Delsarte grew up in Brooklyn and attended the Pratt Institute (BFA) and also the University of Arizona in Tucson (MFA). He also taught art throughout his career, including at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Delsarte was influenced by jazz music and has attempted to represent its spontaneity and rhythm in his work. His work is included in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, California African-American Art Museum, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art . He was also commissioned to execute several important mural projects in cities throughout the country. His technique is instantly recognizable. His colorful compositions are intentionally flattened and his brushwork causes a “surface tension” that is reminiscent of a reflection of the scene being viewed in choppy water. The figures and even the inanimate objects are buzzing with energy.
This article appeared in the NY Times announcing his passing in 2020:
