About Tony

Baltimore City - Highlandtown A&E District
Tony Shore is a Baltimore-based artist who paints on Black velvet mostly recognized for his autobiographical paintings of blue-collar life in Southwest Baltimore . Tony is a recipient of a 2017 Franz and Virginia Bader Grant and a 2016 Rubys artist grant. He is the 2007 winner of The Walter and Janet Sondheim Prize as well as the 2005 winner of the Bethesda Painting Prize. He was a 2008 and 2016 finalist for the Trawick Prize and has been the recipient of several Maryland State Arts Council… more

Tony Shore

  • TONY SHORE : Paintings on Black Velvet
    Tony discusses his exhibition The Culture of Class: Charm City at the York College of Pennsylania's Marketview Galleries.

Velvet Paintings Gallery 3

One man's trash is another man's treasure - This often used phrase is one that truly resonates with me when considering my artwork.

I grew up in a flea market family; we supplemented much of our income through the flea market and yard sales trade. From a young age I learned to find value in places that others ignored. As an artist I want to provide a window for others to appreciate things they may often overlook or undervalue.

Velvet painting is a medium often written off as kitsch or lowbrow and looked down upon by the art world. I choose to address it with a reverence reserved for the finest linen. Velvet painting itself has a rich and interesting history, centuries old. My goal is to elevate this medium and make it worthy of galleries and museums.

The people that I paint, mostly family, friends, and neighbors, are often referred to as inner city hillbillies, or even worse, white trash. The places that I paint are usually seen as deteriorating slums or white trash ghettos. I see once proud neighborhoods and buildings, occupied by real people with real stories. I choose to paint them with sincerity, dignity, and honesty.

My subjects and my medium then, become intertwined, each with its own value and history. This mutual relationship is a driving force in my work.

  • Sisters
    Sisters
    acrylic on velvet, 20 x 30 inches. 2022
  • Rooftop at the Roosevelt
    Rooftop at the Roosevelt
    acrylic on velvet, 12 x 9 inches. 2022
  • The Pick-Up
    The Pick-Up
    acrylic on velvet 50 x 42 inches, 2018
  • Dialysis
    Dialysis
    acrylic on velvet, 56 x 40 inches
  • Blue light Special
    Blue light Special
    acrylic on velvet
  • Steak and Onions
    Steak and Onions
    acrylic on velvet, 48 x 36 inches.
  • Booper's Yard
    Booper's Yard
    acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
  • Booper's Yard (detail)
    Booper's Yard (detail)
    acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
  • Duke's Motel (Detail)
    Duke's Motel (Detail)
    acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
  • Duke's Motel.jpg
    Duke's Motel.jpg
    acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches

Street Fights

Theses are black velvet paintings based on fights and confrontations I have witnessed going up in Southwest Baltimore. This imagery, often haunts my memories and oftens finds ways to resurface as content in my work.
  • In the Alley
    In the Alley
    acrylic on velvet, 44 x 40 inches, 2015
  • Taking Your Shit
    Taking Your Shit
    acrylic on velvet, 36 x 52 inches, 2015
  • Taking Your Shit detail 2
    Taking Your Shit detail 2
  • Tracy Adkins Park
    Tracy Adkins Park
    acrylic on velvet, 60 x 42 inches.
  • Beatdown
    Beatdown
    acrylic on velvet, 42 x 54 inches.
  • Exit
    Exit
    acrylic on velvet, 36 x 26 inches.
  • Jump Out
    Jump Out
    acrylic on velvet,34 x 22 inches.

China paintings from Xinjiang Province

This series of paintings are based on experiences I had and the images I took in 2017, while exploring the city of Urumqi at night in the Xinxiang Province of China, an autonomous region. I was traveling with a group of American artists/ambassadors exhibiting our work in several museums in Beijing and along the Silk Road. I was priviledged to exhibit these paintings the following year at the China National Academy of Painting and the Fine Arts Museum of Urumqi.
  • Closing Time.jpg
    Closing Time.jpg
    acrylic on velvet, 30 x 44 inches, 2018
  • Lounge.jpg
    Lounge.jpg
    acrylic on velvet, 30 x 40 inches, 2018
  • Midnight Barber Shop.jpg
    Midnight Barber Shop.jpg
    acrylic on velvet, 35 x 26 inches, 2018

Most Recent Paintings on Velvet Gallery 1

One man's trash is another man's treasure - This often used phrase is one that truly resonates with me when considering my artwork.

