Lady with a banjo

Laura was kind enough to send this picture and the following text:

I grew up with this painting in my home. My father bought it and another similar one of a woman and baby years and years ago. We live in L.A., and it is in a similar style to the Torero painting on the blog. So, I'm assuming from the same time as that one?

it is on canvas. 24" x 36". as is the other one.

Dear Laura, thanks for sending this picture and your story with it. To my best knowledge I would place this painting at an early sixties. He was still in a rather decorative phase with big eyes. Yet the background already shows many characteristics of his later work: the abstract flowers, the small doll like figure and the red abstractions. It certainly is a nice piece. I am wondering however that on the picture I can't see a signature nor a date, which is rather unusual.

PS. Laura send me the picture of the signature which she had cropped off and it certainly is his handwriting.

Mexican indepence

That was title under which this picture of a double multi media drawing came to me. It is a pity I can't read the text, nor the date. It is a lovely piece, done in Antwerp, with oil and pastels on the typical heavy German paper he loved to use and of course a landscape in the background. There is one other oil on canvas with pyramids. You'll find it on the blog under pigs and pyramids.
Who knows more, I wrote yesterday and see, I was send a better picture and a tentative reading of the text.: So they sent there war and the venrion???? on our dislove. Lay next to lovers as the sky bled...

See the green snake of envy?

Matter and no matter

I have seen similar etchings by Tony Mafia, etchings probably done early seventies in LA. He would moisten the etching paper and imprint the forms he needed to complete the etching on the plates, thus combining figurative art and abstract art. I always liked that technique. These etchings too can be acquired through:


Jeannie Ott, located in Las Vegas
jott777@cox.net
702-450-3288
I hope all the work finds a loving home.

Antwerp Jews

These two etchings are from Antwerp when Tony Mafia lived in the Korte Herentalse straat in the Jewish quarter, in 1969, leaving Antwerp with his then wife Anna and their two children half of January. Tony Mafia was fascinated by the different appearances. I seem to remember there were four different etchings in all. I saw the smallest one, not included here, being priced at $ 125 in 1979 in his Gallery in Los Angeles. Sorry I forgot the name of the Gallery.
If you're interested contact: jott777@cox.net
702-450-3288
She is located in Las Vegas

Tony's jewelry

Melinda wrote me following comment on Tnry's blog: Hi, I purchased a wonderful huge unsigned chunky Sterling Silver ring that I was told was made by Tony Mafia. The people I purchased it from said that they personally knew him and that it was probably the only piece of jewelry that he made. It is cast and abstract. It has a man and woman's head on it. The man has a large mustache. Do you have any idea if this story could be true? If so, any idea of value? If you know anything or would like a picture do contact me. So I did because I truly believe it is a piece done by Tony. He used to have a metal box in which he had jewelry making tools. I have seen it. I don't know whether this is the only know piece or whether he made several pieces. He has done several sculptures and the style and dealing with the material really looks it could have been a piece Tony made.

As to value, I don't really know: he used to say for a handful of love or a bag of peanuts. It is a rare piece, so to someone  collecting Tony's work it might add something special to their collection.

I remember a story of two lawyers in California who in the 70's flew him over for a party because they had their 300 st piece of work by him, even a plaster cast he made as a child. I don't know the name of these good people. Maybe someone does... Maybe there are people out there who would like to see or own more Tony Mafia's. Maybe somewhere out there, there is a Tony Mafia foundation...

Tony's helpers

Ah, good taste, what a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness. -Pablo Picasso, painter and sculptor (1881-1973.

I start with this quote because it might be felt to be not  too elegant what I am about to write. A series of people have stood steadfast by Tony Mafia's side during his life which has known many down and out periods. I want with this post to honor these friends who provided him with a means of transportation, who kept him fed, whom he cajoled when his children came to Antwerp so that he could feed them and show them a good time.
In random order I honor: Anke and Sam Nassi, who traded a painting for a car, Dale Root who gave him a very good guitar when he didn't have one, Doug Lyon who let him have his Shell gas card. This is not publicity for the oil company but it was one of the brands where one could by milk and sandwiches before it became a normal thing. He kept Tony fed during a a long time. Doug would also slip him some money. Then in Belgium Paula and Wim van Hees who ended up with a nice collection of Tony's work.  Jim Van Leemput, Guy and Anne Sijssen, the dentist who did Tony's teeth in exchange for drawing and painting classes. Arnold De Paepe, the veterinarian who would give him prescriptions for his heart medication. I should not forget the people of Antwerp who threw a coin in his guitar case when he was busking in the street, often not even making enough money for a meal in 'Het Hofke'. Friends of friends who bought a drawing, the collector Harry Kegels who has a wonderful collection of Tony's work, sometimes being given the drawings or oil, other times when Tony really needed the money  paying a fair prize. The hookers of Antwerp who made their John's buy a drawing for them and thus kept Tony's rent paid. I am sure I am forgetting people, I am sure I don't know all the people who showed kindness toward him.  Yes, he was often a starving artist, living in the dumpiest places without heat... Or alone in a tiny trailer on top of a mountain because it was only 75 $ per month. And even then loosing the land for non-payment...

These are facts.  The story of Tony's life is his story, and he told it well, stylized and lighthearted. Were they lies? I think it was  the truth as he saw it.  Other people involved in his life may have a very different take on what happened, may have had other expectations of him. He was not an easy person, yet most people who met him, where touched and came out a better person with more beauty in their soul.

