How it all started:
“Vinnie, I don’t see a market for this.”
That was the direct response from my professor and a few of my classmates in art school when I proposed to artistically depict a historical account of Lacrosse, as my senior-thesis prior to graduation. I was grilled and objectively questioned to defend my proposal. I remained steadfast and told my professor that “this [Lacrosse] is the only thing I want to do”. After some debating, my professor finally agreed.
7 years after graduating from college and back to playing organized lacrosse, a personal website was launched with my lacrosse art from my senior-thesis. My teammates, who took notice of the work, asked the most important question:
“Vinnie, is your lacrosse art for sale?”
About the Artist:
Vincent Ricasio is the founder of The Art of Lax™ and has been an avid artist and lacrosse player since childhood. What originally was his senior-thesis in art school prior to graduation has been turned into a graphic studio for generic and custom lacrosse-themed art. His artwork has been purchased for private home and office décor to end-of-the season awards, graduation and holiday gifts alike and commercial material for business corporations in the United States and abroad.
A native-New Yorker, Vinnie graduated with a BFA in Communications Design from the Pratt Institute of Art and Design in Brooklyn, NY. He has taught art, worked in publishing, print, trade, advertising, online media, sports and marketing agencies while executing commissions as a commercial artist and designer. His clients have included: the Fashion Institute of Technology, the New York Police Department, the State Democratic Assembly of New York, Saint David’s School, South African Airlines, the medial practices of Anand/loft/Huang & Liberatore M.D., ELIA Life Technology, Green Acres Cash Management, the Warwick Hotel, the Fitzpatrick Hotel, Chorne Graphics, the New York Law Enforcement, the New York Titans of the National Lacrosse League, University Lacrosse LLC, Rahha, Inc., e7Sports.com, SportStop.com, MCM Productions, The College of Southern Maryland, Streaker Sports, The Thailand Lacrosse Association, The Power-Tek Performance Gear Company, LaxAllStars.com, HEADstrong Foundation. The We Believe Foundation and The Tewaaraton Award, among others.
His work has been displayed, auctioned and sold at Sotheby’s New York, the Society of Illustrators, Cipriani Midtown, the Kent Art Association, the Webatuck Craft Village, RIVAA-Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association, LaxFestUSA, the Texas Lacrosse Expo/The Lax Botique, the U.S. National Lacrosse Convention, The Suffolk Y JCC/The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, The Big Apple Pond Hockey Classic and international stages such as; the Canada Day Box Lacrosse Event in Calgary, the 2010 ILF World Games of Lacrosse in Manchester, England and the 2012 ADH Open in Kaierslautern, Germany. His non-lacrosse genres can be also found at www.vincentricasio.com. He is a co-founder, president and goaltender of the Brooklyn Lacrosse Club that competes in the elite, American Lacrosse League.
When not in front of the drafting table, painting easel, or computer, or out on the playing field, Vinnie enjoys cooking, watching films, going to the gym, reading history books, and traveling the world with his family, believing that his artistic inspirations are spurred by “non-artistic” activities. He lives in Pelham, NY with his wife, Rachel and their son, Reid.
“Hard work is better than talent, when talent doesn’t want to work hard.” - Herb Brooks
Contact Info:
Vincent Ricasio
The Art of Lax™
159 Sparks Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803
917-783-3004
