It has been just over a year since I began collaborating with Fine Artist, Steve Alpert. And what an incredible journey it has been! I have had the privilege of witnessing Steve’s artistic & personal growth as we worked together to promote a variety of art fairs, exhibitions, events and media opportunities. Reflecting on the past year, there is so much to celebrate as well as so much to continue to look forward to.
Join me as I recap the highlights of the past year.
Steve and I were already familiar with each other from previous art fairs. We had discussed potential collaborations in the past, but it wasn’t until this time last year that Steve reached out to me in his interest to participate in the The Hamptons Fine Art Fair for the summer of 2024 show. With my connections to the show producers and galleries that had previously exhibited, I was able to secure a spot for Steve to showcase several of his abstract paintings in the show.
Next we developed a promotional strategy for the event, which included calendar listings and press releases targeting local media to announce his participation. This approach seemed to be quite successful.
At the same time, Steve also secured a spot in an exhibition in the newly opened Art Studio Hamptons in Westhampton Beach, scheduled to open in mid-May with an Opening Reception on Memorial Day Weekend. We executed additional media outreach for this event, which similarly yielded positive results for both Steve and the gallery.
Memorial Day is particularly meaningful for Steve, as he invites a guest speaker to present at the Quogue Fire Department Memorial Day Service, an event he has been involved with for many years. Last year he welcomed Chaplain Karen Meeker, US Colonel whose impactful speech left a lasting impression on all who had the good fortune to attend.
In August, Steve exhibited at the Quogue Historical Society Show. September brought a solo exhibition at the Quogue Library, which was perhaps his best show of the season, followed by participation in a group show at Alex Contemporary Gallery in East Quogue, NY.
October brought a wonderful feature story about Steve in Canvas Rebel further elevating his profile within the art community. The publication would feature another article about him in their January 2nd 2025 issue.
By November, Steve had completed his most recent masterpiece, Gold Star, specifically created for fundraising efforts benefiting the Children of Fallen Patriots. Two prints of this painting raised an impressive $50,000.00 at a gala hosted by The Children of Fallen Patriots in Greenwich, Connecticut during which the prints were offered at auction. Prints of this and many of Steve’s other paintings continue to be offered for sale, and a percentage of their sales will continue to benefit Children of Fallen Patriots and other non-profit organizations that support veterans and their families.
November was a particularly poignant month for Steve. He and his wife traveled to Thionville, France, where he presented his portrait of General Eisenhower to the Mayor of Thionville in honor of the 80th Anniversary of the town’s Liberation by the 90th Infantry Division on D-Day. It was an especially moving weekend filled with parades, ceremonies, speeches, gratitude along with new connections forged through the festivities and memories being honored and celebrated.
Additionally, November saw the publication of my article in the Military Times chronicling Steve’s 20 plus year journey in creating Contemporary American Military paintings. The article highlights the stories that inspired these paintings and the impact these stories, this journey and the people Steve has met through this journey have had on him.
The article sparked the idea for a new book, Proudly They Served, currently in production for release later this year.
This will be Steve’s third publication, following his two previous books, Worth Fighting For, The Path of a Patriot (co-authored with Gary Cohen), and Proudly She Served, Celebrating Women in Uniform.
In January 2025, Steve had the honor of presenting his portrait of Ann Berry to the Alabama Department of Archives & History, in Montgomery. Berry is the first African American to serve as Secretary of the Senate and the eighth woman to hold this significant position. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama.
In his personal life, Steve and his wife traveled to Japan last year, a trip that has profoundly influenced his art, his diet and his aspirations. A new series of paintings inspired by this experience is emerging, reflecting his impressions of the experience, the country and the culture. Alpert has subsequently changed his diet to reflect the healthy habits he picked up in Japan, and he has set new goals for exhibiting his work in Japan.
Additional travels have inspired new paintings, many featuring coastal themes, reflecting his love of beaches, water, fish and nature.
Moreover, Steve continues to teach art to veterans as an Adjunct Professor of Art at Fordham University, many of whom are achieving their own recognition as artists in their own right. An exhibition is planned to celebrate their talent and the healing power of art at the University this Spring.
As we move forward into a new season, I am excited to continue being a part of this journey as Steve’s career continues to unfold with exciting new developments, travels and events. Stay with us as we continue to witness all that the future holds for this multi-talented artist in the months and year to come.
About Steve Alpert
Steve Alpert is a native New Yorker and fine art painter whose work covers a wide range of subject matter including land/sea/skyscapes, military, abstract, and portraiture. Alpert best describes himself as a non-conformist who draws from many different moments in his life that have inspired and shaped his work. Painting is my reverie, my serenity, my never-ending pursuit of who I am.
However, it is Alpert’s Contemporary American Military paintings that are the foundation of his collection and what distinguishes him from many of his fellow artists.
Alpert’s work has been exhibited at the home of the President (Biden) and fine art galleries across the United States. His military work is part of the permanent collection of the Pentagon, the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico VA, the Naval War College at Newport RI, the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Dover DE, and the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC. Through generous donations of his artwork, Alpert has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for causes that support the men and women of our United States Armed Forces and their families including Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation and Fisher Houses. Most recently he was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
Alpert has authored two books, Worth Fighting For, The Path of a Patriot and Proudly She Served, Celebrating Women in Uniform and he is currently working on a third book. He is also an adjunct professor of art at Fordham University, where he offers art workshops to veterans.
For more information, visit his website, Steve Alpert Art.
photograph of Steve Alpert by Maria Reeves Hayes