Watercolor lady

When I was contacted for some information by Kari about the above piece I wrote:  It looks like an early work of Tony. I would guess between 65 and 75... based on other work from that period I have seen. How did you come by it? Was it a gift. It definitely is an original. Thanks for sharing.  Her answer was:

Hi'
So nice to hear from you.. I have had the painting for about ten years. Got it at an estate sale in the fairfax district.  Embarrassed to say first I was attracted to the colors as they matched my bedroom. Well once I got it up, I really loved it.  I see it first thing in the morning and literally discover something new all the time. I think it was months before I realized she was in front of a mirror!  I see new colors,facial expressions and even clothing whenever I really focus. I never researched the art because I just loved it. I have been low on funds and selling a few things in the house and thought "lets just check it out"
Reading your blog has been fascinating and I sure wish I had met Tony. Great to hear she is original, but the whole story is too cool to want to let her go anytime soon!
My husband has the picture on his laptop.and my tech savy is lacking. I will get him to send it to you, but wanted to return your kind note A.S.A.P.  Thanks again! Kari

It is good to complete the collection of Tony's work online. Thanks to all who share their work with the rest of the world.

Family Portrait?

Kim send me a picture of this oil painting requesting some information.  The best I can do is confirm that it is an early sixties painting by Tony. The lady in it could be Anne. The male figure is not a self portrait, but a more Mexican type. This could mean the painting could be from the period he lived between Tijuana and Los Angeles. He must have been in a romantic mood when painting it.  Thanks for sharing

Animals

I received a comment on the post of December 28, 2008: The Animals. I had written it was from de DL collection. It is part of the pictures a dear friend, living in Los Angeles took over the years of Tony's work. That is what it means.

Torero

Dear Attila, thank you for your questions about Tony Mafia and this particular painting. From your description of the support (a kind of board with canvas on one side) for the painting I gather that he painted it in the United States. Probably in Los Angeles, California, in a period that he didn't have a real canvas and was a strugling artist without funds. It definitely is an original and a fairly early work I think, based on the way it is painted. I would say it is after his stay in Casares in Spain. The painting seems to be in good condition. That, the subject, also the size decides the value. A collector of Tony Mafia's paintings or a bullfight lover, might want to spend some money on this canvas. Bullfights were certainly a recurrent theme in his work. He loved the flamboyance and the vibrant colors, the life and death issues dealt with through beauty and ritual. I would put a 5.000 $ price for a particular sale. It may take a while however to find the person who would fall in love with the painting and willing to invest his money in Tony's work. I know for a fact that after the stay in Casares he had a show in Rue St. André des Arts in Paris with Spanish and bullfight paintings and that the show sold out. I heard it a couple of years ago from the Gallery owner Madame Besnard. So it might be a good thing for you.

Love

This hippie couple probably dates from the late sixties/early seventies and was more than probably painted in Los Angeles. The blond lady must have been Ann, his then wife. Flower power rules in this painting. Good message.

Fuq hate

'Fuq Hate' and 'Love' in the background, I guess this qualifies as a political painting. It must still have been in the Vietnam war years. Note also the typical fish on the head. Tony used to put them in many paintings. I am not sure whether there was a Christian connotation or not. Enjoy the gentle colors and the sure lines.

Boards

Sometimes Tony would paint on boards when he wouldn't have any canvas or good paper. This oil painting could well be a portrait. I don't have a date yet I am pretty sure it stems from the seventies and also that is was painted in Los Angeles

Erotica

Well here is Pan and a nymph in action. As far as I can tell it is an oil from the sixties. Figurative but with hidden figures and areas of abstractions. Enjoy.

red times of some

This photograph catches the essentials of this painting: the embrace and just a few words: red times of some and possessions... There is a large oil where the male figure is similar, so I would place this drawing in Veyle, Denmark late sixties, seventy... It was all love and peace in those years, no possessions... Life must have been good, yet hard.

Bullfights

This bullfight scene in an arena reminded me of something Tony told me. I am not sure when but the story goes that he painted the whole bullring of Tijuana. In Tony's rendering it seemed to be in the fifties maybe later. He had several colors of oils on his pallet, a few buckets of paint which he threw on the stuccoed wall of the bullring. The Major got angry till the moment Tony with his brushes pulled out the figures and brought the painting to live. The Major is quoted as shouting: 'Viva el maestro pintor!' I have never seen it, since when I was in Tijuana a long time ago the bullring was closed. It is probably lost by now.

Swinging

This etching was a study for a sculpting Tony did or wanted to do a long time ago. He spoke about it as the whole sculpting resting on the girls right leg balancing in a lawn. I don't know whether it was realized in Tony's mind's eye or for the art lover who happened to fancy his work.

Animals

This whimsical animal drawing seems to be a drawing for children: note the mouse, the monkey, the hippopotamus, the bull, the bird and the pigeon, the lion and a man with a tear in his eye.
All for the smile of a child. As far as I can tell, watercolor and oil pastel: All for your smile in yesteryear's snows.

The red apple

Arthur wrote: The Auction that I bought the painting at was an estate auction, I did not meet Tony nor the previous seller, I just fell in love the painting. All my friends love the painting as well. I do not know the name of it and it would be great if I did.
There is a riddle in the back on the painting that reads:
A Mistery
A Secret
A thing
for to
find
Tony Mafia
80
My comment: What a nice surprise. It is for sure a real Tony Mafia. Everything tells me so: the skies, the circles in the tree, the horses, the elongated figure, and the twist of he holding the apple of seduction... Waw. I am falling in love with this one too. I think but this is not the gospel that she is a portrait of his girlfriend at the time 1980 might have been Gina or Sue, both brunettes and pretty. I am falling for this painting too.

Geese in flight

Sing the song a goose and red lips that say something in a space of nothing... Also September 1989. It must have been a sad song that was being sung.

September 4rd 1989: what was going on? A pretty lady, geese with open beaks and one goose almost mounting her, like in Leda and the swan from Greek Mythology... I don't know where he did this painting, in his Las Vegas period would be a safe bet.