James Rizzi

James Rizzi's paintings are a declaration of love for New York, the city where he was born in 1950 and which inspired him time and again. He lived and worked in his studio loft in New York's SoHo district until his death on 26 December 2011.

Rizzi never wanted to paint ‘just beautiful’ pictures – he wanted to show joie de vivre, radiate optimism and make visible a world full of people, houses, birds, cars and love. His pictures tell stories, make us smile and remind us that art can be light-hearted without being superficial.

His inspiration? Clearly, life itself. The streets of New York, the faces of passers-by, the sounds of everyday life. But behind the seemingly naive approach lies a highly professional one. Screen prints are made based on his models, with one sheet serving as the background and the second creating the 3D effect. Since no two objects can be cut out exactly the same, each print is unique in a sense.