Exhibition: Tony Capparelli: The Art of Sport

November 3–December 12, 2015
Gallery FIT, The Museum at FIT

The Fashion Institute of Technology’s School of Art and Design presents Tony Capparelli: The Art of Sport, an exhibition by FIT Adjunct Associate Professor of Illustration Tony Capparelli, whose colorful, precise work focuses on the world of sports. His media include oils, watercolors, charcoals, artwork on textiles, and digital and acrylic airbrushing. The exhibition will be on view at Gallery FIT at The Museum at FIT from November 3 through December 12, 2015.

Shea Stadium 1964-2008, mixed media, 2008. This image of the former home of the New York Mets in Flushing, Queens, is a colorful interpretation of the stadium where the Mets won two World Series.
Shea Stadium 1964-2008, mixed media, 2008. This image of the former home of the New York Mets in Flushing, Queens, is a colorful interpretation of the stadium where the Mets won two World Series.

Featured in the exhibition is a 9-foot mural depicting the Stanley Cup–winning goal made by New York Ranger Mark Messier at Madison Square Garden in 1994. The artwork is a panoramic depiction of the historic moment of Messier’s goal, signed in gold leaf by the athlete. A personalized FIT-themed Reebok-CCM goalie mask is also on display. The mask was donated for the exhibition by Reebok-CCM.

A holographic model of Madison Square Garden by Zebra Imaging showcases artworks by Capparelli projected onto the entrance towers of the Garden.

Henrik Lundqvist NY Rangers, watercolor on Arches paper, 28 x 36, 2014. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is considered one of the world’s best goaltenders and one of the NHL’s most marketable personalities.
Henrik Lundqvist NY Rangers, watercolor on Arches paper, 28 x 36, 2014. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is considered one of the world’s best goaltenders and one of the NHL’s most marketable personalities.

The exhibition includes sports celebrities, such as the late former Heavyweight Champion of the World “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier (this painting is signed by the boxer), NBA great Lenny Wilkens, and New York Rangers Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert. Bold acrylics laid down with a palette knife create bright, exploratory gestures to portray sports greats Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky, and David Cone. Also included are watercolors of Yankee Stadium, a painting in mixed media of Shea Stadium, and an acrylic airbrush rendering of the Boston Garden, plus charcoal drawings of Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and Babe Ruth that are photorealistic in nature. Manager Don Mattingly is portrayed as a Yankee during his playing days. An image of former New York Knicks great Allan Houston, now assistant general manager of the Knicks, is also on view.

Derek Jeter-Pride of the Yankees Again, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 28, 1999. Yankees captain and All-Star shortstop Jeter won five World Championships.
Derek Jeter-Pride of the Yankees Again, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 28, 1999. Yankees captain and All-Star shortstop Jeter won five World Championships.

The exhibition includes sports celebrities, such as the late former Heavyweight Champion of the World “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier (this painting is signed by the boxer), NBA great Lenny Wilkens, and New York Rangers Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert. Bold acrylics laid down with a palette knife create bright, exploratory gestures to portray sports greats Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky, and David Cone. Also included are watercolors of Yankee Stadium, a painting in mixed media of Shea Stadium, and an acrylic airbrush rendering of the Boston Garden, plus charcoal drawings of Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and Babe Ruth that are photorealistic in nature. Manager Don Mattingly is portrayed as a Yankee during his playing days. An image of former New York Knicks great Allan Houston, now assistant general manager of the Knicks, is also on view.

Capparelli has been the Milestone Artist of the New Jersey Devils since 1989 and was an officially licensed artist for Super Bowl XLIV. He is a recipient of Art Direction’s Award of Distinction and the Beckett Sports Art Gallery Award. His paintings have been the covers of the National Review, Financial World, and award-winning NHL yearbooks. An instructor at FIT since 1997, Capparelli is involved with the college’s Educational Opportunity Program’s summer courses and is the advisor for the Zine Club, the comic arts student club at FIT.

The Museum at FIT
The Museum at FIT, which is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion. Best known for its innovative and award-winning exhibitions, the museum has a collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present. Like other fashion museums, such as the Musée de la Mode, the Mode Museum, and the Museo de la Moda, The Museum at FIT collects, conserves, documents, exhibits, and interprets fashion. The museum’s mission is to advance knowledge of fashion through exhibitions, publications, and public programs. Visit fitnyc.edu/museum.

The museum is part of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a State University of New York (SUNY) college of art, design, business, and technology that has been at the crossroads of commerce and creativity for 70 years. With programs that blend hands-on practice, a strong grounding in theory, and a broad-based liberal arts foundation, FIT offers career education in nearly 50 areas, and grants associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. FIT provides students with a complete college experience at an affordable cost, a vibrant campus life in New York City, and industry-relevant preparation for rewarding careers.

Museum hours: Tuesday–Friday, noon–8 pm; Saturday, 10 am–5 pm. Closed Sunday, Monday, and legal holidays.

Admission is free.

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