Born in midtown Manhattan, New York City in 1959, and was raised by a larger-than-life Italian family Salvatore Principe was bent on blazing his own trail from the start. 

Big brother to two fiery sisters and doted on by a loving mother and protective father, Sal’s life has always been full of love he desired to share with the world. 

A natural athlete but never an academic, Principe’s creative evolution began in his early 20s in New York City where he worked as an assistant lighting designer at the legendary nightclub Studio 54, enmeshed in the culture and surrounded by creative pioneers such as Calvin Klein, Mick Jagger, ,Elizabeth Taylor and Andy Warhol (to name a few), Sal mastered various lighting techniques crafting iconic atmospheres night after night.

Three years after beginning his career at Studio 54, his lighting expertise landed Principe a job at The Underground, the next infamous New York City nightclub of the early 80’s. 

Despite the excitement and glamor of the industry Sal realized he yearned for a more fulfilling life than chasing a series of last calls. He had an insatiable need to create, and so with no formal training (and no real tools) Principe made the bold decision to follow his heart. He retired from the entertainment scene and committed to becoming an artist and and never looked back.

Deeply inspired by his emotional connections with people and having spent many years immersed in a world of art, music, and culture, he developed a deep understanding of design, Principe began developing works of art with found objects and items he pulled from the city’s trash bins, transforming discarded materials into sculptural works.

Creating full time and completely immersing himself in his work, Principe’s tenacious hustle earned the artist his first serious exhibition, a three-week window display at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan. By 29, he had added displays at Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co and Casabella. Soon, SoHo galleries were inviting him to exhibit & his career was gaining seemingly unstoppable momentum.

But then, just as his dreams were becoming reality, tragedy struck, Anita Principe, his mother and best friend, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a three-year battle, she died at age 50. Principe was inconsolable and everything in New York reminded him of what he had lost. 

After his mother’s death he moved to Boca Raton, FL and began to heal his pain the only way an artist can, by creating. His art style shifted to express his grief, and to carry on his mom’s legacy of love he created inspired collages and, later, paintings decorated with hearts. His mission became "to paint the world with love.” and his signature style was born. Since then the Signature Heart collection has grown to thousands sold of pieces, distributing Sal’s vision across the globe from commercial installations to elaborate mansions and regular homes. 

In 2009 Salvator launched his wine brand featuring select pieces from the Signature Heart Collection on the label, it was a huge success and was referenced by Forbes Magazine in a 2024 article by author John Mariani. The brand continues to be sold in the Fresh Market today. 

Over the years, Principe has grown immeasurably as an artist, perfecting his technique and capturing the essence of the fragile moment between pain and healing. His exceptional talent & unwavering commitment to his craft has helped build a loyal following along the way. Principe’s art isn’t just for the eyes; it’s for the soul, a testament to his belief in a world drenched in love and his influence extends far beyond his roots in NYC, touching hearts across the globe.

He continues to work daily creating new pieces of art at his Downtown Delray Beach Studio, and is constantly implementing new techniques and expanding his brand. The best is yet to come.