About Joseph Reboli
September 25, 1945 - June 4, 2004
Who is Joseph Reboli?
Joseph Reboli was a talented American painter from Stony Brook, NY, known for his beautiful oil paintings of the landscapes and objects of interest around Long Island, especially from the Three Village area. His work captures the essence of local life, making ordinary scenes feel extraordinary.
Early Life and Education
Joseph Reboli was born in 1945 at Saint Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, New York, and started painting when he was just a child. His aunt, Anna Reboli, played an integral role in his early career, helping him get his creative career started by showcasing his artwork at a local bank in Stony Brook in which she worked as a bank teller. Anna also supported her nephew by purchasing his paintings unbeknownst to him, long before he was a well-known household name. Remarkably enough, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of magic, that same bank where Joseph Reboli first showcased his artwork eventually became The Reboli Center for Art and History, where his work will remain on a rotating display for public education and enjoyment.
Joseph studied at the Paier School of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1964 to 1967, where he learned from the respected realist artist Ken Davies. After finishing school, he served in the U.S. Army and worked in the Army Exhibit Unit in Alexandria, Virginia, until 1969.
Career Highlights
In 1971, Joseph had his first solo exhibition with our dear friends at Gallery North in Setauket. Over the years, Reboli’s work gained wider recognition, and he began to show his paintings at other galleries, including the Christopher Gallery in Manhattan and later at Gallery Henoch in SoHo. In time, his art was featured in more than 20 solo exhibitions, as well as in group shows across the country and even Europe.
Joseph’s most famous works include serene depictions of the landscapes and everyday life of Long Island. His style was inspired by realism, meaning he focused on capturing the true details of the world around him. It is often said that Joe’s exceptional ability to capture light was what made his paintings and talent so rare.
In 1998, a major exhibition called Joseph Reboli Retrospective was held at the Museums at Stony Brook, now known as The Long Island Museum. This show, which celebrated his 30-year career, included 55 of his best works and was accompanied by a book about his art. You can see exclusive footage below:
In 1999, Joseph was invited to participate in a special exhibit at the White House Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., in honor of the White House’s 200th anniversary. His painting, along with works from 13 other artists, was featured as part of White House Impressions: The President's House Through the Eye of the Artist. Joseph's painting was later reproduced in a commemorative calendar.
Legacy and Passing
Joseph Reboli passed away on June 4, 2004, at the age of 58 after battling lung cancer. He left behind a lasting legacy, including an astonishing body of work featuring more than 3,000 paintings in his lifetime. His spirit lives on not only through his body of work but also within the four daughters and two granddaughters he left behind.
The Founding of Our Center in his Honor
Since the untimely death of Joseph Reboli in 2004, there had been an ongoing search for a suitable site to create a unique art center to showcase his large and awe-inspiring collection of paintings. These works, which represent a key part of Long Island’s 20th-century art history, needed a home. In 2015, that site was found, and the new Center opened to the public in 2016.
This incredible milestone was made possible by the hardwork of our Founders: Colleen Hanson, Lois Reboli, BJ Intini and Carolyn Slawski. The story of the creation of The Reboli Center is an inspiring tale that goes against all odds. After over a decade of searching and just under $2,000 in the bank, our founders were just about ready to give up their search for a suitable home to permanently showcase Reboli’s work. By a swift hand of fate and a large serving of luck, hope was restored after major funding for the building was secured through the tireless efforts of New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, along with generous donations from community members who pooled together to gift the gift of art for the generations to come.
The Reboli Center is proud to declare we are a female operated, certified 501 (c) (3) not- for-profit art gallery organized to preserve, support, and provide public access to the artwork of Joseph Reboli. Located in the heart of Stony Brook Village, overlooking the beautiful Stony Brook Harbor, in the historic brick building that now houses our Center was originally built in 1911 as the Bank of Suffolk County. As mentioned above, this building, the former bank of Suffolk County, has strong historical ties to the Reboli family, making it the most suitable, permanent home for Joe’s work imaginable.
Our establishment provides not only public access to the work of Joseph Reboli but also to a variety of rotating creative and educational programs for people of all ages. Additionally, The Reboli Center is proud to present the work of contemporary artists and artisans, along with rotating historic exhibitions that offer rich insights into art history and the heritage of Long Island. Our exhibitions are always free during our public business hours (Tuesdays - Saturdays 11am-5pm, Sundays 1pm-5pm) and no reservations are required to visit our ADA compliant facility. Free parking is available to visitors on site. We also offer a myriad of free and affordable culturally enriching, family friendly events. Learn more by visiting our Events page.