Louis Portuesi

Louis Portuesi, retired Art Director from New York Herald Tribune and Reader’s Digest magazine, respected by his peers for his award winning creative approach and promotion design; has died on November 24th, 2021.

Mr. Portuesi was a Westport/Fairfield resident and head of the Readers Digest Advertising Art Department. In his tenure there he was the winner of over one hundred design awards. A member of The New York Art Director’s Club, and The Society of Illustrators; he received national acclaim as a graphic designer. He was the recipient of both the Gold and Silver Medal (the Oscar of the advertising field) from NY Art Directors Club and NJ Art Directors Club. While employed at Reader’s Digest he was often the

subject of articles in international magazines and various US publications as well as Art Journals in countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

In 1995 Mr. Portuesi was invited to the White House to receive accommodation from President George Bush for his pro bono work on the Drug Free America Campaign, designing a series of magazine and newspaper ads.

At the start of the Korean War he enlisted in the Air Force with ideas of flying but his talents were soon noted and put to work designing Air Force Squadron Insignias and Air Force shoulder patches and airplane wing logos. Some of which are still being used.

Mr. Portuesi was the son of Italian immigrants. He often told stories of his youth on Staten Island, NY. His parents did not speak English until he reached the age of ten years old, which made his early school years difficult. Through shear determination, he managed to make passing grades. That determination was to stay with him the rest of his life. He knew early on he loved to draw and paint and it came very naturally to him. At age ten, he rendered oil paintings of his mother and father with perfect likeness to the amazement of his parents and his grammar school teachers.

In high school he entered several art contests and won US Savings Bonds and partial scholarships to various art schools in the New York area, one of which was Parsons School of Design. At a seminar later in his career, he addressed students remembering he enjoyed college but that he believed no one can teach an individual to be creative. It is something that is inside of you, a gift you have to be born with together with determination, self-discipline and not settling for mediocrity. All this and the desire to be

successful. Unfortunately, his parents did not live long enough to enjoy their son’s achievements. The goals he set were met upon becoming Managing Art Director at Reader’s Digest.

When he could not get enough stimulation at work, he would search out other graphic pursuits in designing book jackets for top book publishers, including illustrating children’s books.

He also accepted an overseas assignment to travel to Kuwait with a copywriter to design an Annual Report for the largest construction company in the Arab countries. Because the Seven Day War broke out, their stay in Kuwait was extended. The trip was successful despite it all.

When he returned from Kuwait, he decided to try his hand at painting sports figures. As an avid golfer himself, he chose life size portraits of professional golfers--- completing twenty one oil paintings while still working full time. He then proceeded to have them autographed by attending golf tournaments around the country. Notable golfers included Gene Sarazen, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Tom Kite, John Miller and many others. When Gene Sarazen autographed his painting at

the Masters Tournament in 1998, he was quoted as saying, “This is the best painting of me ever painted.”

Most of these paintings are displayed at private golf clubs in the North East. The remainder are in private collections. Continuing on with the golf theme, he decided to paint famous golf courses, starting with Harbor Town in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was commissioned to have 200 limited edition prints.

In the late 1980’s friends and co-workers suggested he have an art show. He thought about it and agreed to do it. He gathered forty of his paintings that were rendered in watercolor and oils and had a one man show. Several critics gave it good reviews and the show was a success selling thirty-five of the forty paintings.

After that he painted strictly for pleasure, giving away paintings to friends and relatives. From time to time he was called upon to judge local Art shows in the Westport, CT area.

Louis Portuesi is survived by his wife Joyce Christopher, daughters Jane Mosquera and Beth Cotroneo and grandchildren Richard Louis Vreeland and Scott Zachary Mosquera. His first wife and mother of his children, Johanna, died in 1993 and his granddaughter Alexandra Jade Vreeland died in November of 2017.