Steve Tatti comes from a family of artists, sculptors, conservators, architects and bronze foundrymen. His father, Alexander Tatti, owned and operated a bronze foundry and art fabrication studio in New York City. His Uncle Benedict was also an art educator and renowned modernist sculptor in his own right, studying at the Art Students League as an apprentice to William Zorach.
Alexander Tatti working at the 39th St. Shop
A Family Tradition
Following in the family tradition, Steve began his tenure in the art world by training as an art conservator in Florence, Italy. While as a conservation student in Italy he came face to face with the portrait of an ancestor hanging in the corridor below the Uffizi Museum. The painting, by Tintoretto, was of the former sculptor and State Architect of Venice, Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570), formerly known as Tatti.
Once back in the States, Steve continued to fine-tune his conservation skills as a Senior Conservator for nearly a decade at the Hirschhorn Museum & National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian Institute.
Steve Tatti atop the Statue of Liberty
In 1985, Steve launched his private conservation firm and recruited his father and uncle to assist with him the verdigris patina restoration project at the Statue of Liberty.
Two Generations of building relationships
Over the past two generations, Steve and his father Alexander developed strong working relationships with professionals in the various art industries ranging from art historians, analytical specialists, artists and conservators to art handlers and art storage specialists, fabricators and foundries. Today, these relationships allow Steve Tatti to provide comprehensive conservation services resulting in the highest level of care for works of art.
Alexander, Benedict, and Steve Tatti - Painting by Daniel Graves
Thousands of Art Treasures Successfully Restored
During his distinctive 30+ year career in fine arts conservation, Steve Tatti has successfully restored thousands of pieces for auction houses, galleries, museums, municipalities, and private clients. He has also been recognized with numerous awards, including those from Save Outdoor Sculpture, NY Landmarks Conservancy, and Baltimore Heritage.
EDUCATION
Isamu Noguchi's George Gershwin
Villa Schifanoia, Florence Italy
Graduate Program in Art Conservation, l972-73
Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York
B.A. cum laude, General Studies, l972
Loyola University, Rome, Italy
Academic Year Abroad, l970-7l
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
American Institute for Conservation
Washington Conservation Guild
International Institute for Conservation
Tatti Art History – Timeline
1486-1570 – Jacopo Tatti Sansovino, Sculptor & State Architect of Venice
1890’s – Tatti grandparents emigrate to U.S. from Italy
1917 – Benedict Michael Tatti is born (Modernist Sculptor, Pioneer Video Artist)
1919 – Alexander John Tatti is born (Bronze Foundryman, Art Fabricator)
1936 – Benedict studies at Art Student League with William Zorach
1937 – Alexander apprentices at foundry of Anton Basky, a former modeler for Rodin
1940’s – Ben Tatti wins 1st Prize in the National Soldier Art Competition displayed at the National Gallery of Art
1944 – Ben Tatti wins 1st Prize for Brooklyn Museum of Art’s Annual Prize for his bronze Portrait of My Mother
1940’s – WWII interrupts
1940’s – Alexander Tatti invents ‘tattistone’ for Louise Nevelson
1949 – Al Tatti purchases Foundry from Basky
1950 – Steven Alexander Tatti is born
1954 – Steve Tatti models for Uncle Ben’s & Al’s design for Big Boy
1956 – Steve and his sister Linda Tatti visit Dad’s Foundry
1970 – Steve Tatti begins conservation graduate studies in Florence, Italy
1975 – Steve takes conservator position at the National Museum of American Art, American History Museum & Hirschhorn Museum, all at the Smithsonian Institute
1985 – Steve establishes private conservation practice
1985 – Steve, with Alexander and Benedict, restores verdigris patina at Statue of Liberty
1985-2010’s – Steve establishes thriving art conservation business with clients including galleries, art dealers, museums, collectors, municipalities and institutions.
1993 – Steve and team restore the Hildreth Meiere Medallions over Rockefeller Center
2003-2009 – Steve and team restore fire damaged collections at St. John the Divine
2005 – Tatti family visits Italy and pose with bust of Jacopo Tatti Sansovino
2008 – Steve and his team remove & restore JFK American Airline’s Carybe Murals
2010 – Both sons Nicholas and Zachary Tatti intern at the Tatti studio
