ABOUT

I moved to New York City after a successful career in painting in the south east USA (late 1990s). After moving to New York City in 1997, I navigated through the competitive New York City fine art scene, including an inspiring private meeting with Leo Castelli.

However, I was quickly seduced by the lucrative world of commercial art while freelancing for many Manhattan’s top Madison Avenue advertising agencies (2000-2008).

I later switched gears and spent the next 10 years as an investigative journalist and documentarian covering highly disruptive medical technologies. (2008-present). More. 

As of 2026, Merola has entered a new phase of his work, developing collage-based compositions that incorporate rare and authentic artifacts. Central to this series is his signature “Aperture” — a visual framework that reveals and contrasts layered elements within each piece.

This shift marks a move away from large-scale oil paintings on canvas toward more intimate works (12–36 inches), executed on museum-grade wood panels.

He is currently a resident artist at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica, California.