ART Biography
Albert was very artistic as a child, drawing on the back his fathers drafting table at the age of three. Albert's father was a tool maker and a draftsman and gave his young son graph paper to draw on has proved to be his first major influence on how Albert would perceive art in his later years.
In grade school he drew cars, spaceships, and hot rods and he enjoyed doing Big Daddy Roth characters on T Shirts for his friends.
In 1969 he took his first art class at Lafayette High in Lexington, Kentucky. His final project was 2 portraits in chalk, one of himself and one of his girlfriend for which he received an A.
in 1969 and the early 70's Albert was introduced to the work of Salvadore Dali, E.C.Escher, Victor Vasarely, Pollock, Miro, and Rauschenberg.
In 1971 Albert started working for John B. Warner, a well known interior decorator and display director for The Mercantile chain which included McAlphin's in Lexington. Albert was introduced to the famous portrait artist, Ralph Cowan, who also lived in Lexington and became friends.
Working under John in the display department, Albert learned how to work with compositions to get a balance of movement and energy.
He also learned expert vital painting and taping technics to attain perfect graphic forms and murals with the use of latex paints.
In 1971 Albert painted his first series of six paintings, acrylic on canvass. The first series was very basic geometric forms. His second series of paintings in 1972 was more complex, being inspired mainly by Victor Vaserely's work. bincluded his first geometric patters and a master optical design which would be redeveloped through out his career.
He started painting layers of patterns creating kinetic optical forms.
His keen sense of colored squares as backgrounds with additional graphic forms overlaid to create multiple dimensions.
In 1973 Albert spent the summer in Cincinatti, Ohio where he made an art studio in the attic apartment of an old house near Eden Park. It was a very festive part of town which featured the spirit of the new modern art movement. Music and the arts flourished and that time.
There he spent 6 months studying art history and taking in the scean.
He studied healing and regeneration through color and music which was reflected in his paintings.
In 1973, after a weekend visit to Manhattan over Haloween, Albert decided to move to New York City. There, in one of the art centers of the world, his art influece and education would continue.
1974 Al's first art loft was on Gansevort Street in the meat packing area,
He did his forth series of 18 paintings in acrylic and shared the loft other artist.
In New York Albert met and befriended some of the greatest artist of the day including Salvador Dali, Larry Rivers, Richard Bernstein, Andy Warhol, and Peter Max.
Micky Ruskin, owner of the legendary Max's Kansas City on Park Avenue bought several of Albert's paintings. Micky would pay the artist by issuing credit for food and drinks at the restaurant and accumilated a huge art collection which was auctioned off after his death.
Al be-friended Andy Warhol, Rolling Stone editor Stuart Werbin, Steve Gaines, Ara Gallant, Appolonia Van Ravenstein, Tinkerbell, Betsy Johnson, Richard Bernstein, Halston, Elsa Peretti, and many other celebrities passing through town as Max's was the "in place" to hang out in NYC.
Richard did the covers for Warhol's Interveiw magazine and created the famous red neon light sculpture which dominated the back room of Max's. Al eventually roomed with Dale Sexton, Max's manager, and was accepted as one of the in crowd. He became part of the family of artist and musicians who patronized Max's Kansas City.
In 1975 Albert sold a painting to James Woodward for $12,000.00 and used the money to open Blue Moon studios on West 38th street in New York City. Geraldine McConnell, heiress of Avon also bought several paintings, and Ari Kresch of Kresch and Kresch also bought a painting which hangs in their New York office at 2 Park Avenue.
Albert continued to work on his art, and play music. One day he got a call from Anitta Madden, the famous Equine social Queen , asking if I could accomidate artist Ralph Cowan so he could come to New York and network. Al agreed and so he came up and stayed at Blue Moon Studios, Al's loft on 38th street. In New York Ralph was able to make connections which contributed to his immense success as a portrait painter. He stayed at Albert's studio for about 6 months before returning to Lexington.
