John Grillo, a versatile artist known for his mastery in painting, sculpting, and lithography, was born in Lawrence, MA. He received formal art education at the Hartford School of Fine Arts from 1935 to 1938 and later pursued further studies at the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco between 1945 and 1947. Returning to Massachusetts in 1948, Grillo honed his craft under the mentorship of Hans Hofmann at the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts in Provincetown. His artistic journey began with exhibitions at prestigious galleries, including Daliel's Gallery in Berkeley, CA, in 1947 and the Artists' Gallery in New York the following year. Throughout the 1950s, Grillo's art graced various New York galleries, such as Tanager Gallery, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and the Tibor de Nagy Gallery.
Beyond his creative pursuits, John Grillo made significant contributions as a visiting artist at esteemed institutions like the University of California at Berkeley, Iowa University, Studio School of New York, and Illinois University at Carbondale. He also shared his expertise through teaching positions at renowned institutions, including the School of Visual Arts in New York, New School of Social Research in New York, Pratt Institute, University of Massachusetts, and Provincetown Art Association and Museum in Provincetown, MA. Grillo's talent earned him notable accolades, including First Prize in Oil Painting and recognition for his sculpture at the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA.
The captivating works of John Grillo have graced prestigious galleries across the United States, including the Katherina Rich Perlow Gallery in New York, the Cove Gallery in Wellfleet, MA, the Aaron Galleries Modern in Chicago, Robert Green Fine Arts in Mill Valley, CA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York, and the Stable Gallery in New York. His artistry can also be found in esteemed public collections at The University of Texas Museum, Dartmouth College, the Bundy Art Gallery Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum, the Portland Museum, the University of Massachusetts, and the Norfolk Museum in Virginia.
Today, John Grillo's artistic legacy continues to inspire art enthusiasts and scholars alike. His versatile talent and impactful contributions to the art world have left a lasting impression on contemporary artists and art enthusiasts worldwide.