Restaurateur, investor, humanitarian, author and now artist Philip J. Romano knows a thing or two about creation. He has created six new restaurant concepts: Fuddruckers, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Spageddies, Cozymel's, Rudy's Country Store and BBQ and eatZi's Market & Bakery. His concepts have generated more than a billion dollars a year and to date has generated over $10 billion in revenue.
For years, painting has been Romano's passion and he gave away his work to friends and family who expressed enthusiasm about it, but he had not found a sense of definition in what he was creating until he met JD Miller and explored the idea of reflectionism and 3D-oil sculpting. “I always wanted to meet the artist when I purchased his or her art because I wanted to make sure good vibes would be in my home,” says Romano, who feels the same kind of excitement when meeting interested buyers of his own work now. He also feels that he has been artist his entire life, and one who has finally discovered his unique perspective with reflectionism. The theory that what one puts out into the universe is what the universe reflects back had always been at the core of Romano's humanitarian and philanthropic efforts. And with it, he has been able to apply his worldview directly to the custom-made, oversized canvases upon which he works - the only medium that mirrors his characteristically grand ideas. “Art feels good to me,” says Romano, “so I know it will feel good to others. The pieces reflect my feelings.”
Romano is a native New Yorker and attended Florida Atlantic University before moving to Dallas, Texas. Romano commits time and effort each week to Hunger Busters, a charity which Romano created along with his wife Lillie. Hunger Busters feeds the homeless and also includes an aftercare program for children in under privileged schools in Dallas. In addition to serving on the Board of South Methodist University's Cox School of Business and multiple boards of businesses which he helped create, Romano also lectures at universities throughout the country.
He presently resides in Dallas with his wife, Lillie, and twelve year old son, Sam, who Mr. Romano considers his greatest accomplishment yet.
