About Tony
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
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.
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Seventh Veil
Seventh Veil, acrylic on velvet, 2023
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La Bahia
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Venice
Venice, acrylic on velvet 40 x 60 inches
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BOBO Smoke Shop
BOBO Smoke Shop
acrylic on velvet, 36 x 24 inches, 2023
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Guest House
Guest House, acrylic on velvet, 2024.
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Hoops
Hoops
acrylic on velvet, 48 x 36 inches
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PINK"S
PINK'S
acrylic on velvet, 60 x 40 inches, 2023
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Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
acrylic on velvet
40 x 30 inches
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Fortune Teller
Fortune Teller
acrylic on velvet, 48 x 40 inches, 2023
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Taco Spot
Taco Spot,
acrylic on velvet, 24 x 48 inches, 2023
Velvet Paintings Gallery 2
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.
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Double Rainbowacrylic on velvet, 36 x 60 inches, 2022
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Bogie'sBogie's, acrylic on velvet, 20 x 30 inches
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Churros and Cotton Candyacrylic on velvet, 48 x 42 inches
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HI-TEKacrylic on velvet, 42 x 68 inches, 2022
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5646 Hollywood Boulevard5646 Hollywood Boulevard, acrylic on velvet, 40 x 30 inches. 2022
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Dean’s Shaved Iceacrylic on velvet, 20 x 6 inches
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Sausage Truckacrylic on velvet, 30 x 20 inches
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VACANCYVACANCY, acrylic on velvet, 40 x 67 inches.
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Glass UpholsteryGlass Upholstery, acrylic on velvet, 50 x 38 inches.
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Julia in Greenacrylic on velvet 14 x 11 inches. 2022
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.
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Sistersacrylic on velvet, 20 x 30 inches. 2022
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Rooftop at the Rooseveltacrylic on velvet, 12 x 9 inches. 2022
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The Pick-Upacrylic on velvet 50 x 42 inches, 2018
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Dialysisacrylic on velvet, 56 x 40 inches
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Blue light Specialacrylic on velvet
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Booper's Yardacrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
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Booper's Yard (detail)acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
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Duke's Motel (Detail)acrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
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Duke's Motel.jpgacrylic on velvet, 108 x 42 inches
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Steak and Onionsacrylic on velvet, 48 x 36 inches.
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.
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Sam and Emily
Sam and Emily
acrylic on velvet
30 x 22 inches
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10:30 p.m.acrylic on velvet, 42 x 30 inches.
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Booper's Tableacrylic on velvet, 42 x 72 inches
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Steak and Onions
Steak and Onions
acrylic on velvet
48 x 36 inches
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Inheritanceacrylic on velvet, 60 x 42 inches
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After the Huntacrylic on velvet, 72 x 42 inches
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Blue Star Motelacrylic on velvet, 40 x 24 inches
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Donna's Kitchenacrylic on velvet, 82 x 132 inches.
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Exchangeacrylic 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.
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Refridgeratoracrylic on velvet, 49 x 34 inches.
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Laketroutacrylic on velvet, 18 x 24 inches
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Gluttonyacrylic on velvet, 32 x 24 inches
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Beef Head with Toungueacrylic on velvet 24 x 22 inches
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Potatoes and Onionsacrylic on velvet, 14 x 10 inches
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Lobster (apologies to Jacob Lawrence)acrylic on velvet 12 x 18 inches
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Catfish and Hardheadacrylic on velvet, 16 x 20 inches.
Street Fights
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In the Alleyacrylic on velvet, 44 x 40 inches, 2015
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Taking Your Shitacrylic on velvet, 36 x 52 inches, 2015
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Taking Your Shit detail 2
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Tracy Adkins Parkacrylic on velvet, 60 x 42 inches.
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Beatdownacrylic on velvet, 42 x 54 inches.
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Exitacrylic on velvet, 36 x 26 inches.
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Jump Outacrylic on velvet,34 x 22 inches.
China paintings from Xinjiang Province
Gouache Studies
This is a small group of Gouache paintings made between 2018 and 2025.
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Now Open
Now Open
gouache on gesso board
14 x 11 inches
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Racer's Pub
Racer's Pub
gouache on paper
6 x 9 inches
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Double Rock Park
Double Rock Park
gouache on paper
12 x 9 inches
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Times Square Food Cart
Times Square Food Cart
gouache on paper
11 x 9 inches
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Uncle Mike
Uncle Mike
gouache on canvas
8 x 10 inches
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Nikki.jpggouache on illustration board, 16 x 10 inches, 2017
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StompedGouache on illustration board, 10 x 14 inches, 2017
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Closing Time (Gouache Study)gouache on illustration board, 12 x 16 inches, 2017