Virtual Art Tour

Ray Vinella, American, born 1933

Maria Benitez

Christmas Eve in Taos Pueblo

Born in Bari, Italy, Ray Vinella was raised in Little Italy on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Island, NY. He was always interested in art. His favorite place to skip school was the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

After high school and a hitch in the Air Force, Vinella attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, followed by a successful 15-year career as an illustrator. In 1969, Vinella decided to leave commercial art, moved to Taos and began his career as a fine artist. He is one of the founders of the 1970’s “Taos Six” art group, which included Julian Robles, Walt Gonske, Ron Barsano, Robert Daughters and Rod Goebel - all of whom have works included in this collection.

Often identified as an impressionistic painter, Vinella stated in a Western Art Digest interview, “I’m sure that’s because I am involved, to some degree, with conveying the qualities of light in my paintings. I don’t think of myself as an impressionist in the pure sense, however, my work is tighter and I don’t use painterly techniques, brush strokes and so on .... I’m still experimenting, still learning, still trying to achieve that one great painting ... that masterpiece.”

Vinella is often criticized for creating artworks of different styles, mediums and expressions. “I’ve been told,” he continued, “that I should stick to one style that people would recognize as a ‘Vinella.’ I just can’t do that .... I like to do many different things .... I’m doing what I truly love ... and I’m doing it how I want, when I want and where I want.”