New Jersey Gallery Hits Home Run with Art and Baseball Combo

Baseball in Black and White: Extra Innings —The Art of James Fiorentino

Those in attendance at the artist reception Friday night at Studio 7 Fine Art Studio in Bernardsville, N.J., including former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean and nationally renowned wildlife artist Douglas Allen, transcended the limits of color as they journeyed through shadow and light in this evocative collection of original black and white watercolor paintings by James Fiorentino.

Following the incredible sold-out success of his most recent collection, “There is Only One: The Most Iconic Trading Cards of All Time,” Fiorentino’s work is in incredibly high demand.

"With his focus on fulfilling current orders for larger pieces, James has only been accepting commissions for select special projects, which makes this show is an incredibly rare opportunity to acquire some of his existing smaller pieces including the unique originals painted exclusively for this show," says Studio 7 Fine Arts Center director Kathleen Palmer, who added that in addition to the original pieces included in the black and white exhibit, the 2,500-square-foot gallery housed in a historic building in downtown Bernardsville includes a room dedicated to a collection of Fiorentino’s award winning landscapes and wildlife paintings, many of which have hung in museums around the country.

James Fiorentino

Renowned for his ability to create uncanny likeness of famous sports icons, James Fiorentino has propelled himself to the top of the sports art community and his work is highly sought after as one of the foremost artists in the exploding sports card-art market. A resident of Hunterdon County, NJ, James has painted and illustrated some of the most recognized faces in the world using his self-taught watercolor technique. His work is showcased in museums, galleries, and private collections across the globe, and his story has been told on national television and in the pages of magazines and newspapers. James is the youngest artist inducted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators and was the youngest artist
to display his work in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fiorentino continues to prove himself as a highly regarded illustrator and painter. James graduated from
Drew University in 1999. Now, his trademark detail and realism in watercolor can be seen in his wildlife paintings.

Artist Reception and Live Podcast

Friday's event featured special guest Jay Goldberg hosting a live podcast during the reception, and in addition to interviewing Fiorentino about his career and shows over years at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, and the former players and VIP guests in attendance, Goldberg will discussed his special upcoming multi-media project., “The Memory of America: Remember Your First Baseball Game.”
The Friday, December 10 reception will again feature special guest Jay Goldberg hosting a live podcast during the reception

"There Is Only One"

Card collecting and memorabilia grew significantly in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trading cards are now considered by many to be miniature masterpieces in their own right, and James is proud to be able to highlight the sports-art side of collecting on a fine art level with his new collection of large 22x33-inch paintings, “There is Only One: The Most Iconic Trading Cards of All Time.” Series one of the collection, original watercolor replicas of iconic trading cards, debuted at the Philly Show September 24, 2021, with all the paintings selling out within days of their reveal. Series two is under production and also sold out, and series three is currently under development.

Jay Goldberg

In his 20s, Jay Goldberg worked on political campaigns with the country’s preeminent strategists. In his 30s, Goldberg was a sports agent to athletes, sportscasters, and even Spuds MacKenzie. The forward thinking Goldberg brought Russian hockey players to West Point and Mississippi, and in his 40s, he co-founded a creative design studio specializing in exquisite, handmade baseballs which were coveted by business titans and bar mitzvah boys. In his 50s Goldberg launched a unique gallery/shop/community event space on a side street in Greenwich Village that became known around the globe. Now, in his 60s, Goldberg is working on “The Memory of America” and other multimedia art projects. Goldberg lives in New York City, where he was born.