Albert Notarbartolo Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1934 - d. 2008

Albert Notarbartolo (1934-2008) is recognized as the first artist to propose putting Art Objects in Extraterrestrial Space. While he realized the controversial nature of such concepts, he hoped that support for the launching of the first Spaceworks would be obtained as a cooperative international venture. Born in New York City, Notarbartolo graduated from the High School of Music and Art, won a scholarship to the National Academy of Fine Arts and later apprenticed to the well known ecclesiastical muralist Ignacio La Russa, a collaborative partner of Giorgio di Chirico.

Notarbartolo served in the U.S. Army, Special Services from 1957 to 1959 and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. Later he was assigned to painting portraits of various generals including Major General William C. Lee, the founder of the Army Airborne and General Braxton Bragg, for whom Ft. Bragg is named. He was honorably discharged with commendations for his art. He never painted portraits again.

Returning to civilian life, Notarbartolo dealt with the political and social unrest of the 1960’s by creating his Allegories, a series of wry and cryptic paintings that reflected his view of the period. After marrying his wife Valerie in 1962, he produced a series of stylized, vibrant oil paintings reflecting his environment called Interiors. This inspired him to further create an abstract body of work depicting organic shapes and forms in mixed media that he named Colorworks.

After the United States put a man on the moon, Notarbartolo was enraptured by the concept of space exploration. In 1975, he submitted, “Some Proposals for Art Objects in Extraterrestrial Space”, published by Leonado magazine. With the help of a NASA astrophysicist, Notarbartolo learned his creation Beacon could orbit the Earth and be seen as a bright star with the naked eye. Notarbartolo’s proposal sparked enormous interest and his concept drawings went on exhibition in leading museums throughout the country. In 1977, he won the U.S. Bicentennial ‘New Glory’ Flag design award for his Moon Residents’ Flag which was exhibited at the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. His flag design depicts the changing phases of the moon in white on a black background.

From 1980 until 2004, Notarbartolo created a formidable body of work on paper as he returned to his favored way of creating art -- working in pen & ink, water color and graphite. His attraction to paper in place of canvas reveals itself when he said “These pieces are paintings. They don’t have to be on canvas. It’s how I use the media and how I achieve results.”

Notarbartolo’s art has shown in many galleries and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art. New York City, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. and the Tate Gallery, London. His works are in private and public collections and he has been commissioned by various firms, the U.S. Government and the Aubusson tapestry works. (Courtesy of the Artist’s Estate)