About the Artist: Lennie Ciliento

August 2025 Issue
About the Cover Artist —Lennie Ciliento
by Lindsay Gifford

Pink Magazine is excited to feature local mixed-media artist Lennie Ciliento. His dynamic artwork is bursting with intricate details and fun vibes—a colorful salute to summer featuring layers of intriguing elements.

Raised in Rutherford, New Jersey, Lennie headed south to Hilton Head as soon as he graduated high school—more than 30 years ago. His interest in art began at home with a basket of broken, wrapper-less, Crayola crayons and drawing on whatever he could find, even the occasional piece of furniture. (Horrors!) “I remember being about eight-years-old when we were given a coloring sheet in school. I watched a boy in my class carefully outline each shape and color it lightly. He mocked my heavy-handed coloring, telling me it wasn’t the ‘right’ way to do it. Sadly, I believed him. Worse, I was jealous. His page looked neat and ‘proper,’ while mine was a thick, waxy mess of color, drawn hastily and well outside the lines. Last I heard, his artwork wasn’t put on the cover of Pink Magazine, so it just goes to show how far persistence and individuality will get you!” laughed Lennie.

As years went by, Lennie’s interest in art ebbed, and he didn’t take it up again until early adulthood. He was teaching school then, so he dedicated summers off to studying and developing his drawing abilities. From there, he began experimenting with paint, and eventually, just about everything the art store had to offer. Now, Lennie’s artwork is most recognized for his use of paper-based materials such as Japanese washi tape and stained tissue. His favorite medium—washi tape— is an unconventional option in the art world with no established rules or expectations. Lennie enjoys the freedom it allows, often creating a rewarding effect that turns out better than imagined.

“I create art in order to tell a story,” he said. “Everyone and everything in my pictures have a reason for being there. They each have a role to play.” Through his use of geometric and organic shapes, dynamic colors, and patterns, his work has been described as impressionistic and grounded in a reality, which borders on the whimsical.

Lennie is drawn to the shapes of things: contours, colors, patterns—the way someone sits, what they’re wearing, or how they stand when lost in thought often catches his eye and makes him think, “I’d love to see a picture of that. I know; I’ll make one!”

By trade, Lennie is a handyman with a passion for carpentry. He enjoys building and fixing things made from wood, working with his hands, and solving problems. His handyman work keeps him grounded in reality, interacting with people and getting out of the house, creating a balance with his art creation in self-imposed solitary confinement. 

This month’s cover piece, titled What’s In Store, began as just a woman and a car. Lennie knew from the beginning the car had to be a ’66 Ford Mustang—his favorite. He decided to set the scene on Route 66, adding people to complement the overall design. “I’m never quite sure what I hope people will see in my work. It’s amazing how often viewers don’t see what I expect or what I want them to see. Because of that, I create the picture, first and foremost, for myself. I make something I would be proud to hang in my own home, then leave the interpretation open to the viewer.”

Lennie’s one-of-a-kind mixed media creations—both originals and prints—can be viewed at www.lenniecilientoart.weebly.com. His work is also available on Etsy.com/shop/LennieCilentoArt. Follow Lennie on Facebook @LennieCilentoArt and Instagram @GodfatherOfTapeArt