[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”548″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]Michael Longo was a cherished member of the Parlor Gallery family. His passing in April 2024 marked a deep loss for Asbury Park, as we mourn not only an admired artist but also one of the most captivating individuals who touched our community. We continue to feel his absence.
Michael wanted to curate a show with his artist friends, first exhibiting with them in 2015 at Joe Borzotta’s Gallery in Asbury Park, NJ. Although he never had the chance to organize it at Parlor, we are fulfilling that wish on his behalf. We’ve titled this exhibition “Grace -N- Grit”, in homage to his life, filled with beautiful contradictions. He moved with the grace of a trained dancer despite a limp from an old football injury. He would wear a small flower behind his ear while bartending at Bond St., yet wasn’t shy about throwing someone out for bad behavior. Covered in car grease or paint, he refused to wear a stained white t-shirt beneath it all. These contradictions were part of his charm, teaching us that we are all more complex than the world sees—each of us a multitude of layers and experiences.
In both the verb and noun forms, “Grace” epitomized Michael. His very presence honored those around him, and he lived with simple elegance and goodwill. “Grit” was equally a part of him—his courage, resolve, and strength of character evident not only in his life but also throughout his illness.
From the beginning, Michael was an artist through and through. Many of his closest friends didn’t even know he was a painter—he didn’t define himself by that alone. He approached all of his passions—whether visual art, working on cars, or cooking—with the same attention and devotion, living a life where art was inseparable from existence.
When diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, Michael stopped using oil paints or any toxic materials. As his illness progressed and neuropathy caused pain and numbness in his hands, creating art became physically challenging. But whenever possible, he sketched in his notebooks, turning to gouache and watercolor. Although he often gave away or sold his finished pieces, we uncovered a treasure trove of smaller works—paintings and studies he had never intended to show but had saved nonetheless. We are honored to share these with the world, even though he was hesitant to do so. ~ Jill Ricci, Parlor Gallery
Proceeds from the sale of his works will be donated to KYDS in Asbury Park and Mary’s Place by the Sea in Ocean Grove, organizations that reflect Michael’s values and do work he cared deeply about.