Robert Forlini - Photographer
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Bio

Robert Forlini had always been afraid to leave the New York area. He believed on some primal level that if he was away for any extended period of time he would be “missing” something of great importance to photograph. So everyone who knew him was shocked to learn that he packed up his cameras and relocated his home and darkroom to Lancaster, PA. Now, in addition to his urban street photography on return trips to NYC, he has added the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania.

One of Robert’s Leica cameras is always close at hand whether he is on the road or on his deck with his family. He has been documenting his family’s evolution for over 45 years. If one looks closely through his family pictures one bears witness to birth, growth, and a human sadness that we all share. It is a sadness that gently reflects how things must change despite our belief that they stay the same if we mark occasions consistently year after year.

His continual reflection on his own family has provided a keener eye when photographing strangers. We are removed and watching from a distance yet we feel that we know them and their plight well. Whatever Robert is photographing, he is always documenting the universal human condition.

                       
                                  Born:  New York City, 1957
                                  Began Photographing 1978.

                                  SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023                            Demuth Invitational: Portraiture through Artists’ Eyes, Demuth Museum, Lancaster PA
2022                            The Streets, Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2022                            Analog Today: Film Photography in the Modern World, Downtown Arts Collective, Orlando, FL
2021                            59th Annual Community Art Exhibition, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
2020                            58th Annual Community Art Exhibition, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
2018                            When Darkness Falls, Front Street Gallery, Patterson, NY
2018                            The Winter Landscape, Chase Anderson Gallery, Goldens Bridge, NY
2017                            Call of the Wild, Chase Anderson Gallery, Goldens Bridge, NY
2017                            FAMILY, Umbrella Arts, New York, NY, Juror: Harvey Stein
2016                            Artist's Choice, Focal Point Gallery, City Island, NY
2015                            Going Places, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT
2015                            Lake Peekskill Arts Festival, Lake Peekskill, NY
2015                            To the Lover of Small Things, Gallery 22, Peekskill, NY
2014                            KIDS (Not Cute), Umbrella Arts, New York, NY, Juror: Harvey Stein.
2012                            Home, Umbrella Arts, New York, NY, Juror: Harvey Stein.
2011                            Festa (Solo Exhibition), Italian American Museum, New York, NY
2011                            20th Anniversary Alumni Show, Upstream Gallery, Dobbs Ferry, NY
2011                           Dinner, Umbrella Arts, New York, NY, Juror: Harvey Stein.
2011                           Home Is Where the Camera Is, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT, Juror: Julie Blackmon
2010                           PHOTOcentric: A Juried Photography Exhibition, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
                                        Jurors: Stephen Shore and Harvey Stein
2010                           3rd Annual Ciao Italy Performing Arts Festival, (Two Person Show), Associazione San Cono, Brooklyn, NY
2010                           Spring Member Show, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
2008                           Inspiration and Interpretations of a Farmer's Market, Gallery 25N, Peekskill, NY
2005                           La Festa: Italian Festivals in America (Solo Exhibition), Culpeper Gallery, Abrons Arts                                                                         Center at Henry Street Settlement, New York, NY
2001                          Spectra '01 Third National Photography Biennial, Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, Conn.
2000                          Ten Feasts (Solo Exhibition), Community Gallery, New Rochelle, NY
1999                          Alone, Among Us (Two Person Show), Gallery on the Hudson, Irvington, NY
1997                          Styles and Aesthetics VII, LaMama LaGalleria, New York, NY
1996                          BabyBaby, Hudson Valley Institute for Art and Photographic Resources, Peekskill, NY
1995                          Blood Ties (Solo Exhibition), Focal Point Gallery, City Island, NY
1993                          Fine Food and Lodging, Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1993                          What Will the Neighbors Think?(Three Person Show),Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1993                          Group Show, The Cork Gallery, Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY
1993                          Group Show, Lever House, New York, NY
1992                          BAA 1992 Exhibition of Photography, The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
                                        Juror:  John Szarkowski
1992                          Things That Are Scary, Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1992                          The Media Show, Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1991                          Skin Deep (Solo Exhibition), Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1991                          The Hungry Eye, Upstream Gallery, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1990                          Picturing People (Two Person Show), Pargot Gallery, Edison, NJ
1990                          Portraits (Three Person Show), Focal Point Gallery, City Island, NY
1989                          Thirty-Sixth Annual Art Exhibit, The Gallery at Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
1986                          The Comet Show, Al Oliver Community Museum, Elmhurst, NY
1984                          Central Park Visions: A Juried Photography Exhibition, Central Park Dairy, New York, NY. 
                                        Jurors: Marvin Heiferman, Ben Lifson and Belinda Rathbone.
1984                          Artists Against U.S. Intervention in Central America, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
1984                          MFA Thesis Exhibition, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

