Patrick Christiano (1951-2020) American, Mixed Media New York Scene. Title written in pencil bottom left: "Empire State." Uncanny image of the famous Art Deco skyscraper surrounded by other buildings, made using photo transfer, ink, water, and other elements. Signed in pencil bottom right. 

Overall Size: 15 1/4 x 12 1/4 in. 

Sight Size: 8 x 8 in. 

Patrick Christiano was born in the Bronx on May 29th, 1951. A lifelong resident of New York, he discovered an early talent for art and poetry, and eventually developed a unique process of transferring photographed images onto canvas or board and then adding ink and water to create dreamy, ethereal, abstract mixed media scenes with a realistic undercurrent. Bristling at the art establishment in Manhattan and the gallery scene, he began selling and creating his art on the streets in the 1970s and 80s, and was a vocal opponent of the attempts by city officials to curtail street vendors from plying the wares. He donated time and money to A.R.T.I.S.T., a free speech advocacy group that also supported him when he sued the parks department over their plans to issue permits by lottery for art vendors in 1999. Tragically, he was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioma brain tumor in 2019 after his left arm went numb, and died less than a year later at his home in Queens on April 4th, 2020. His innovative works are still sought by collectors of New York street art, with his pieces found in many public and private collections along the East Coast.

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