Curriculum Vitae
2022 Master of Arts, Art Education, University of Florida
2021 Certificate, Public Health, Cornell University
2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art & Design Education, Adelphi University
2017 Associate of Arts, Art Studies, Nassau Community College
2021 Citizen Public Health Leader, NYS Department of Health
2019 Visual Arts Education P-12, NYS Department of Education
2024
BRIAN TESTA
The Refki Gollopeni Gallery, Prishtina, Kosova
2021
“Oil Spill Diptych”,
Summer Showcase, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2024
"Brian Testa: Recent Works"
South Shore Arts Festival, Freeport Recreation Center, Freeport, New York
"Booth #18",
Art In The Park, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach , Oyster Bay, New York
" Një "
International World Art Day Exhibition
Gallery X, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
"Imagining Place: Mapping New Worlds"
Fellbach-Haus, Suharekë, Kosova
"Freeport"
"Captree VII"
"Dusk",
Glass Drawers in Poland – International Art Biennale, Warszawa, Poland
"Intermixture",
Black, White, or Grey, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
2023
International Art Colony,
Rahovec, Kosova
“Festari 2023”,
International Art Colony, Suharekë, Kosova
"Freedom Too..."
Fellbach-Haus, Suharekë, Kosova
"Montauk",
10th Annual Abstract Sanctuary, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland Oregon,
"Booth #33",
Art In The Park, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach , Oyster Bay, New York
2022
"Field Two – Jones”,
66th Annual Members', Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, The Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, New York
"Captree IV",
4th Annual Online Juried Exhibition, The Idaherma Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.,
Princeton, New Jersey
"Booth #49",
Art In The Park, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach , Oyster Bay, New York
“Coe Hall”,
The Best of the Best, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
“Twilight Diptych”,
Honey, I Shrunk the Art, Darcy Gallery, The Firefly Artists, Northport, New York
"Waterfall One”,
65th Annual Members', Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, The Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, New York
“Number Seven”
125th Anniversary Alumni, Performing Arts Center Gallery, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
“Massapequa, Untitled #1, Untitled #2”,
Six By Six, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, Oregon
“Inhale”
Emotions – 2021, Gallerium, Online Exhibition, Ontario, Canada
2019
“Becoming One”,
B.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, PAC Gallery, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
2018
"Outside In-Inside Out",
Preforming Arts Center, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
"Nga Jasht Mbrenda-Nga Mbrenda Jasht",
Fellbach-Haus, Suharekë, Kosova
2017
'Dwell: An Interactive Art Project",
South Lawn, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
"Dwell",
COPE NYC Art Expo, Acumen Capital Partners, Flushing, New York
2015
“Rust”,
Go APE, Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, The Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, New York
2013
“Venus”,
For the Love of Art, Adelphi University, Arts Center Gallery, Garden City, New York
2024
M.L.K. Day Mural, Town of Hempstead Town Hall, Hempstead, NY
2023
Universe Mural, The Bronx High School For Medical Science, Bronx, NY
2022
School Tree Mural, The Bronx High School For Medical Science, Bronx, NY
2020
Face-Mask Benefit, Fund to Advance New York City, New York, NY
A Taste of Piedmont Program, St. John's Prep School, Astoria, NY
2019
Drawing Machine Workshop, Freeport High School, Freeport, NY
Garden Vines Beautification Project, Jackson Annex, Hempstead, NY
Drawing Machine Workshop, Wyandanch Memorial High School, Wyandanch, NY
Blue Crab Signage Beautification, Wyandanch Memorial High School, Wyandanch, NY
Radical Manifesto Workshop, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
2018
Drawing Machine Workshop, Plainedge Middle School, Bethpage, NY
2019-
STEAM & Art Educator; Liberty Partnership Program & STEP Program
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Freeport High School, Freeport, NY
Hempstead Middle School
Westbury Middle School
2018-
Teaching Artist, ArtsAction Group, International
Garden City, NY
Suharekë, Kosovo
2014-
Founder, Long Islanders For Environmental Change (LIFEC), St. James, NY
2022-2023
Art Teacher, New York City Department of Education,
The Bronx High School for Medical Science, The Bronx , NY
2020-2021
Art & Earth Science Teacher, St. John's Preparatory School, Astoria, NY
2019
Student Art Teacher, Wyandanch Memorial High School, Wyandanch, NY
Student Art Teacher, Floral Park Bellerose School, Floral Park, NY
2018
Teaching Assistant, Nassau BOCES, North Bellmore, NY
Interim Exhibitions Curator, University Gallery
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
2012-2014
Education Associate, The Whaling Museum & Edu. Center, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
2014
Private collection, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
2015
Private collection, Manhasset, New York
2016
Private collection, Massapequa, New York
2017
Private collection, Sagaponack, New York
2018
Private collection, Washington, D.C.
