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About the Artist

Robert Salanitro was born in Brooklyn, New York, where his passion for drawing began at an early age. As a young artist, he was captivated by the work of Norman Rockwell, particularly his ability to combine careful observation, detail, and storytelling in a single image.

His formal art education began at the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. He later studied architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After completing his studies, Robert began a career in illustration, working across a variety of fields including children’s books, editorial illustration, portraits, and product and graphic design.

While working as an illustrator, Robert developed a growing interest in painting. Over time, painting became an increasingly important part of his artistic practice and led him to explore the qualities of light, color, atmosphere, and the human figure. His work has been influenced by a wide range of artists, from the Impressionists and early 20th-century painters to contemporary artists, while continuing to draw from his lifelong interest in observation and visual storytelling.

Robert’s artistic journey has also been shaped by his years living in Brazil, where he has found inspiration in the country’s people, culture, landscapes, and traditions. During his time there, he also taught art in schools and nonprofit organizations, experiences that further deepened his connection to drawing and painting.

Today, Robert’s fine-art practice focuses primarily on figurative painting, still life, and landscapes. His work explores everyday moments, light, atmosphere, and the quiet narratives found in ordinary life. Drawing on his background as both an illustrator and painter, he seeks to create work that combines strong visual structure with a sense of warmth, observation, and story.