I grew up in a flea market family; we supplemented much of our income through the flea market and yard sales trade. From a young age I learned to find value in places that others ignored. As an artist I want to provide a window for others to appreciate things they may often overlook or undervalue.

Velvet painting is a medium often written off as kitsch or lowbrow and looked down upon by the art world. I choose to address it with a reverence reserved for the finest linen. Velvet painting itself has a rich and interesting history, centuries old. My goal is to elevate this medium and make it worthy of galleries and museums.

The people that I paint, mostly family, friends, and neighbors, are often referred to as inner city hillbillies, or even worse, white trash. The places that I paint are usually seen as deteriorating slums or white trash ghettos. I see once proud neighborhoods and buildings, occupied by real people with real stories. I choose to paint them with sincerity, dignity, and honesty.

My subjects and my medium then, become intertwined, each with its own value and history. This mutual relationship is a driving force in my work.

  • La Bahia
    La Bahia
  • BOBO Smoke Shop
    BOBO Smoke Shop

    BOBO Smoke Shop

    acrylic on velvet, 36 x 24 inches, 2023

  • Hoops
    Hoops

    Hoops

    acrylic on velvet, 48 x 36 inches

  • PINKS
    PINK"S

    PINK'S

    acrylic on velvet, 60 x 40 inches, 2023

  • Venice
    Venice

    Venice, acrylic on velvet 40 x 60 inches

     

  • Fortune Teller
    Fortune Teller

    Fortune Teller 

    acrylic on velvet, 48 x 40 inches, 2023

  • Seventh Veil
    Seventh Veil

    Seventh Veil, acrylic on velvet, 2023

  • Guest House
    Guest House

    Guest House, acrylic on velvet, 2024.

     

  • Taco Spot
    Taco Spot

    Taco Spot,

    acrylic on velvet, 24 x 48 inches, 2023

Velvet Paintings Gallery 4

One man's trash is another mans treasure - This often used phrase is one that truly resonates with me when considering my artwork.

I grew up in a flea market family; that supplemented much of our income through the flea market and yard sales trade. From a young age I learned to find value in places that others ignored. As an artist I try to provide a window for others to appreciate things they may often overlook or undervalue.

Velvet painting is a medium often  looked down upon by the art world and written off as kitsch or lowbrow. I choose to address it with a reverence reserved for the finest linen. Velvet painting itself has a rich and interesting history, centuries old. My goal is to elevate this medium and make it worthy of galleries and museums.

The people that I paint, mostly family, friends, and neighbors, are often referred to as inner city hillbillies, or even worse, white trash. The places that I paint are usually seen as deteriorating slums or white trash ghettos. I see once proud neighborhoods and buildings, occupied by real people with real stories. I choose to paint them with sincerity, dignity, and honesty.

My subjects and my medium then, become intertwined, each with its own value and history. This mutual relationship is a driving force in my work.

  • 10:30 p.m.
    10:30 p.m.
    acrylic on velvet, 42 x 30 inches.
  • Booper's Table
    Booper's Table
    acrylic on velvet, 42 x 72 inches
  • Inheritance
    Inheritance
    acrylic on velvet, 60 x 42 inches
  • After the Hunt
    After the Hunt
    acrylic on velvet, 72 x 42 inches
  • Blue Star Motel
    Blue Star Motel
    acrylic on velvet, 40 x 24 inches
  • Donna's Kitchen
    Donna's Kitchen
    acrylic on velvet, 82 x 132 inches.
  • Exchange
    Exchange
    acrylic on velvet, 24 x 16 inches

Velvet Paintings Gallery 5

One man's trash is another man's treasure - This often used phrase is one that truly resonates with me when considering my artwork.

