Visitors to the Center Moriches Library this month will be treated to a dazzling display of artwork by local resident Ron DeCesare, whose new exhibit blends the natural world with the fantastical in ways that are both mesmerizing and thought-provoking.
DeCesare, a retired chiropractor and longtime art hobbyist, has been creating since childhood. “I have always loved art and have been drawing and painting since the fifth grade,” he said. “I first began with both wild and domesticated animals, but over the years I’ve explored just about every medium and style you can imagine.”
That sense of exploration has guided DeCesare’s artistic journey. Today, his work has evolved into what he describes as a phantasmagorical/fantasy style, often incorporating surreal blends of humans, animals, and abstract patterns. He works primarily in pastels, acrylics, and colored pencil—sometimes layering all three to achieve distinctive textures and depth.
One of the striking pieces on display features a woman’s face seamlessly fused with the image of a leopard. The painting’s haunting orange-gold eyes, intricate fur-like patterns, and bold interplay of light and shadow evoke themes of transformation, power, and hidden identity. It’s a perfect example of DeCesare’s ability to merge realism with dreamlike imagination, transporting viewers into a world where boundaries between human and animal dissolve.
Although DeCesare has been an artist for decades, he has never sold a single piece, instead giving away many of his works as gifts. “I hope people enjoy viewing my work, and I’m always interested to learn what they find most appealing,” he said.
The exhibit offers a rare chance to see his pieces together in one space. Each painting invites viewers to linger, discovering new details and interpretations with every glance.
Ron DeCesare’s art exhibit will be on display
throughout the month at the Center Moriches Library at 235 Main Street. Admission is free during regular library hours.