Born in 1956, George Gallo moved from Mamaroneck, New York to Los Angeles in 1982. He paints richly textured landscapes in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists. His talent won him the coveted Arts For The Parks Award in 1990. He has also held three one-man exhibitions in New York City.

In addition to his reputation as a painter, Gallo is well known for his screenwriting, having produced scripts for films such as "Midnight Run", "Wise Guys" and "Bad Boys". One of his most recent films, "Local Color" was recognized by the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

"Eventually, I came to understand that all of the arts are intertwined. That composition in painting is the same as structure in storytelling; that characters are the same as colors; that colors are the same as chords in music." GG

George Gallo was born in Port Chester, New York in 1956. He began painting at an early age and was especially attracted to landscapes as a way to express himself. He studied landscape painting with internationally renowned artist George Cherepov (1909-1987) in Connecticut for three years. Once he became a prominent artist himself, Gallo has taught landscape painting four years in a row for American Artist’s Weekend with the Masters.

Besides being a fruitful landscape painter, Gallo is also a noted screenwriter and film director. His movies include Midnight Run, Bad Boys, 29th Street, and Middle Men.

In 2006 Gallo wrote and directed the film, Local Color, a semi-autobiographical story of his early years as a representational artist in New York and Pennsylvania striving to fit into the contemporary art scene.

George Gallo has painted since childhood. When he was only three years old, he showed his mother a rendering of a rescue helicopter pulling survivors from a plane crash at sea. She didn't believe that he had done it, so she asked him to do another. She was amazed when he did. He continued to surprise adults with his talent, winning "Class Artist Award" from his elementary school art teacher, who complimented him on his "perfect sense of perspective."

He became enamored with landscape paintings when he first saw a print by Robert Wood. Later, he was able to see more inspiring paintings when he discovered the Donald Art Company in the building next door to his junior high. This company made prints from the works of both historic and modern painters. Gallo befriended the owners and was able to spend countless afternoons inside, studying the masters.

After high school, he began taking trips into New York City to further his art education. He was inspired by the work of the Pennsylvania impressionists, especially Edward Redfield. Gallo began painting with his friend, George Cherepov. Together, they took trips to Smuggler's Notch and Mount Mansfield, armed with their sketch boxes.

Gallo shied away from painting for nearly eight years, when he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his screenwriting and directing career. After the success of his screenplay, Midnight Run, he picked up his brushes again. He was given a one-man show in New York. After directing 29th Street in 1991, he began to feel a change in the movie business. He felt it got increasingly corporate. Gallo's view of writing and directing at the time changed and became a financial means to an end. He felt the only way to express himself unhampered appeared to be painting.

Friends Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman, David Permut, Michael Negrin, Robert Ziembicki, and Malcom Campbell came to his aid after reading his script for Local Color. Gallo's wife and lifelong friend James Evangelatos helped to finance the film. Finally, he felt he could make a film without any restrictions, and he remembered why he wanted to make movies in the first place. He was able to live his dream.

Says Gallo, "Eventually, I came to understand that all of the arts are intertwined. That composition in painting is the same as structure in storytelling; that characters are the same as colors; that colors are the same as chords in music."

George Gallo was born in 1956 in Port Chester, New York. An art major at Manhattan Ville College, he also studied drawing and painting at the State University of New York (SUNY), Purchase, New York. While at SUNY, he caught the eye of a guest lecturer, George Cherepov, a Grand Central Galleries artist.

After a year of private study under Cherepov, he traveled along the Eastern seaboard, painting on his own. Gallo believes the greatest movement in American Art was the birth of Pennsylvania Impressionism. A contemplative soul, Gallo is passionate about carrying on this important genre.

Gallo's style is organic. His paintings are intended to evoke a celebratory feeling and the fleeting existence of life and nature.

A native of the East Coast, Gallo is currently living and working in Los Angeles, California. An established screenwriter and director, he has written numerous screenplays for major motion pictures including Wise Guys, Midnight Run and The Whole Ten Yards.

Gallo continues to capture the beauty and grandeur of the Pennsylvania Impressionist tradition. He paints alla prima and he has mastered this technique after many years of intense study.


Written and submitted by Dr. Richard Densmore, Curator, "The American Collection" DelVal Fine Art Consortium and Newman Gallery, Philadelphia. The artist, George Gallo, is the source of the information.