Today Ralph Cowan is one of the most successful portrait painters in the world, He was the only artist commissioned to paint Elvis and that painting is currently hanging in Graceland and he did Mr.Trumps latest wedding portrait, along with many other celebrity portraits.
1983
In 1983 Albert was invited to dinner to meet Salvador Dali and they became good friends. Albert had a bond with Dali and would visit him often at his studio in The St. Regis Hotel at 53rd and Lexington. Albert's "Flying Hearts" series was directly inspired by Salvadore.
Leo Castelli met Albert and invited him to discuss reprensenting him at his
SoHo gallery, which was immense opportunity, however Albert had just planned his trip to Germany to record and show his art work. Unfortunatly Mr. Castelli past away before Albert could reunite with him in to take him up on his offer.
In Germany Albert participated in Berlin's 750th year anniversary which was celebrated for a whole year. He mainly stayerd in Berlin and Munich he also visited and showed in Frankfurt, Hamberg. The first of the Flying Heart series, "Two Flying Hearts leave the city " was bought by the city of Berlin.
1990-1999
Had moved to South Florida and was best in show at many city exhibitions including a major showing at the Museum of Modern Art in Ft. Lauderdale.
2000-03
Albert moved to Atlanta for two years where he performed regularly in 5 star restaurants and painted several new paintings.
2004
Albert moved to Austin Texas to pursue his musical career, yet he continued to paint and did three paintings while in Austin which can be seen
on the "paintings" page here on this site along with a few other paintings that he painted in Atlanta.
2011
Today Albert has accumilated 20 painings in his personal collection. Two of which were sold in the 70's and willed back to him after the owners died. He is now focusing on showing his originals and hopes to get his own coffee table art book published. Meanwhile the paintings are displayed on Facebook and here on this web site and Albert is offering prints on canvass at a fraction of the cost of an original.
In the last few years Albert's noteriety has been growing and he his considered by many of his fans to be one of the greatest artist of our time, reflecting 50 years of modern art in his work.
Through the years Albert has studied metaphysics and today teaches higher spiritual awareness and physical cosmic realities which has definitly been a strong influence in his work.
In grade school he drew cars, spaceships, and hot rods and he enjoyed doing Big Daddy Roth characters on T Shirts for his friends.
In 1969 he took his first art class at Lafayette High in Lexington, Kentucky. His final project was 2 portraits in chalk, one of himself and one of his girlfriend for which he received an A.
in 1969 and the early 70's Albert was introduced to the work of Salvadore Dali, E.C.Escher, Victor Vasarely, Pollock, Miro, and Rauschenberg.
In 1971 Albert started working for John B. Warner, a well known interior decorator and display director for The Mercantile chain which included McAlphin's in Lexington. Albert was introduced to the famous portrait artist, Ralph Cowan, who also lived in Lexington and became friends.
Working under John in the display department, Albert learned how to work with compositions to get a balance of movement and energy.
He also learned expert vital painting and taping technics to attain perfect graphic forms and murals with the use of latex paints.
In 1971 Albert painted his first series of six paintings, acrylic on canvass. The first series was very basic geometric forms. His second series of paintings in 1972 was more complex, being inspired mainly by Victor Vaserely's work. bincluded his first geometric patters and a master optical design which would be redeveloped through out his career.
He started painting layers of patterns creating kinetic optical forms.
His keen sense of colored squares as backgrounds with additional graphic forms overlaid to create multiple dimensions.
In 1973 Albert spent the summer in Cincinatti, Ohio where he made an art studio in the attic apartment of an old house near Eden Park. It was a very festive part of town which featured the spirit of the new modern art movement. Music and the arts flourished and that time.
There he spent 6 months studying art history and taking in the scean.
He studied healing and regeneration through color and music which was reflected in his paintings.
In 1973, after a weekend visit to Manhattan over Haloween, Albert decided to move to New York City. There, in one of the art centers of the world, his art influece and education would continue.
