In his newest project, an acclaimed artist based in Hunterdon County has gone to the races — while still remaining at home.
As he remained in quarantine, Flemington resident James Fiorentino painted Sackatoga Stable champion and 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law, which will be presented at the 27th annual Siro’s Cup fundraiser on Thursday to honor the racehorse. Owner Sackatoga Stable, managing partner Jack Knowlton, trainer Barclay Tagg, assistant trainer Robin Smullen and jockey Manny Franco will also be honored at the virtual event.
The fundraiser will both be held at and benefit the Center for Disability Services in Albany, and broadcast live by News 10 ABC at 5:30 p.m.
For the past 17 years, Fiorentino has created and presented custom watercolor photo-realistic artwork for The Siro’s Cup fundraiser, but is opting to skip this year’s event because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Still, the 2020 Siro’s Cup is significant for Fiorentino because it brings his history of painting racehorses and jockeys “full circle.” Fiorentino’s first two horse racing paintings were an original watercolor of the 1978 Triple Crown that became the official artwork for its 25th anniversary and is on display at Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and a portrait of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide — both completed in 1978.
“Tiz the Law has a great story because it’s a Saratoga-bred horse — and those stables there in Saratoga, their first big horse was Funny Cide, which (I painted) 17 years ago,” Fiorentino said. “Ironically, that was the first horse I painted for this event. And he almost won the Triple Crown.”
Beyond Tiz the Law, Fiorentino has a countless other number of great stories coloring his 25 years as an artist. At the age of 15, Fiorentino was the youngest artist to have artwork featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for his likeness of Reggie Jackson. His painting commemorating Roberto Clemente remains in the museum as a part of its permanent collection.
In 1998, at age 19, Fiorentino was the youngest artist inducted into the prestigious New York Society of illustrators.
The historic and celebrated figures he has met and painted over his decades-spanning career includes past presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton; Nobel peace prize winners Mikhail Gorbachev, Bishop Desmond Tutu; actors Michael J. Fox and Richard Gere; and U.S. icons Buzz Aldrin and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
Of these many projects, Fiorentino considers one of greatest accomplishments to be painting a collage of the “20 Greatest Hitters of All Time” for the Ted Williams Museum, for which the Ted Williams’ Hitters Hall of Fame is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Fiorentino was the official artist for Cal Ripken Jr’s 2131 consecutive game streak.
“The cool thing is there’s so many people out there now who probably don’t even know or remember I did it. I did that when I was 17 years old,” Fiorentino said. “But it was probably the biggest sports moment in history that year, and one of the biggest baseball moments in history.”
Fiorentino, a member of Artists for Conservation and The Society of Animal Artists, also specializes in wildlife art. His pieces have been featured in museums and galleries including the San Diego Natural History Museum; the Bennington Museum in Vermont, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in Florida, the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in New Jersey, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
As he continues to work out of his home studio in face of the ongoing epidemic, Fiorentino expressed his disappointment at the cancelation of approximately 15 or so art events due to the outbreak.
“It’s hard because a lot of people are afraid, and I don’t blame them,” Fiorentino said. “Even if you’re wearing a mask and doing the right thing and social distancing — to be in a room, to be in a gallery, it’s tough.”
Nonetheless, he continues to prosper in the same work that he’s committed himself to each day of the last 25 years.
“The beautiful thing is I still am being commissioned a lot by people,” Fiorentino said. “I think people are still excited to get artwork, and want something to look forward to.”
What’s next for the New Jersey artist? Fiorentino will be designing high-end trading cards for Topps, an endeavor demonstrating how his career “always comes back to sports” — yet never veers away from allowing him to illustrate his passions through his creations.
“I’ve always painted what I love,” Fiorentino said. “If I really enjoy nature, and I love painting landscapes, I love painting people — it all kind of flows into one.”
“That’s what I did when I was a kid, and that’s what I’m continuing to do now.”
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Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
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N.J. artist creates portrait of 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law - NJ.com
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