Nello's dream

So many years later Tony's work still unleashes emotions in Hoboken. Claude, here in the picture of the newspaper which picked up the story, alerted me to the fact that Tony's painting 'Nello's Dream' was in storage in a cellar since the closure of the information center. Not living in Hoboken  anymore, I hadn't caught up on the fact.  So I wrote a kind letter- in the press they wrote a disgruntled letter- made a phone call and behold the district secretary personally hung the painting again against the wishes of those who thought the colors clashed with the wall... Well All is good that ends good and I do wish to thank all who made it happen.

Las Vegas

The world is his palette, wrote the journalist. Actually that is quite right. Tony Mafia would use what he saw, felt, experienced and turn that in something 'transcendental', for lack of a better word. He would turn the particular into something general, sharing his deepest and most personal experiences with the experiences of others. Of course if you read the article by clicking on it, you'll see that it deals rather with Tony's life than doing a thorough analysis of his work. And yes, he lead a rich (rich in experiences that is) and hard life.

October 1983

You find here two newspaper clippings and the price list from the 1983 exhibition in Gallery Atrium. He had a big sculpting there that was the focal point in Café De Linde on the South side of Antwerp. then the sculpting moved to a castle in Portugal. The paintings in that time were big, reaching to the floor, being installations, often with a book added... I don't remember what or if he sold. The revues at least were great, loving Tony Mafia and his work.

Press article

This is how Tony looked in th early seventies. The article about the show in Gebo Gallery in 1971 in Antwerp is titled Tony Mafia painter and poet. In that period with Ann he did a lo of mother and child drawings which the article reproduces here.


He also wrote around most drawings. At the show every one of those drawings had a card with the English and Dutch text.

The press

For those who read Danish, an article from 1970. You'll find some of the names of famous owners of Tony's work and some information about his life and work. Tony had a dual relationship with the press: he enjoyed the attention but felt they should not write about the man -although he was flattered and needed to be liked- but the articles should be about the work. As you can tell in full Vietnam war, he did drawings about peace and never soft on his words his message still is: Fuck Hate!