Vasco Ruberti

ARTIST - WOOD CARVER - STYROFOAM CARVINGS/MOLDINGS - PAINTING

Gene & Vasco - Wooden lamp in background was made by Gene.

Clark Gable

Vasco Ruberti - June 12, 1921 - March 12, 2014

Born in Harve, Montana to Italian immigrants - Assuntina Trevilini and Angelo Ruberti. His father worked

on the railroad. The family moved to Chicago in 1923.

Genevieve Kopka - March 5, 1927 - July, 4, 2011

Born in Chicago to Polish immigrants - Apolonia Sobczak & Joseph Kopka. They lived above the candy

store they owned on the North side of Chicago.

Vasco studied at the Institute of Design and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago which came to be the Fine Arts Institute of Chicago. He started working at Stensgaard& Assoc. in 1939 as a Display Artist. He also did some work for Disney in those early days.

Vasco enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served during WWII from June 1943 - March 1946. He was on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. During his tour of duty, Vasco worked on a special project with several other artists (Richard Rush of Richard Rush Studio's & Sigmond Purwin) creating a three dimensional layout of the terrain for the infantry men. He was also commissioned to paint a portrait of a commanding officer. When Vasco returned to Stensgaard & Assoc. after the war he met his future wife, Genevieve Kopka.

We recently came across many detailed records of what seems to be a majority of their work. Matt always knew his parents were talented and he's very proud of their projects but feels they did not get the proper credit or recognition that they deserve for all their artistic contributions to Chicago and the Art World.

During Vasco & Genevieve's 50 year careers, they have contributed many art pieces that have been seen and loved by millions around the world. You see, they were listed as the "associates" while working at Stensgaard & Assoc. and then later at Richard Rush Studio's and Chicago Display Co.

Their portfolio includes "The Beatles" along with Archie & Veronica in the Corvette at the Rock n Roll McDonald's in Chicago, Storybook Gardens in WI Dells the Mother Goose at Starved Rock then there is the Hostess Twinkie displays that were in every grocery store in the 1960's - 1990's and the Joe Camel bust redesigned for R.J. Reynolds by Vasco in 1990.

Both Genevieve & Vasco were extremely diverse with their artistic talents with wood, plastics, styrofoam, clay and painting. There was nothing they couldn't do. Matt remembers coming home from school as a child and seeing his father in the front yard carving the 5 times life size figures of Pilgrims & Indians out of styrofoam for the Spinning Wheel Restaurant in Hinsdale, Illinois. Genevieve made a life size mountain lion out of clay in their basement for a display.

We hope you enjoy looking at their portfolio as much as we did discovering it.

about

Genevieve and Vasco had some artwork on display in this Painting and Sculpture Exhibit. (we believe this is where they met)

Genevieve Kopka/Ruberti was the president of the Matejko Arts Club and on the Exhibit Committee in 1947

Vasco was requested to paint a portrait of a battalion commander.

Vasco & Genevieve met while working at W.L. Stensgaard & Assoc. after he returned from WWII.

Drawing created by one of their colleagues at Stensgaard but never signed.

Vasco was well on his way to becoming a talented artist in 1940 when he studied art at the Institute of Design and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 19 while also working at Stensgaard & Assoc.

Vasco sketched this birthday card for Gene. It's in Polish and says

"I Love You"