Character Study
Anthony Coleman
313 Bowery, New York, NY
September 14, 2023 – October 15, 2023
Character Study, an extensive group of drawings by Anthony Coleman, is his first solo exhibition in New York. The opening of the show will feature a book launch for his recent publication, “I like Drawing,” in collaboration with Blurring Books.
Anthony "Tony" Coleman (1969) is a self-taught artist who was born in Philadelphia, PA where he continues to live and work. He predominantly works with graphite and colored pencils on paper.
From a young age, Tony's passion for art led him to sketch portraits on any scrap of paper within reach, be it work schedules, receipts, napkins, notes, or newspapers. Tony has honed a distinctive style influenced by the vibrancy of 70's and 80's cartoons and pop art.
Before fully dedicating himself to his craft, Tony had a stint as a cleaning assistant at the Overbrook School For The Blind, followed by a position folding boxes at Pizza Hut. His employer noticed his instinctual and impulsive drawings on discarded pizza boxes and encouraged him to pursue a career as a full-time artist.
While his characters are disparate, from Jodorowsky and Bjork to Bugs Bunny and The Kool-Aid Man, his bold colors, intersecting lines, anatomical exaggerations, and distinctive antennas bring them all together — fellow travelers in a world of his own.