Artist Paul Vario makes public debut at Nunzi’s in Freeport

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Artist Paul Vario made his public art debut at Nunzi’s by the Water in Freeport, showcasing decades of creations that had previously been kept private.

Vario shares a name with his grandfather, who was played by Paul Sorvino in the now classic film Goodfellas.

A lifelong artist with a passion for abstract and figurative painting and drawing, Vario now feels that the time is right to reveal his art to the world

“I never stopped doing it, but this is the first time we’re actually showing,” Vario said. “I never showed my stuff to nobody. I’ve been doing art my whole life.”

For Vario, art has always been intuitive.

“I start off with a line, a circle, a dash, and then I start scribbling, and all of a sudden, I’ll see something, and I go with it,” he explained.

Influenced by masters like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Paul Gauguin, Vario said, “You’ll see a little bit of that, a mixture of that, in all my stuff. But then I go my own way with it.”

His work, defined by vibrant abstractions, balances imagination and recognizable forms.

“I like to have something there that you’re looking at, and I’ll make it my way, not the way it exists in nature,” Vario said. “Nobody’s arm is shaped like that—I made it the way I wanted to make it.”

The event brought together folks from across the region, including Douglas Cartelli, who traveled from Connecticut with his wife.

“We were entertained by the display of art, and the fabulous espresso martinis at the gathering,” he said. “We would definitely attend another of Paul Vario’s art events.”

“I am just in awe of Paul Vario’s artistic talent,” said Sue Anne Nyenhuis, another attendee. “His artwork contains a story, along with all the subtle images that he weaves within his artwork, and it is just attention-grabbing.”

Based in Florida, Vario chose Freeport for his debut through the friendship his wife had with the ownership at Nunzi’s.

“I love my husband’s artwork and it’s exciting to see people’s reaction,” said Catherina Varo, Paul’s wife and a writer and artist in her own right.

“We are both excited about the 63rd Del Ray Affair on April 4th (to the) 6th in Delray Beach Florida,” she added. “We are both looking forward to meeting other artists and sharing our art with more people.”

Reflecting on his journey, he credited YouTube for inspiring his leap into the commercial domain.

“I watch successful people on YouTube… and I look at their art, and I’m saying, ‘What am I doing?’” he said.

“I’d like to be known like the guys that mentored me, like Van Gogh,” he added. “Hopefully, it’ll happen while I’m still alive.”

While this event marks a new chapter for Vario, his art remains deeply personal. “It comes from my brain,” he said. “A little bit of their style, but it’s my style.