William John Castello, BFA,MDY,MFA
Lives in Staten Island ,NY
Graphic /Journalist (retired) Associated Press
Adjunct Professor of Communications, St. John's University
Collins School of Professional Studies
Lifelong artist
b. 1957
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Born in Flatbush, Brooklyn, Bill began his art career early in life. As a child he was in ill health and was often housebound. At the age of eight, he began to copy the covers of LOOK and LIFE magazines on typing paper in pencil. By nine, the Brooklyn Public Library (Flatbush Branch) showcased his realistic portraits for over six months. Encouraged by family and teachers he continued to grow as an artist through high school producing dozens of portraits and 40+ canvases in acrylic.
He went to Nazareth High School from 1972-1976 and met Maria Loccisano at Bishop Kearney High School in 1974. She is a rare person who seems to understand the eccentricities that come with a creative mind . They were married in 1980 and are still an item today.
He attended St. John's University (Queens) where he honed his skills and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts. He had one-man exhibits at St. John's, Columbia University, the Gross Gallery ( Queens), and took part in many more in the metropolitan area.
Immediately after college, he found a job as a graphic journalist at the New York World Headquarters of the Associated Press where they published his news-related art and stories to over 8,500 periodicals worldwide daily. He retired after a 36 year career. At this time he turned his efforts back to improving his art talents and produced over a dozen new portraits on canvas including Fr. Vincent R. Capodanno, Stephen Siller, and the portrait of Garibaldi and Meucci (on permanent loan to the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum). He also produced hundreds of pencil/graphite-on-tan paper portraits. Many of these were featured at the GMM gallery and were the basis of the Regions of Italy show which featured the portraits of notable Italian men and women from each province.
During the Covid -19 quarantine, he took on a project to honor the influential men and women who shaped our nation's music over the last century. The entire collection of over 2,500 portraits is continually growing and represents American music from its beginnings through the newest stars on the horizon.
Professor William John Castello is currently teaching communications at St. John's University and the artist-in-residence, and contributor to the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Staten Island, New York. He has researched, written, and curated all of the current historical exhibits in the museum.
He has become a member of the New York Art Empire Group and is now an exhibitor and vendor at their newest gallery, Oceanus, 30 Wall Street, New York.