Artist, Born – June 26, 1947 in the town of Celano, Abruzzo Italy

After the war, Aleandro Russo and his family moved to Rome to work and receive support from his mom’s parents of which he credits having all the artistic talent and amazing skills. At the age of four, he and his family then moved to Bronson, New Brunswick Canada, where he recalls his father working as a lumberjack. Aleandro said being isolated in the bush forced his family to learn many life lessons of survival.

During this time, Aleandro became very interested in art and remembers that his community had very little in the form of art supplies. He recalls making do with just a pencil and discarded paper to draw on for a number of years. It wasn't until his family moved to Ontario that he was able to purchase crayons and water colour supplies. He was in "Art Heaven" not realizing that there was a multitude of art styles. Being a quick learner he soon enrolled in art school at C.T.S. in Toronto where he was fortunate enough to have amazing teachers such as Doris McCarthy and Elizabeth Luz.

At the age of eleven, Aleandro's father moved the family back to Milan, Italy to start his own business. For two years, Aleandro did not attend school and worked in a machine shop learning the trade of machinery, ie. lathe, a mill, a welder amongst other machines. After hours he was an apprentice for Mauro Reggiani, an artist in Milan, where he learned to appreciate abstract and surrealism, a rare form of art in Italy during the 50’s & 60’s. He became a member of MAC founder by Gillo Dorflea, Bruno Munari and Anatasio Soldato. 

After two years in Italy, Aleandro and his family returned to Canada. Aleandro maintains learning more in those two years in Milan than he did the next 10 years in Canada. Upon returning to school, Aleandro was enrolled in grade 9 and struggle until he joined the art course the following year. Since returning to Canada, he has ventured into many art forms and has had several businesses. 

Aleandro was a member of the Halton Mills Art Gallery and a member of Peel Art Gallery & Museum. He was also a member of the Toronto Italian Artists Association and has had many art shows experimenting with Pyrography and Surrealism Abstract Art which is his present passion. His favourite artists are Salvador Dali and Juan Miro. Along with his love of art Aleandro shares an equal passion for the sport of soccer. He was a Director of the Mississauga Sports Council, Vice President of the Mississauga Soccer Club and was responsible for the Rep Program and the International Soccer Tournament held each year. 

Aleandro has been married for 55 years to Shirley Russo, nee LeBrun and has two children Robert and Deanna, two grandchildren Luca and Evangeline, helped raise his daughter-in-law’s daughter Kaitlyn and considers his son-in-law’s son, Jesmond a grandson too.

Aleandro’s most notable art piece is the Mona Hazel, a portrait of the late Mayor of Mississauga Hazel McCallion which hung at the City Hall for six weeks.

Art Shows: Impressionable Gifts, Toronto Italian Artists Association, Lakeshore Art Walk, Muskoka Art Show, Mississauga City Hall, Clarkson Soccer Club, Port Credit Docks Art Show, A Whisper of Time Antiques