I take pleasure in moments of wry humor, particularly the subtlest ones that exist in life’s mundane situations. My works reflecting this depict whimsical coincidences and visual double takes, usually set in vague, unreal worlds, and often laden with irony and awkwardness. My experience has suggested that everything is interconnected, an idea which I explore visually using intentional juxtapositions of subject, object and background. Generally figurative, my work veers toward abstraction, recurrently making use of deconstruction, rearrangement of forms, compressed and blocky composition and bold outlining. Shapes and patterns appearing in my work are inspired by my observation of nature, man-made objects, architectural forms and textiles.

Born in a Cleveland suburb in 1980, I grew up amid the campus of a small liberal arts college, near a defunct quarry. In a close knit family of artists, designers and historians it was impossible to find a bare wall or uncrowded shelf. Gently encouraged, I carried the family torch and in 2003 received a Bachelor of Science in Design from The Ohio State University’s Department of Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design. Here I was deeply influenced by Bauhaus, the Swiss school and Mid-century modernism. Now, after nearly two decades working as a graphic designer, art director and creative director for internationally recognized agencies and studios in Boston, New York, Los Angeles and Amsterdam (view that work here), I have more recently forayed into the pursuit of painting and illustration. I report for duty daily at my studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

CV

2024

Rockella Space, Ridgewood, Queens, NY
Presence // Absence, Group Exhibition
Presented by “under the pale blue”
Curated by Britt Harrison

2023

The Greenpoint Gallery, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
Salon Show, Group Exhibition
Curated by Shawn James

"B" Dry Goods Gallery, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY
First Come First Hung, Group Exhibition
Curated by Gabriel Boyers

Instagram: @tony_bartolucci