                                 AWARDS AND HONORS
2020                          Honorable Mention, 58th Annual Community Art Exhibition, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
2010                          Honorable Mention, PHOTOcentric: A Juried Photography Exhibition, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
1995                          First Place Honors, Sixth Annual National Juried Photographic Competition,
                                          Focal Point Gallery, City Island, NY
1981                          Award for Outstanding Achievement in Studio Art, Fordham University, College at Lincoln Center,
                                          New York, NY

                                 BIBLIOGRAPHY
                                   William J. Connell and Stanislao G. Pugliese, eds., The Routledge History of Italian Americans,                                                “San Gennaro Offering” photo by Robert Forlini, Plate 27, 2017.
                                   FAMILY, Exhibition catalog, 2017, Umbrella Arts
                                   Going Places, Exhibition Catalog, 2015, PhotoPlace Gallery, Forward by Carlan Tapp
                                   KIDS (Not Cute), Exhibition catalog, 2014, Umbrella Arts, Foreword by Harvey Stein
                                   Home, Exhibition catalog, 2012, Umbrella Arts, Foreword by Harvey Stein
                                   La Festa: Italian Festivals in America, Photographs by Robert Forlini, Silver Destiny Press, 2011
                                   Dinner, Exhibition catalog, 2011, Umbrella Arts, Foreword by Harvey Stein
                                   Black and White, Exhibition catalog, 2011, PhotoPlace Gallery, Foreword by Dan Burkholder.
                                   Home Is Where the Camera Is, Exhibition catalog, 2011, PhotoPlace Gallery, Foreward by Julie Blackmon
                                   NIAF News, Volume 22, Number 1, February 2006, “Photographic Celebration of Italian Festas”.
                                   The Italian Tribune, Volume 74, Number 48, December 1, 2005. “Italian Festivals in America,                                                                            A Photographic Journey”.
                                   Ambassador Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 3,Fall 2004, National Italian American Foundation.  “La Festa:                                                                Italian Festivals in America” Photo essay of 13 photographs and accompanying article.
                                   Georgette Gouveia.  "Photo Exhibit a Feast for the Eye", The Journal News, October 26, 2000.
                                   Eleanor Charles.  "World War II Focus", The Guide, The New York Times, April 18, 1999.
                                   Eleanor Charles.  "On Early Infancy", Westchester Guide, The New York Times, April 28, 1996.
                                   Viewfinder No. 19, 1995, Focal Point Press.  Featured Photographer (Cover Story).
                                   Eleanor Charles.  "Going Separate Ways", Westchester Guide, The New York Times, May 9, 1993.
                                   Daniel Grant.  "BAA Exhibit Focuses on Photos" (Art Review) The Berkshire Eagle, September 29, 1992.
                                   BAA 1992 Exhibition of Photography, Exhibition Catalog.  Foreword by John Szarkowski.
                                   Georgette Gouveia.  "Pratt Alumni Focus on Media in Hastings Show",  Gannett Suburban Newspapers,                                                                          May 10, 1992.
                                   Elsa Brenner.  "20 Artists Establish County's First Co-op Gallery", Westchester Weekly, The New York                                                                             Times, April 14, 1991.

                                RELATED EXPERIENCE
1990-2019           Teacher of Photography, Filmmaking and Studio Art.
                                          Most recently at Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua, NY.                                   
1982-2007          Commercial Photographer.
                                         Assignments have included photojournalism, architectural and public relations photography, video 
                                         cameraman and still photographer for motion pictures.

                                 EDUCATION
1984                           MFA, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 
1981                           BA, Fordham University, College at Lincoln Center, New York, NY