About the Artist
Tony Teal is a native Nashvillian. He spent his childhood on the East side, where his grandfather grew up.
Tony's mother recognized his artistic talent early on. After seeing him copying cartoons from the newspaper, she encouraged him to pursue his abilities by enrolling him in art classes at Nossi School of Art. By his senior year, he had established a reputation for his artistic abilities, resulting in his paintings being submitted to a competition in New York City. Tony won a scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design. However, because of his family's modest income, the limited nature of the scholarship, and his doubts, he did not enroll.
Several years later, Tony attended classes at the Art Institute of Atlanta and workshops at the Watkins School of Art & Design in Nashville. Even though he was unable to complete his academic ambitions, he continued to paint--and became inspired by the works of artists Edward Hopper and Vincent Van Gogh.
Finally, in 1999, Tony moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design. It was a transformative experience for both his personal life and artistic endeavors. During his time there, he obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree in General Studio. Shortly after graduation, he and his partner bought a home in East Nashville. Inspired by urban life and neighborhood, Tony began a series of nocturnal cityscapes in oil. Meg MacFadyden's Art & Invention Gallery (now closed) represented his work from 2007 to 2019.
Over the years, Tony has showcased his artwork at renowned venues including the Parthenon Art Gallery and Sarratt Gallery in Nashville, the Fly Arts Center in Shelbyville, and the Off Square Gallery in Dickson, Tennessee. His works are included in the collections of the Hunter Museum of American Art, Husk Restaurant, and Pinnacle Bank in Nashville
