Thomas Peter Valenti

Thomas P. Valenti: Celebrated American Painter, Educator, and Arts Advocate. Thomas Valenti, an internationally acclaimed watercolorist and oil painter, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025 at his home in Washington Township, NJ, he was surrounded by his loving family. Born in the Bronx, NY and raised in New Jersey, Thomas attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art in 1974. His career blossomed early, and he became a fixture in the American realist tradition, known for his tonal mastery and evocative urban and rural scenes. Thomas served as the President of Allied Artists of America from 2006 to 2017 and taught at numerous institutions such as the Montclair Art Museum, the Bergen Community College, Summit Art Center, Art Center of Northern New Jersey, Ridgewood School of Continuing Education and The Yard School of Art. He was a frequent juror, guest speaker, and workshop leader, known for his vibrant and detail oriented classes. Thomas leaves behind a lasting legacy of artistic mastery and mentorship. His work was exhibited in prestigious venues across the United States and China, including: • The Butler Institute of American Art • The Salmagundi Club • The National Arts Club • Museums in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang Thomas’s paintings are held in the permanent collections of: • Rutgers University • Lipton Tea Company • Hoffman LaRoche • Nathan Ancel (Founder of Ethan Allen) • Numerous private collectors He received dozens of honors, including: • Gold Medal of Honor, Allied Artists of America • Honorary Membership. Allied Artists of America • Dale Meyers Cooper Award for Watercolor • Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award • Emeritus Membership, Salmagundi Club • Fellow Membership, New Jersey Watercolor Society His writings and artwork were featured in: • The Artist’s Magazine • American Artist Magazine • Splash watercolor series • Who’s Who in American Art His memory will be cherished by fellow artists, students, collectors, and admirers who celebrate his brilliance, humility, and dedication to the craft. He is survived by his wife, Noha Khalil-Valenti, daughter, Dana Valenti, brother, Jim Valenti, niece, Amanda Valenti Brana and husband Steven Brana, Brother-in-law, Mohamed Khalil, and wife Aimee Goldman and nephew, Youssef Khalil. A memorial exhibition celebrating Thomas Valenti’s life and work will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025 from 1PM to 5PM at: Volk Leber Funeral Home 268 Kinderkamack Road Oradell, NJ 07649 A service also celebrating Tom's life will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10:30AM also at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Westwood Cemetery. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to: Allied Artists of America, Inc. 62 Enclosure Street Nutley, NJ 07110 And/or Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation c/o ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation 1199 Pleasant Valley Road West Orange, NJ 07052