesy of Vallarino Fine Art.

In addition to the new gallery in New York City, Vallarino runs a studio upstate in Millbrook, New York. The 50 x 70 foot space is “like nothing you’ve ever seen,” says Vallarino. “It’s a huge loft with hundreds and hundreds of paintings and furniture. It’s very eclectic.” Vallarino’s mission is consistent at both locations – to create a space within the art world that is not about pretention, but discovery, passion, and education. Vallarino says, “This process should be fun, exciting, and full of learning.”

Vallarino Fine Art’s Manhattan location is open by appointment. Call 212.628.0722 or visit www.vallarinofineart.com for more information.

Click HERE to view Vallarino Fine Art’s Modern catalogue Abstract Addictions:/ Inventing a Reinvention.

Click HERE to view Vallarino Fine Art’s Contemporary catalogue Past / Present / Future.