August 2021 2-D Featured Artist John Rizza

John Rizza permanently relocated to the Fort Myers Beach area in 2019 after retiring from a 45- year career in the golf industry, working to beautify many courses. 

He belonged to the New York Art Students League and attended Woodstock Art School and New York State University at New Paltz working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He’s also attended many workshops in person and online and is a member of the Fort Myers Beach Art Association. He participates weekly in local “plein air” outings.

“Retirement provides the opportunity to spend time with my first love and passion of creating art,” said John. “I enjoy creating works in several mediums including graphite and charcoal sketching as well as working in oils, both on location and in my studio. My work is impressionistic in approach with a touch of Fauvism. I am constantly in search of a new ‘voice’ and welcome the chance to experiment.”

His work has been featured in local galleries including the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach Art Association, Coco Gallery in Bonita Springs and at the Cape Coral Art Center. “One especially enjoyable show was the Winter Show 2020, where I won a Merit Award for a work titled, ‘Wall of Moms’ representing the moms of Portland, Oregon protecting protesters,” he concluded.