M. Tony Peralta
M. Tony Peralta makes work that celebrates iconic Latin cultural symbols and explores his multifaceted identity as Afro-Latino and New Yorker. He was born and raised in NYC's Washington Heights neighborhood to Dominican parents. Drawn to artmaking from a young age, Tony found early inspiration in comic books, graffiti culture and hip hop music, and later, from artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Frida Kahlo. He received a Media Arts degree from Long Island University and spent his "previous life" as a graphic designer designing fashion accessories for brands such as B. Makowsy, Kathy Van Zeeland and Oscar de la Renta. He has had exhibitions at NoMAA Gallery, Manhattan and Renaissance Fine Art, Harlem and his work is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian. His art is also in the private collections of Lin-Manual Miranda, Junot Díaz, and Swiss Beatz. Tony will soon open his first brick and mortar shop in his home neighborhood of Washington Heights - a major feat for an area being overrun with gentrification.
"I make artwork for a group of people that are underrepresented. I want to be a symbol for Latinos and Afro Latinos."
Tony's stickers on the side of a video game machine in Washington Heights.
Tony is opening his first brick and mortar shop in his home neighborhood of Washington Heights.
When he was 17, Tony started selling t-shirts with his artwork on it.
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