Cleve Carney Museum of Art hosts final exhibit by Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick
The Cleve Carney Museum of Art in Glen Ellyn opens its inaugural season with "Tony Fitzpatrick: Jesus of Western Avenue."
This will be the final museum exhibition by world-renowned multimedia artist and celebrated Chicago resident Tony Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick has work in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami and has also created album art for music icons including Lou Reed, Steve Earle and The Neville Brothers.
Fitzpatrick is best known for his multimedia collages, printmaking, paintings and drawings. The exhibit, which is free and open, will run from Saturday, Oct. 16, to Sunday, Jan. 31, at the art gallery on the College of DuPage campus at 425 Fawell Blvd. There will be an opening reception from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Some free timed tickets are still available for the opening reception at theccma.org/tony-fitzpatrick.
The exhibition will feature over 60 mixed media works. These graphically rich and inventive works deliver messages and stories that reflect on the artist's connection to Chicago, his social and political concerns and our shared changing reality.
"While Tony's artwork is deeply influenced by the Chicago area, it is recognized around the world," said Cleve Carney Museum of Art curator Justin Witte. "Tony is one of the most well-known artists working in Chicago today and we are thrilled to be able to feature him as we launch our first full season at Cleve Carney Museum of Art."
"We couldn't think of a better artist than Tony to celebrate the start of the 2021-2022 season," said McAninch Arts Center Director Diana Martinez. "He is an actor, a writer, an alum of the College of DuPage, a world-renowned artist and was a close friend of the late Cleve Carney, who is CCMA's namesake. We are honored to welcome him home for the exhibition."
"It's fitting that I have my final museum exhibition not far from where my work started. It's fitting that it happens in a museum named for my dear friend and supporter Cleve Carney; he was a grand guy; whom I met while caddying for his father Marv Carney," said artist Tony Fitzpatrick. "I chose to make art, not for a living, but for a life. Cleve chose to create opportunity and possibility for artists - myself being one of them. So much of my creative life began at the College of DuPage. I did my first acting here. I started to seriously write poetry here. I made artmaking my life here. This place has grown amazingly since I left. Mostly because of the great Hal McAninch, another grand presence who led by example, and with great integrity. My fondest hope for my final museum show is that it honors these men. My city. And all who have passed through these doors."
"Tony Fitzpatrick: Jesus of Western Avenue" may be viewed Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Free timed tickets are required for entry at theccma.org/tony-fitzpatrick.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Cleve Carney Museum of Art will host a Visiting Artist Series lecture with Tony Fitzpatrick. The event at 11 a.m. will be streamed at theccma.org/vas-20212022.
The museum will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Dec. 24 to Jan. 5. The exhibition additionally may be viewed one hour prior to McAninch Arts Center performances and during intermission. For more information visit TheCCMA.org.
About Tony Fitzpatrick
Tony Fitzpatrick is a Chicago-based artist best known for his multimedia collages, printmaking, paintings, and drawings. Fitzpatrick's work is inspired by Chicago street culture, cities he has traveled to, children's books, tattoo designs, and folk art. Fitzpatrick has wrote or illustrated eight books of art and poetry, and, for the last two years has written a column for Newcity. Fitzpatrick's art appears in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. The Neville Brothers' album "Yellow Moon "and the Steve Earle albums "El Corazon" and "The Revolution Starts Now" also feature Fitzpatrick's art. In 2015, Fitzpatrick opened The Dime, an exhibition space in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Before making a living as an artist, Fitzpatrick worked as a radio host, bartender, boxer, construction worker, and film and stage actor.
About the Cleve Carney Museum of Art
The late Cleve Carney provided a significant legacy gift to establish the Cleve Carney Art Gallery at College of DuPage. The gallery opened in February 2014 with its inaugural exhibition, Selections from Cleve Carney's Art Collection. In fall 2020, the gallery was expanded to a 2,500 square-foot museum. The Cleve Carney Museum of Art opened June 2021 with the highly anticipated "Frida Kahlo: Timeless" exhibition. The museum will maintain the standards set by the American Alliance of Museums. More information can be found at TheCCMA.org and on social media @CleveCarneyMuseumofArt.
Funding is provided by the Cleve Carney Endowment Fund, which supports vital programming including artist engagement opportunities for community members and students, gallery exhibitions, artist commissions, new acquisitions and other teaching and learning tools that foster cultural enrichment in the community.