2019
Private collection, Ixelles, Belgium
2020
Private collection, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2021
Private collection, Alexandria, Virginia
2022
Private collection, St. James, New York
2023
Private collection, Freeport, New York
2024
Private collection, State College, Pennsylvania
2023
Public Collection, Biblioteka e qytetit
Therandë, Kosova
2024
Spring 2024, Lagjia e Artistëve, Prishtina, Kosova
2019
Jackson Annex Mural, ArtsAction Group & Garden Vines, Hempstead, NY
2015
Winter Window Mural, Plainedge Public Library, Massapequa, NY
2024
Xhevdet Pantina, Solo Exhibition & Catalogue, New York, New York
2022
Native Perspectives, Virtual Exhibition, Art Steps, Online Exhibition
2020
Autumn Aspirations, Gallery 21-21, St. John’s Prep School, Astoria, New York
125th Anniversary, Gallery 21-21, St. John’s Prep School, Astoria, New York
2024
Long Island Arts Council hosts inaugural South Shore Arts Festival at Freeport Recreation Center, Long Island Herald, Published October 11th
Live Interview, BRIAN TESTA - Solo Exhibition , Radio Television Kosovo (RTK),
Broadcast March 2024
Interview, The Refki Gollopeni Gallery - BRIAN TESTA, Albanian Culture TV,
Broadcast March 2024
2023
10th Annual Abstract Sanctuary, Art Book, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Published January 2023
Live Interview, Festari 2023, Radio Television Kosovo (RTK), Broadcast September 2023
2018
Outside In | Inside Out, Catalogue Book, ArtsActionGroup, Published April 25th
In Kosovo, Turning Civil War Memories Into Art, AU News, Published June 5th
2017
COPE NYC Art Expo, Wall Street International, Published November 28th
2021
UF Graduate Grant, University of Florida
2020
UF Graduate Grant, University of Florida
2017
Angela B. Kulewicz Art & Design Education Scholarship, Adelphi University
Eagle Scout Scholarship, Adelphi University
Transfer Talent Scholarship, Adelphi University
2016
Community College Partnership Award, Nassau Community College
2019
Art and Design Education Merit Award, For Outstanding Creative Work in Community Arts, Adelphi University
2018
Certificate of Recognition, Balanced Mind Conference XXII, Molloy College
2017
Certificate of Recognition, For Your Outstanding Contribution to the 4th R-Reimagine Project, COPE NYC, NYCATA/UFT, MFTA
2014
Eagle Scout, In Recognition of Successful Completion of all Requirements for Scouting's Highest Rank, B.S.A. Troop 689
In Recognition of your "Court of Honor", On Earning the Rank of Eagle Scout, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Peter T. King
2013
Certificate of Excellence, In Recognition of Valuable Contributions to the Visual Arts, Plainedge High School
In Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Art, NAHS & NAEA
2012
Certificate of Recognition, Excellence in Studio Art, Plainedge High School
2021- Teaching For Artistic Behavior (TAB)
2020- Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
2019- National Art Education Association (NAEA)
2017- Kappa Pi International Art Honor Society
2014- National Eagle Scout Association (NESA)
Artificial Intelligence
Blockchain Technologies: Cryptocurrency, NFT, Web 3.0
Choice-based Art Education
Indigenous, Visionary, and Shamanic Artwork
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality
Literature Review
Penn State: Arts, Culture & Development Journal: Arts, Culture & Development (psu.edu)
Biography
Brian Testa is an artist and educator whose work spans a diverse range of mediums and themes, reflecting his deep commitment to art as a means of exploring and engaging with both personal and collective experiences. With a Master of Arts in Art Education from the University of Florida (2022) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design Education from Adelphi University (2019), Testa’s educational background plays a foundational role in his approach to creating art that fosters dialogue and connection across communities.
His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the world. His 2024 solo exhibition at the Refki Gollopeni Gallery in Prishtina, Kosovo, showcased a mature and thought-provoking body of work, drawing on themes of place, memory, and transformation. This followed earlier successes, including his Oil Spill Diptych at the 2021 Summer Showcase at the University of Florida. Testa’s exhibitions span prestigious venues internationally, including Poland's Glass Drawers International Art Biennale in 2024 and the 10th Annual Abstract Sanctuary in Portland, Oregon, in 2023.
A central aspect of Testa’s work is his engagement with public art and collaborative projects. His murals, such as the Universe Mural (2023) at The Bronx High School for Medical Science, and the Jackson Annex Mural (2019) in Hempstead, NY highlight his dedication to art as a tool for community engagement and education. His collaborative projects often involve working with students and local organizations, as seen in the Imagining Place: Mapping New Worlds (2024) and the Freedom Too (2023), initiatives that blend artistic creation with social impact.
International exhibitions have been a significant component of Testa’s career, beginning in 2018 with his participation in Nga Jasht Mbrenda-Nga Mbrenda Jasht at Fellbach-Haus in Suharekë, Kosovo, which laid the foundation for his ongoing engagement with European art communities. His work has continued to evolve through group exhibitions such as the International World Art Day Exhibition at Gallery X in Gliwice, Poland (2024) and the Glass Drawers International Art Biennale in Warsaw, Poland (2024). These exhibitions highlight his versatility and his ability to transcend cultural boundaries through art.
Recognized for his outstanding contributions to the arts and education, Testa has received numerous awards, including the Art and Design Education Merit Award (2019) from Adelphi University for his exceptional creative work in community arts. His achievements have been acknowledged through various media appearances, including interviews on Radio Television Kosovo in 2023 and 2024.
Brian Testa continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art through his innovative and interdisciplinary practice, utilizing his skills as both an artist and educator to inspire and engage with communities around the world. His work speaks to the power of art in fostering understanding, resilience, and change.
Copyright © 2024 BRIAN TESTA - All Rights Reserved.