Tony Passero is a contemporary mixed media artist and muralist, who not only paints on traditional canvas but also uses a wide variety of found random objects (such as abandoned furniture, discarded doors, scrapped street signs, etc.) and unique surfaces (metal, wood, fabric, etc.) as the base for his works.
His work is often executed in series or set formats as he explores themes through repetition. The majority of his artwork is centered on a unique mash up of a Latin, Creole and Tribal tones blended with a bit of a linear organic cubist and expressionist styles.
His paintings are typically covered with patterns, text and codes of all kinds including words, letters, numerals, ephemera, pictograms and symbols. His output has a textured quality as a result of building up of layers from the various mediums he uses (ink, oil, acrylic, custom dyes, etc.) and the various devices he uses to apply the mediums.
With each new theme undertaking, Passero makes a point of exploring different and new painting techniques to aesthetically complete and compliment the theme of each project he engages.
From a public and commissioned art perspective, Passero has conceived installations and painted murals at a wide variety of locations such as:
The Coy Wolf Mural on Chicago’s 606 Trail for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
The Under LSD Mural at the Lake Shore Drive Entrance to Chicago’s Montrose Beach and Harbor
The Offense and Defense Mural at Major League Soccer’s Toyota Park Stadium in Bridgeview IL
The Chicago Cubs Dugout Mural found next to Wrigley Field in the Wrigleyville area of Chicago
The Cantina Caballo Mural at the Hilton Orlando
The Hola and Adios Murals located at Chicago's Archer & 35th Orange Line Station and Terminal.
The Mane Event Mural at the Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, IL
The 10 Panel Manifest Mural at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Pulaski Blue Line Exit
The Tierra Mural at LaBagh Woods for the Cook County Forest Preserve District
The JagLeo Mural in Chicago’s Portage Park Neighborhood
The Jumbo Jet Mural along Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway
The Feather Run Mural at Merrimac Park for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
The facing Toro Totem and Ramzelle Murals on Kedzie Avenue in Chicago
The MitzMosh Mural at the TodoVos Restaurant in Orlando, FL
The Spin Cycles Panel Installation at the 6 Corners Shopping District
The Whoot Mural on Belmont Avenue in Chicago’s Avondale
The Positive Babel Mural at Chicago Old Irving Park Metra Station
The Dragon Flowers Mural in the Aztec Asia Restaurant in Waukegan, IL.
The CrossCuts Mural at Chicago’s Addison Avenue Kennedy Expressway Exit
The Positive Babel Mural at the Irving Park Metra Station
The Colorribean Mural on Chase Avenue in Chicago’s historic Rogers Park Neighborhood
The Hep Cat Mural on Cicero Avenue in the Mayfair Community of Chicago
The Gras Roots Mural at Edwards Dual Language of Fine and Performing Arts School for the Chicago Public System
The Stained Glass Peacock and PaiRROTS Mural in the Chicago Park District’s Independence Park
The Asia Wave Mural in the American Place Casino in Waukegan, IL.
The Chicago Park District’s Ashmore Park makeover
The Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Child Foster Care Center Makeover
He has also participated as one of the lead artists on the Addison and Avondale Mural, Chicago Police Memorial Mural on Montrose Avenue, the Uptown Jazz Mural at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line exit and oversaw the Restoration of the first mural on Chicago Public Library Mural at the Bezazian Branch.
Personal
Tony Passero (born May 19, 1967) is an American contemporary artist, author and filmmaker based out of Chicago, IL and Orlando FL.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Tony Passero grew up on the city’s North side with his Irish mother, Sharon, Italian father, Vito, and his younger sister, Laurie.
He attended the Chicago public grade school, Scammon, and the Catholic high school, Gordon Technical, with no exposure to art or creative classes. He is an entirely self-taught artist, having never attended an art school or received any formal training.
An avid reader and viewer of cinema he was heavily influenced by authors and filmmakers and begin to keep detailed journals and sketchbooks around the age of 12.
He splits his creative time between his Chicago and Orlando based studios treasuring his downtime with his wife Shannon and their two children Sophia and Nico.
Professional Career
Career wise Tony Passero started and founded the Advertising Agency TribeAgency in 1998 and has been lead creative director and CEO of this company over the last years employing many leading designers, technologists and strategists.
Passero is also a celebrated graphic designer in his professional career as Creative Director of TribeAgency. He has created work for American Airlines,Baxter, BP, Chicago Fire, Dreamworks, Sony Music, Manchester United, Major League Soccer, Chicago Gateway Green, Sears, Taco Bell along with many other local, national and international companies and brands.
Charitable Efforts
Passero has contributed to numerous worldwide charities and countless local benevolences such as the AIDSWalk, Chicago Gateway Green, Chicago Fire Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and United Way.
Passero also takes his charitable commitment to the next level by sitting as a chair on the boards of a number of charities and community organizations such as Alderman’s Arts Advisory Committee, Independence Park Advisory Council, Foundation For A Better Life and the Northwest Arts Connection.