I grew up in a flea market family; we supplemented much of our income through the flea market and yard sales trade. From a young age I learned to find value in places that others ignored. As an artist I want to provide a window for others to appreciate things they may often overlook or undervalue.

Velvet painting is a medium often written off as kitsch or lowbrow and looked down upon by the art world. I choose to address it with a reverence reserved for the finest linen. Velvet painting itself has a rich and interesting history, centuries old. My goal is to elevate this medium and make it worthy of galleries and museums.

The people that I paint, mostly family, friends, and neighbors, are often referred to as inner city hillbillies, or even worse, white trash. The places that I paint are usually seen as deteriorating slums or white trash ghettos. I see once proud neighborhoods and buildings, occupied by real people with real stories. I choose to paint them with sincerity, dignity, and honesty.

My subjects and my medium then, become intertwined, each with its own value and history. This mutual relationship is a driving force in my work.

  • Refridgerator
    Refridgerator
    acrylic on velvet, 49 x 34 inches.
  • Laketrout
    Laketrout
    acrylic on velvet, 18 x 24 inches
  • Gluttony
    Gluttony
    acrylic on velvet, 32 x 24 inches
  • Beef Head with Toungue
    Beef Head with Toungue
    acrylic on velvet 24 x 22 inches
  • Potatoes and Onions
    Potatoes and Onions
    acrylic on velvet, 14 x 10 inches
  • Lobster (apologies to Jacob Lawrence)
    Lobster (apologies to Jacob Lawrence)
    acrylic on velvet 12 x 18 inches
  • Catfish and Hardhead
    Catfish and Hardhead
    acrylic on velvet, 16 x 20 inches.

Gouache Studies

This is a small group of Gouache studies for larger possible paintings.
  • Stomped
    Stomped
    Gouache on illustration board, 10 x 14 inches, 2017
  • Closing Time (Gouache Study)
    Closing Time (Gouache Study)
    gouache on illustration board, 12 x 16 inches, 2017
  • Nikki.jpg
    Nikki.jpg
    gouache on illustration board, 16 x 10 inches, 2017

Installation shots

These are just some installation photos of my work from The Baltimore Museum of Art and the Baltimore School for the Arts
  • installation-1-bma-2.jpg
    installation-1-bma-2.jpg
  • installation-4-bma-2.jpg
    installation-4-bma-2.jpg
  • bsa-installation-shot1-copy.jpg
    bsa-installation-shot1-copy.jpg
  • Culture of Class: Charm City
    Culture of Class: Charm City
    The Culture of Class :Charm City Marketview Galleries York College of Pennsylvania 2019

The Adventures of Tiny Tony

As a professor teaching during covid, there were no choices but to shift to online teaching. The adventures of Tiny Tony is a project that grew out of using action figures and model building as tools for teaching aspects of narrative painting virtually. I sculpted  a self portrait 1/6th scale figure of my self that I have named Tiny Tony. Combining my obsessions with thrifting and collecting and my interest in photography, I have developed a world and experieces for Tiny Tony to traverse. During covid I was able to live vicariously through his adventures in the world. While many of us are limited in what we are able to do under current conditions, Tiny Tony's  social media presence  has brought laughter, joy and occasional bewilderment.
  • Self Portrait, Self Portrait
    Self Portrait, Self Portrait
    Digital photograph with sculpted action figure and townhouse
  • IMG_1376 copy.JPG
    IMG_1376 copy.JPG
    Digital Photograph
  • Baltimore Man & MICA Professor Lives Vicariously Through 'Tiny Tony' Figure
  • At Home
    At Home
    Digital Photography
  • Tiny Tony reading about himself in the Baltimore Sun
    Tiny Tony reading about himself in the Baltimore Sun
    Digital photography
  • at the Beach with Begley
    at the Beach with Begley
    Digital Photography
  • Morning Fishing
    Morning Fishing
    Digital Photography
  • Central Park
    Central Park
    Digital Photography
  • Heads up
    Heads up
    Digital Photography
  • Stop Stealing My Life
    Stop Stealing My Life
    Digital Photography