The Black Bird Cafe Art Gallery is proud to present a solo show featuring local Long Beach photographer, Vincent (Vinny) Picardi. Picadi started his career as a photographer at age 15 when his father passed down to him is Minolta SLR 35 mm camera. That was summertime in Brooklyn, NY, in the 1970s. He didn’t truly take advantage of that gift until 2001. By then he had purchased a Russian point and shoot camera. Its unique lens enabled him to capture images that benefit his vision of art: the extraordinary, drawn from the merely ordinary. Naturally, he progressed to a more professional set up complete with state of the art cameras, but his original vision and unique eye is visible in all his work.
Picardi has been featured in many galleries in Southern California, including Mad River Gallery in Santa Monica (2002), Riot in Santa Monica (2003), and the Santa Monica Art Studios (2005, 2006, 2012). He has also shown at the Brewery and Culver City Art Walks, ArtHouse and Create/Fixate, Audis Husar Galleries, Phantom Galleries, Los Angeles Downtown Art Walk (2008 – 2012), Cycle of Lives charity benefit, EarthWE Gallery, and Bergamont Station (2016).
In 2010, Picardi was commissioned by Hyatt Hotels (Andaz boutique on Sunset Blvd) to photograph the icons of Los Angeles with his unique style. To date, all 80 suites house his work. In 2015, he took part in a competition for a commission at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) and has been chosen for the final round of Art Takes Miami (2013). Currently, he has won a RD Olson development commission and projects for the Hyatt and Marriott hotels, followed by the Long Beach City government’s adoption of his “local-ness” themed project. Picardi has photographed portraits for venture capitalists, artists, entrepreneurs and Musicians. He has received 2 finalist certificates at the California Open Exhibition held at T.A.G in Santa Monica and his work can be seen in Lexus and Neutrogena commercials and the Dirty Sexy Money television series.
The Vinny Picardi exhibit at the Black Bird Cafe Art Gallery showcases a variety of his work, including several pieces from his Long Beach “local-ness” series. For more information or to make a purchase, please email Tina Burnight (Black Bird Cafe Art Gallery Assistant Curator) at blackbirdcafegallery@gmail.com or call/text 562-413-2332.