Born in New York City in 1964, Sebastian Alterera knew he wanted to be an artist by the time he was four years old. While still a child, he developed skill at painting, drawing, and playing classical guitar.

Alterera’s life was changed forever at age fifteen, when his father died suddenly. Alterera cites this tragic event as part of what inspired him to depict through his art the human mind and nature’s impact upon it. When his family moved to San Francisco, he continued to be inspired by the mountains, ocean, and architecture of that remarkable city.

Alterera later enrolled in the BFA program at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, where he was again influenced by sea and city alike. He continued his formal art education with a MFA degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, before moving to Naples, Italy to explore the art and culture of that country.

During his seven years in Italy, Alterera painted, traveled, studied and taught. When he returned to the United States, his artwork continued to evolve. While still focusing primarily on the human form, Alterera’s art has developed from a realist style to more dynamic, figurative abstracts. His remarkable art is exhibited and collected all over the country.