Antony Zito: Portrait of an Artist
Written by Eve Hyman
(Opposite photo of
Anthony Zito -
Photo Credit Melinda Maclean)
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Walking up to Zito’s gallery at Ludlow and Delancey in New York’s Lower East Side, I see a plastic goose, a stop sign, and a bench made of springs and forks and machine parts. There are also paintings hanging from the neighboring fence, paintings on car bumpers, paintings on mirrors, and one painting on a squished trash can. Then I see Zito and a friend sitting on a bench in the window. This is Zito’s space, full of art and community, it is cozy and timeless and colorful. And it will be gone next week.
Photo Courtesy www.zitogallery.com
Zito paints faces, both famous and local. He follows the Duchamp tradition of portraiture and uses found and unusual objects for canvases. I became aware of Zito’s work shortly after moving to the neighborhood when I saw his paintings adorning the walls in East Village/ LES cafes and shops. Zito paints faces with the lines and color of a Van Gough. His style is classic and fluid and in stark contrast to the graffiti of Neck Face and the stickers and flyers that cover public spaces on neighborhood streets. When I spot a Zito painting while waiting in line for my morning coffee, it wakes me up with its color and contrast.
One of my favorite pieces is that of a clock faced with a lady painted in profile. She’s a solemn redhead; the clock is a wooden antique with chimes. Zito told me that the clock is magical because it chimes at poignant moments in conversations.
Photo Courtesy www.zitogallery.com
Photo Credit Melinda Maclean
Friends drop in on Zito at any hour. He calls the gallery
a clubhouse and welcomes visitors. At the beginning
of August, his landlord tripled his rent, reneging
on a verbal agreement for a new lease. Due to the
exorbitant rent hike, the gallery will close
August 31st.
Photo Credit Melinda Maclean
Zito organized a huge Anti-Gentrification party for August 31st. The party will feature circus clowns, fire-eaters and bands – all friends of the gallery.
The artist plans to start fresh in Long Island City. He will continue to paint portraits on commission in his new studio. He also has a film project (Jim Jarmusch is a fan of Zito’s work and put a Zito painting in his film Coffee and Cigarettes). Zito plans to show his work in Chelsea next. “I’m doing something that’s old world for the slick Chelsea world, but I’m confident in what I do. I feel like I can add something,” he says. I agree.
New York Cool's Eve Hyman
Talks to Anthony Zito
Photo Credit Melinda Maclean
Online | www.zitogallery.com
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