AL TUCCI

Albert Tucci was born and raised in Westchester County, New York and grew up surrounded with the lively and intense art scene in New York City. Drawing and painting and putting on plays were his passion. For the Port Chester High School’s senior play Al created the scene design for Pygmalion. Ed Sullivan, television host and personality, an alumna of Port Chester High School, was in the audience and was so impressed that he strongly recommended that Al study theatre design.

After graduation from high school Al was accepted to many of the nation’s leading art and drama schools, from which he chose the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago, Al went on to have a thirty-eight year career in professional theatre training and as a freelance United Scenic Artist Union designer. Early in his education Al met the renowned fashion and theatre designer Erte who inspired him to teach and dedicate his life to training future theatre artists.  Al headed programs or departments and schools at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, West Virginia University, Northern Illinois University, and The University of Arizona. In the last thirty years Al produced hundreds of plays and theatrical seasons and was always proud to have the opportunity to teach and design.  ​​​​

It is clear that Al's background in theatre has spilled over into his painting.  His work is often of intensely intricate scenes of whimsy.  Al paints in gouache, a medium with similarities to both oil and acrylic paint, and this medium allows Al to work in a great deal of texture and detail without hindering the process. His work in graphite is similarly intricate, but the lack of physical texture gives way to an ethereal quality in the wisps of graphite that almost float off the paper.