Rino Liberatore

Teaches at The Art Center Highland Park

Venturino Liberatore is a Chicago native and a fifteen-year resident of the Northshore. He graduated with High Honors from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Art Education. At NEIU he received awards for his acrylic and oil paintings. He began a career in advertising in 1982 at Eisaman, Johns and Laws where he received local and national acclaim for his creativity. During his thirteen years in advertising he helped create memorable TV Campaigns for the Chicago Cubs, The Loop Radio Station, Chevrolet, Motorola, WGN-TV, and many others. In 1991 the Chicago Tribune named his department the Hottest Creative Shop in the Midwest. In 1995 Venturino left the advertising business to start his own film production company in Chicago. He is currently a member of the Directors Guild of America and works as a freelance Creative and Commercial Film-maker. His reputation as a top comedy and “real people” commercial director, has led to numerous projects for clients including McDonald’s, A&W Root Beer, the Illinois Lottery, Budweiser, Proctor & Gamble, and CN Railroad. He has worked extensively with celebrities including Presidents Bush and Ford, Michael Jordan, the 1985 Super Bowl Chicago Bears, Ron Santo, Roseanne Barr, Nia Vardalos, Jon Favreau and many others. Venturino has produced, written and directed a number of short films that have been exhibited in festivals and aired on Image Union and several Chicago Television outlets. He co-directed an Independent Feature Film titled “The Opera Lover”, which won the Audience Award at the Newport Film Festival. The film was picked up by Showtime and opened in local theatres in 2002. Venturino has recently resumed Oil Painting and won honors at the Wilmette Art Exhibition in 2002. He is currently the Exhibition Director at The Art Center and also a member of the Faculty. He teaches painting, drawing and digital photography to youth and adults.