1974 Al's first art loft was on Gansevort Street in the meat packing area,
He did his forth series of 18 paintings in acrylic and shared the loft other artist.
In New York Albert met and befriended some of the greatest artist of the day including Salvador Dali, Larry Rivers, Richard Bernstein, Andy Warhol, and Peter Max.
Micky Ruskin, owner of the legendary Max's Kansas City on Park Avenue bought several of Albert's paintings. Micky would pay the artist by issuing credit for food and drinks at the restaurant and accumilated a huge art collection which was auctioned off after his death.
Al be-friended Andy Warhol, Rolling Stone editor Stuart Werbin, Steve Gaines, Ara Gallant, Appolonia Van Ravenstein, Tinkerbell, Betsy Johnson, Richard Bernstein, Halston, Elsa Peretti, and many other celebrities passing through town as Max's was the "in place" to hang out in NYC.
Richard did the covers for Warhol's Interveiw magazine and created the famous red neon light sculpture which dominated the back room of Max's. Al eventually roomed with Dale Sexton, Max's manager, and was accepted as one of the in crowd. He became part of the family of artist and musicians who patronized Max's Kansas City.
In 1975 Albert sold a painting to James Woodward for $12,000.00 and used the money to open Blue Moon studios on West 38th street in New York City. Geraldine McConnell, heiress of Avon also bought several paintings, and Ari Kresch of Kresch and Kresch also bought a painting which hangs in their New York office at 2 Park Avenue.
Albert continued to work on his art, and play music. One day he got a call from Anitta Madden, the famous Equine social Queen , asking if I could accomidate artist Ralph Cowan so he could come to New York and network. Al agreed and so he came up and stayed at Blue Moon Studios, Al's loft on 38th street. In New York Ralph was able to make connections which contributed to his immense success as a portrait painter. He stayed at Albert's studio for about 6 months before returning to Lexington.
Today Ralph Cowan is one of the most successful portrait painters in the world, He was the only artist commissioned to paint Elvis and that painting is currently hanging in Graceland and he did Mr.Trumps latest wedding portrait, along with many other celebrity portraits.
1983
In 1983 Albert was invited to dinner to meet Salvador Dali and they became good friends. Albert had a bond with Dali and would visit him often at his studio in The St. Regis Hotel at 53rd and Lexington. Albert's "Flying Hearts" series was directly inspired by Salvadore.
Leo Castelli met Albert and invited him to discuss reprensenting him at his
SoHo gallery, which was immense opportunity, however Albert had just planned his trip to Germany to record and show his art work. Unfortunatly Mr. Castelli past away before Albert could reunite with him in to take him up on his offer.
In Germany Albert participated in Berlin's 750th year anniversary which was celebrated for a whole year. He mainly stayerd in Berlin and Munich he also visited and showed in Frankfurt, Hamberg. The first of the Flying Heart series, "Two Flying Hearts leave the city " was bought by the city of Berlin.
1990-1999
Had moved to South Florida and was best in show at many city exhibitions including a major showing at the Museum of Modern Art in Ft. Lauderdale.
2000-03
Albert moved to Atlanta for two years where he performed regularly in 5 star restaurants and painted several new paintings.
2004
Albert moved to Austin Texas to pursue his musical career, yet he continued to paint and did three paintings while in Austin which can be seen
on the "paintings" page here on this site along with a few other paintings that he painted in Atlanta.
2011
Today Albert has accumilated 20 painings in his personal collection. Two of which were sold in the 70's and willed back to him after the owners died. He is now focusing on showing his originals and hopes to get his own coffee table art book published. Meanwhile the paintings are displayed on Facebook and here on this web site and Albert is offering prints on canvass at a fraction of the cost of an original.
In the last few years Albert's noteriety has been growing and he his considered by many of his fans to be one of the greatest artist of our time, reflecting 50 years of modern art in his work.
Through the years Albert has studied metaphysics and today teaches higher spiritual awareness and physical cosmic realities which has definitly been a strong influence in his work.
