"In the 1960’s my works of still life and figure drew me to the meetings and exhibitions of the New York Figurative Alliance and First Street Gallery in lower Manhattan. These venues were newly calling upon a rising generation of realist artists, more or less nurturing a cultural and academic shift from post-war abstraction, Pop Art, and other contemporary currents. The era seemed to vindicate my bias for natural appearances and my habit of always working directly from life, bringing a congenial distinction of “humble truth” to my art and teaching over the next five decades."

Fred Badalamenti was born in Long Island City, raised in Farmingdale, and is a permanent resident of East Setauket. His professional life began as a secondary school art teacher in Newburgh and Deer Park. In 1965, he was awarded a full graduate fellowship on entering the MFA painting program at Brooklyn College. There he embarked on a 28 year career of college art teaching and administration. In 1972, he became the Deputy Chairman for graduate and undergraduate studio art programs, a post he held for consecutive years until retirement. On occasions, he taught and was a visiting artist at Stony Brook University.