The fascinating story surrounding the discovery first broke in the New York Times in March 2007, in a feature article titled, “Closing on a House, and a Life’s Story, Told in Art.” After Pinajian’s death in 1999, five decades of accumulated artwork was found stacked up in the run down garage and attic of the Bellport Village cottage he shared with his sister from 1973 until his death in 1999. He had left instructions for his collection to be discarded in the town dump. Fortunately for American art history, Lawrence E. Joseph, the best-selling author of Apocalypse 2012 bought the cottage and rescued the collection just in time. A feature story about the artist and his life was included in the August 2010
issue of American Art Review magazine.
A collection of mostly small works including illustrations from the 1930s has been recently assembled and will be exhibited at Bellport Arts & Framing Studio Located at 147 South Country Road Bellport New York. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a Pinajian. Exhibit will run From March 18 through April 24, 2011 with an opening reception on Saturday March 19, 2010 from 4 to 6pm.