Growing up as a native Nashville artist, my world has always been defined by the urban landscapes of this city. My story actually started back on the East side, where my grandfather grew up. My mother caught on to my interest early when she saw me copying cartoons from the newspaper and encouraged me by enrolling me in art classes. By my senior year, I had a bit of a reputation for my work, and it even led to a scholarship offer for college, though I didn't end up enrolling at the time due to family income and some of my own doubts.
I took a bit of a winding path after that, attending workshops and classes in Atlanta and back home at Watkins, all while getting inspired by the moods of artists like Edward Hopper and Vincent Van Gogh. The real turning point came in 1999 when I moved to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design. It was a massive, transformative experience for me, and after graduating, I moved back to East Nashville with my partner.
For over a decade now, I’ve been almost entirely focused on nocturnal cityscapes. I’m fascinated by that "ghostly" haze where city lights reflect off an overcast sky, turning steel and stone into something more atmospheric. While my roots are firmly in East Nashville, traveling through Europe recently has really expanded my lens. Exploring cities like Berlin and Dublin allowed me to find a visual common ground with my hometown, bridging the architectural character of those places with the Nashville streets I've known since childhood.
Today, I use my work to lean into the shadows and find those subtle glints of hope and mystery hidden in the urban grid. It's about more than just recording a street—it's about capturing that emotional pulse of the city after dark.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS
Over the years, Tony has showcased his artwork at renowned venues including the Parthenon Art Gallery and Sarratt Gallery in Nashville, the Fly Arts Center in Shelbyville, Art & Invention Gallery, and the Off Square Gallery in Dickson, Tennessee. His works are included in the collections of the Hunter Museum of American Art, Husk Restaurant, and Pinnacle Bank in Nashville.