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Artist, Photographer, Poet, and Cultural Bridge:
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Albert Lee Massimi is a Brooklyn artist and educator whose life’s work embodies the seamless integration of creative practice and teaching. With a career spanning decades and continents, Massimi has cultivated a legacy rooted in artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and a deep commitment to nurturing others through art.
Early Life & Education:
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In his youth, Albert was drawn to the arts, embarking on a creative journey that captivated him from the start and continued with a tuition-free scholarship to the State University College at Buffalo, where he studied art to broadened his worldview through a semester abroad at the University of Siena in Italy. This early exposure to European art and culture laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to observation, technique, and the expressive power of visual storytelling.
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After earning his degree in Liberal Arts, Albert embarked on a transformative chapter as a Peace Corps volunteer in Buyeo, Korea. There, he taught English and immersed himself in traditional Korean brush and ink painting under the mentorship of a master artist. This experience not only refined his technical skills but also instilled a profound respect for East Asian aesthetics and philosophies. It was in Korea that Albert solidified his belief in the inseparability of teaching and making a principle that would guide his career from that point forward in his Artistic Practice.
Albert on the Left in 1969 with his honorable teacher:
Aloe vera (un pas par deux)
Albert is best known for his luminous watercolor paintings, often centered on botanical subjects. His work celebrates the transparency, brilliance, and serendipitous nature of watercolor—qualities that mirror his teaching philosophy, where process and discovery are as vital as outcome. His compositions evoke a quiet reverence for nature, capturing the delicate interplay of light, form, and emotion.
In addition to watercolor,Albert explores graphite drawing,photography,poetry,and gardening, each medium serving as a conduit for his lifelong dedication to observation and reflection. His artistic sensibility is deeply informed by his time in Korea, where he developed a nuanced appreciation for minimalism, gesture, and the meditative discipline of brushwork.
Veltheimia Graphite
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Albert demonstrating watercolor at the Brooklyn Museum
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Albert’s teaching career spans a wide range of institutions and audiences. He began in the Yonkers and New York City public school systems, later teaching at Manhattan College while completing a Master’s Degree at Columbia University. His pedagogical approach is rooted in deep technical knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and a passion for sharing his knowledge about the transformative power of art.
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He has led courses in watercolor and drawing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Horticultural Society of New York, the National Council of Jewish Women, and various UFT retirement centers, inspiring countless artists across generations. His workshops are known for their warmth, rigor, and emphasis on personal expression. His artwork is in private and public collections.
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Albert also supports the Hudson River Museum’s Teaching Artist-in-Residence Program, helping emerging artists connect with audiences through socially and environmentally conscious art. His belief that “ordinary things can be construed in extraordinary ways by an artist” continues to shape his personal and professional practice.
As a member of the Brooklyn Watercolor Society and president for 12 years, has contributed to the city’s vibrant artistic community and mentored emerging artists with generosity and insight. ​​​​​​​
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Cultural Exchange & Asian Art Collection
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Albert’s time in Korea sparked a lifelong engagement with Asian art and philosophy. His personal collection reflects a deep appreciation for:
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• Traditional brush and ink scrolls, emphasizing fluidity and expressive line
• Botanical motifs, echoing his own watercolor themes
• Ceramics and Cloisonne, admired for their organic beauty and craftsmanship
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This collection is not merely decorative—it represents a dialogue between cultures and a reverence for artistic traditions that transcend borders. Albert’s cross-cultural fluency enriches his studio practice, offering an expansive global perspective on art as a universal language.
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Art Is Life, Life Is Art: The Philosophy of Albert
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Albert’s intimate connection to nature was nurtured from a young age, beginning with his time as a Boy Scout and deepening through his role as director of Woodslore area at the camp in the Adirondacks. Immersed in the wilderness, he didn’t simply observe nature—he lived within it, allowing its rhythms and textures to shape his worldview. The forest became not just a setting, but a collaborator in his creative journey.
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At the heart of Albert’s philosophy lies a seamless fusion of art and nature. For him, creativity isn’t confined to the studio or canvas—it’s embedded in the soil of his garden, the arrangement of his living space, and the rituals of daily life.
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Albert’s belief that “Art is life, life is Art” is more than a poetic sentiment—it’s a way of being. It suggests that our lives are not merely a series of events, but a masterpiece in progress. Art, in all its forms, is not separate from the human experience but woven into its very fabric. In Albert’s world, the boundaries between living and creating dissolve. His life becomes a canvas, and his art becomes a mirror of that life—each informing and enriching the other.
