My international adventure began with 24-hours in Iceland. While most people head for the waterfalls, I found myself in search of street art and neon…
Tag: Borbay
A Mint Time In Las Vegas
Oh Vegas, you never disappoint. This years adventure was epic in all the right ways… Paint, friends, shows, lots of neon, a few cocktails, a Bachelorette party (sorry, no pictures, that’s the rules)…
Please fasten your seatbelts and return your tray table to its full upright and locked position...
Victor City Mural Approved — Fundraising Under Way
When I spent three months in Teton Village in 2015, I met former Victor mayor, Scott Fitzgerald, at a Silicon Couloir meeting. He described Victor, Idaho (population 2,088) with such enthusiasm, I was sold, and moved to Teton Valley with my family in March of 2016.
It took one round of golf with the current Victor Mayor Jeff Potter, to inspire civic involvement… which lead to my role in the Victor Placemakers Committee, and eventual board seat on the Victor Urban Renewal Agency. While collectively discussing public art possibilities, another former mayor, Zachary Smith, came up with the brilliant idea to paint the stage in Victor City Park. With the help of my fellow Placemakers — Liv Goodale, Erin Gaffney and Molly Absolon… we built a mural proposal from the ground up… which was approved by City Council last week!
“When Gary Met Jerry” — A Portrait of Gary Cooper in Front of the Seinfeld Diner
Moving out West from Manhattan, if I set-up shop and began painting pastoral cowboy scenes… they’d (literally) run me out of town, on a rail. No. That wouldn’t work. So… over the past two years… I’ve been trying to identify my vision of the West, through the lens of the East. Finally — the epiphany — Western Cowboys from the silver screen, in front of famous NYC neons. My first? Gary Cooper, from The Westerner, on his horse, in front of the Seinfeld Diner — Monk’s (actually, Tom’s Restaurant).
The narrative? Gary arrives at Monk’s, unannounced, for a drop-in with Jerry. Jerry offers Gary a bowl of cereal. Gary offers Jerry a smoke. They both decide this isn’t working out (it’s not like Gary asked for help moving, right Keith Hernandez?)… so Gary jumps on his horse, in search a gunfight… something ‘The Westerner’ was missing.
https://www.facebook.com/borbay/videos/1648992768517702/
Check the entire process inside a hot minute, soundtrack courtesy of Gato Loco. And, pardner, do read-on for more process.
The Borbay Show! Vegas, Clint Eastwood and The Wyoming Governor’s Conference
https://www.facebook.com/borbay/videos/1625878804162432/
Welcome to the first edition of The Borbay Show… drop it like it’s hot!
Bay Shore’s Steve Borbet Track
My Dad, Steve Borbet, has dedicated his life to developing athletes and humans at BAY SHORE HS. To date, he has been inducted into The Armory National Track and Field Hall of Fame, Suffolk County, New York Hall of Fame, was named National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Coach of The Year, and, the Bay Shore track now bears his name.
https://www.facebook.com/borbay/videos/1618237858259860/
My Dad’s biggest supporter, my Mom Kathie, commissioned this painting to celebrate a historic career. A big thank you to MH the Verb for the apropos soundtrack.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Painting
Saddle-up partner… here is my latest neon painting… The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. This baby began at Four Seasons Jackson Hole, and was completed at Borbay studios. Read more
A Must-Read: Sonnenfeldt’s Think Bigger
A decade of long distance running taught me to embrace The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. Those miles and trials were bootcamp for my next act, as a self-represented artist. Like distance running, successful entrepreneurism isn’t as lonesome as one might think — a point beautifully articulated in Michael Sonnenfeldt’s new book — Think Bigger: And 39 Other Winning Strategies from Successful Entrepreneurs.
A Portrait Of Trevor Gillies
My neighborhood on Long Island was fiercely divided. Neighbors took sides, and this animus bled into the streets… during roller hockey games. You were either an Islanders fan, or a Rangers fan — never both. I was, and remain, the former. During the 2009 season, a familiar name hit the ice — Trevor Gillies. He quickly became a fan favorite, and remained that way, even when the Coliseum faithful found out, he wasn’t, in fact, related to the legend — Clark Gillies.
How did this portrait come to be? During our first summer in Teton Valley, we attended a charity event at Teton Springs. There, I met a gentleman named Michael. As it happens, Erin and I found out the gender of our third child that evening, so Michael took me to the clubhouse for a celebratory shot of Jam-O. During our chat, I confessed my love for hockey, and he revealed the name of his brother-in-law — Trevor Gillies. And so, the wheels were set in motion…
Here is a look at the entire creative process, in time lapse. The track, Powerful Vibes (feat. Dolio The Sleuth, GR Stone & Stewie), has been provided by MH the Verb… run, don’t walk, to his website and buy his new album — Afronaut… yes, I painted the album cover.
And now… on to the process, with more about the story behind this new painting.
Rammell Barn Painting, A Teton Springs Landmark
I recently discovered the following, “Any artists living in Idaho for a period of sixteen or more months, is required by law, to create a barn painting. Said Barn must represent at least 40% of the picture plane to be considered a Idaho state approved barn painting.”
And so… I present my painting of Rammell Barn — a landmark located in Teton Springs, of Teton Valley, in Victor, Idaho. Interestingly enough, in early 2026, I was informed the actual name of this structure is the Curtis Barn, named after Nahum and Annie Curtis, the original homesteaders of the property now known as Teton Springs.