With these two important series, the artist responded to a new impulse and inspiration, turning from a long and successful career as an illustrator of children’s books and a commercial art editor for Johnson and Johnson, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Random House, King Features, Regents Publishing and the New York Stock Exchange, to depict subjects that are more than traditional portraits.
Winner of an art scholarship from the Parson’s School of Design , Constance also attended the School of Art and Design (formerly School of Industrial Arts ) and the Art Student’s League of New York. Currently a member of the prestigious Society of Illustrators and an emeritus Board Member of the Queens Theatre in the Park and the Queens Council on the Arts where she also served as President of the Board for three years. She also served on Mayor Giuliani’s Cultural Commission for the Arts and on the Leadership Team of the Portrait Society of New York.
Among her many awards of recognition are Queens Borough President Claire Shulman’s Citation of Honor; the Outstanding Achievement in the Arts Award of Americans of Italian Heritage; Columbus Achievement Award OSIA Mario Lanza Lodge; Italian Charities Woman of the Year Award; and the Italian American Professional & Business Association’s Woman of the Year Award.
Constance is the recipient of many other awards including the Special Recognition in the Arts and Humanities Award of Columbus: Countdown ’92; the Columbia Society of the TBTA Award for furthering the appreciation of Italian American Art; the Johnson and Johnson TV and Film Festival Award; and the National Society to Prevent Blindness Design Award; Women’s History Month Status of Women Commission – Woman of Distinction Award; Ridgewood Senior Citizens Woman of the Year Award; Central Queens Historical Assn Flame of History & Culture Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian American Electorate Coalition. She received Governor Pataki’s “Award for Excellence” and the Governor’s “Special Citation”. Prominent for her achievements in Art and Culture, she takes great pride in her Italian American heritage and her being given the title of “Cavaliere” when she was knighted by the Republic of Italy . She also received the “25th Anniversary Millennium Award” for her portrait of Dr. Henry Paolucci.
Her paintings have been shown in museums, galleries, expositions, exhibitions and Italian American Heritage presentations at the State Capitol, the Nation’s Capitol, New York City Hall, Queens Borough Hall, the Queens Museum, Maspeth Town Hall, as well as featured in a major three year exhibition at the Intrepid Museum.
The former Art Editor of My Baby Magazine, she has illustrated many books including the nationally acclaimed “Wonders Beyond the Solar System” and the Space Shuttle for Thomas Electronics.
Her work includes portraits of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, former Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato, Dr. Joyce Brothers, former Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink, Ambassador Charles Gargano, the late Assemblyman Anthony Genovesi, Senator Efrain Gonzalez, Judge Robert J. Hanophy, Jack Kemp, Judge Al Lerner, former Congresswoman Susan Molinari, Mrs. Margaret Pataki, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Senator Mary Lou Rath, Mildred Robbins Leet, Dr. Henry Paolucci, Generoso Pope ,Sr. ,Judge Edward A. Rath and Judge Joan Durante.
“A Maltese painting is a legacy for future generations,” and the Maltese portraits of the explorers and navigators who traced the New World for us and the magnificent American Women portraits will surely have a special place in artistic archives and will be long remembered and enjoyed.
She and Serphin, her husband of 54 years, reside in Middle Village , Queens . They have two daughters, Andrea Maltese Spanarkel and Leslie Maltese McGill. Constance and Serf take great pride in them, their husbands, Arthur and Jim, and their achievements. Leslie and Jim presented Serphin and Constance with two granddaughters, Sondra and Eva and a grandson James. Andrea and Arthur did likewise with the birth of Genevieve.
Joseph v. Scelsa, Constance Del Vecchio/Maltese and Senator Serphin R. Maltese
After the Presentation of the Cavaliere Medal
Constance Del Vecchio/ Maltese
Best known for her stunning “Age of Discovery Navigators,” a series of thirteen paintings commemorating the history of discovery in the New World , Constance Del Vecchio Maltese turned her attention to another exciting project. She completed a new series of paintings featuring women outstanding in their areas of expertise from various cultural backgrounds. Included in this group is an oil on canvas of Astronaut Dr. Ellen Shulman Baker-depicted with Aviatrix Amelia Earhart – which was unveiled at Queensboro Hall in celebration of “Women’s History Month”.
As in the navigation series, Maltese brings to many of the portraits in “American Women” the results of careful research which enabled her to create a kind of Renaissance picture story, where important details and events are integrated into a magnificent portrait.
Because of her splendid efforts on the monumental Columbus Quincentennial series, she has been termed “The Age of Discovery Artist” by Dr. Anne Paolucci, President of Columbus: Countdown ’92.
