Joseph Leo Messina Jr

Born in 1963 in Jamaica, New York, Joseph Leo Messina, Jr.’s interest in making things began in childhood, surrounded by the art and craft that his family produced. His mother created handmade beaded hair accessories and his paternal grandfather was a fabric designer and styling coordinator for textile firms. Messina has been particularly influenced by his grandfather’s creative spirit and his lifelong work as a painter.
When Messina was three, he and his family moved to North Babylon, Long Island. He now lives with his wife and two children in Babylon Village. At age sixteen, Messina entered the sign industry, first learning to weld and to work with plastics. He went on to acquire many skills, including plumbing, carpentry, and electrical wiring. He also worked in a variety of jobs, ranging from bouncer, candy salesman, dog breeder and kennel operator. (Messina continues to volunteer as an animal rescuer of dogs) It was in the sign business that Messina concentrated his efforts beginning in the early 1980s. At first he worked for others, and since 1989 he has run his own firm, Absolutely Neon. Over the years his focus has shifted from signs to neon lighting installations in residences, salons, and clubs. Clients in t...

Studied under the Master Designer and Painter Leo Messina from 1999-2003.Otherwise mostly self taught through self exploration, trial and error.

Art by the Falls May,2013 Babylon Ny, Art on the Green August,2013 Montauk Ny,Depot Gallery August,2013, Montauk Ny.,Pop-Up Installation Sunrise Highway Route 27 Bayshore Ny ,May 2013 - September 2013,Astoria Federal Savings Bank Babylon Ny 2013,2014,2015,Pop-up installation Sunrise Highway Route 27 Bayshore Ny September 2015,Art League of Long Island Dix Hills Ny March-April,2016,William Lauder Museum Amityville Ny April 2017,Hither Hills State Park,Montauk Ny (west end) Pop-up installation July 2017.