L.F. Tantillo Fine Art - Len Tantillo Biography

Len Tantillo (b. 1946 - ) is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Tantillo is a licensed architect who left the field of architecture in 1986, to pursue a career in the fine art of historical and marine painting. Since that time, his work has appeared internationally in exhibitions, publications and film documentaries. He is the author of four books, and the recipient of two honorary degrees. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. His work is included in the collections of the Fenimore Art Museum, the Minnesota Museum of Marine Art, numerous historical societies, and corporate and private collections in the USA and abroad. In 2004 he was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a painting depicting the Daniel Winne house as it may have appeared in 1755. He has produced over 300 paintings and drawings of New York State history. In 2016 he was elected a Fellow of the New York Academy of History.

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Chronological Biography

1946	•	Born Poughkeepsie, New York
1969	•	Bachelor of Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design
1970	•	Architectural Practice, 1970 - 1976
1976	•	Commercial and Architectural Illustration, 1976 –1984
1992	•	Inpakken en ... Avro Films, Hilversum, The Netherlands, Television documentary
1994	•	“Democratic Vistas: 150 Years of American Art from Regional Collections,” Exhibition at the University Art Museum, State University of Albany, New York
1995	•	Joined the American Society of Marine Artists
1995	•	“River to Canton” PBS/WMHT, Television documentary
1996	•	Presented a master plan to construct a canal from the Hudson River into the city of Albany, New York, one mile in length along the path of Broadway. The city then commissioned Tantillo to follow up with an engineering evaluation of his design.
1996	•	“Visions of New York State - The Historical Paintings of L. F. Tantillo,” An exhibition of 48 paintings and numerous drawings. University Art Museum, State University of Albany, New York
1996	•	“Visions of New York State - The Historical Art of L. F. Tantillo,” Exhibition catalog. Shawangunk Press 138 p. (hard and soft cover)
1997	•	“Before New England: The Dutch and Native Americans in the Connecticut River Valley 1609-1650,” Exhibition at the Connecticut River Museum, Essex, Connecticut
1998	•	“The Sloop Experiment Leads the Hudson Out Into the Wider World,” Sea History Magazine, Winter 1998-99
1999	•	Award of Excellence, 20th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport
1999	•	“The Hudson River in the Age of Sail,” Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, New York – exhibitor and curator
1999	•	20th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport
1999	•	“The Natural Corridor: New York’s Transportation History,” Mountain View Productions, Television documentary
1999	•	“Historic Views of the Capital District,” PBS/WMHT, Television documentary
2000	•	Rudolph J. Schaefer Maritime Heritage Award, 21st Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport
2000	•	21st Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport
2001	•	22nd Annual International Marine Art Exhibition, Mystic Seaport,
2001	•	12th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists, Dennis, Massachusetts, and Wilmington, Delaware
2001	•	“Envisioning the Past with Len Tantillo,” New York State Archives Magazine, Fall 2001
2002	•	Honorary Degree, Doctor of Public Service, Russell Sage College, “In recognition of the vision you have shared with us through your paintings.”
2003	•	The Sage Colleges, 2003 – 2008, Elected Trustee
2004	•	Elected Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists
2004	•	Alice P. Kenney Award, presented by the New Netherland Institute
2004	•	13th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists, Vero Beach, Florida 2004. Award Winner: “Winter Solstice,” Lake George, New York
2004	•	“Hudson River Journeys,” WMHT Productions, PBS Television documentary featuring the work of L. F. Tantillo and the music and commentary of Pete Seeger
2005	•	Elected to the Board of Directors, American Society of Marine Artists
2007	•	New York State Conservationist Magazine, February 2007, Cover Story, “Visions of New York State”
2007	•	Commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a painting depicting the Daniel Winne house as it may have appeared in 1750.
2008	•	Gold Medal of Excellence for Fine Art, presented by the Holland Society of New York
2008	•	Commissioned by the Steinway Piano Company to design an artcase concert grand piano commemorating the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson to the New World. The piano was designated HH400.
2008	•	14th National Exhibition, American Society of Marine Artists, Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware
2009	•	“Hollanders and the Hudson: The paintings of L. F. Tantillo,” Westfries Museum, Hoorn, The Netherlands, Exhibition of 50 works
2009	•	Commissioned by New York Governor David Paterson to create a painting for the Dutch Royal family celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage. The painting was presented to Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima upon their visit to New York.
2009	•	“Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The Worlds of Henry Hudson,” Museum of the City of New York, April 14 – September 27, 2009
2009	•	New York State Conservationist Quadricentennial Commemorative Issue, August 2009, “Painting the Past, The Art of L. F. Tantillo,” feature article
2009	•	Elsevier (Dutch Magazine) Speciale Editie, “Van de wal naar Wallstreet,” Annual Edition 2009
2010	•	National Geographic Society’s Education website licenses Tantillo paintings. This venue provides resources to educators and learners worldwide.
2010	•	“1608” Exhibition, New York State Museum, July 3, 2009 – March 7, 2010
2011	•	“The Edge of New Netherland,” an illustrated history of the colonial settlement of the Delaware River, L. F. Tantillo, Fine Art, 95 pages
2011	•	“Hudson River Panorama, 400 Years of History and Art,” Albany Institute of History and Art, March 6, 2009 – January 2, 2011
2011	•	Guest speaker at the Teaching American History seminar for New York City primary and secondary school teachers at the Museum of Natural History
2012	•	Guest speaker Philadelphia Athenaeum
2012	•	Research and development of drawings and digital models for the National Parks Service, Saratoga Battlefield
2013	•	15th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists
2014	•	“East River, Manhattan, 1655” 20 x 30 inch, oil on canvas, purchased by Fenimore Art Museum
2015	•	New York State Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Sites commission to paint the settlement of Wiltwyck in 1695
2016	•	Elected Fellow of the New York Academy of History
2016	•	Moderator and Presenter at the first National Marine Art Conference, Williamsburg, Virginia