Gene Costanza is a contemporary realist painter known for his painterly application of oils and his focus on landscapes and humanity's interaction with nature. Born in 1954, Costanza orchestrates paintings that capture light, atmosphere, and emotion, inviting viewers into his world of serene scenes and evocative moments.

Before dedicating himself fully to art, Costanza served over 25 years in law enforcement, specializing in areas such as SWAT, K9 handling, patrol supervision, and detective work. A mid-career awakening rekindled his passion for painting, which he had set aside in his early twenties. He retired from the force to pursue art full-time, bringing discipline and perseverance honed in his previous career to his artistic practice.

Costanza has studied with notable artists including Kevin Macpherson, Matt Smith, Jeffrey A. Watts, Jill Carver, and maintains a close friendship and mentorship with Scott L. Christensen. He paints both en plein air and in the studio, drawing inspiration from the natural world.

His works are held in private collections across the United States and in the permanent collection of the Academy Museum in Easton, Maryland. Costanza currently resides in Central Texas with his wife and has two grown sons.

Artistic Philosophy

“At our point in history, there have been so many schools and movements in the visual arts, one can pick and choose techniques and eclectically build a painting that borrows from that rich and varied history.” — Gene Costanza

Costanza's goal is to share places and moments that resonate universally, evoking common human feelings through sensitive depictions of light and landscape.

Costanza orchestrates paintings that engage the viewer and invites them to enter his world. By capturing the light and atmosphere, the feel and smell, the wind and wave, he hopes to share places that mean something to him and the moments that evoke common feelings we share. One person summed it up with, "I love to watch your landscapes." Task accomplished in that case.

Over twenty-five years of his life was spent in Law Enforcement in such specialties as SWAT, K9 Handler/K9 Supervisor, Patrol Supervisor and Detective. About mid-career, the desire to return to artistic endeavors surfaced after having been abandoned in his early twenties. Though dormant, there was a constant underlying desire to again delve into the mysteries of paint, light, and subject matter. Costanza believes it took a decade and a half of discipline to mold his personal tendencies so that he could study and work as hard as one needs to in the difficult endeavor of making a good painting. Costanza retired from law enforcement to become a full-time painter.

Avoiding the description of being “self-taught,”  Gene has studied with a number of great contemporary artist/teachers including; Kevin McPhearson, Matt Smith, Jeffery A. Watt, Jill Carver and has a long-standing, close, personal as well as professional, friendship with Scott L. Christensen. It is Christensen whom Costanza credits with most of his growth. Frequently these two can be found painting, fishing, hunting or just enjoying the fellowship of intimate friendship.

His work is in collections from coast to coast and is included in the permanent collection of the Academy Museum in Easton, Maryland.

Costanza is married and has two grown sons and has made his home in Central Texas since 2024.