Biography
Antonio Caparello was born November 23, 1953 in Pittsfield Massachusetts, the son of Italian immigrants.
At a very young age Tony demonstrated natural artistic ability and at age 15 was invited to the studio of the great American artist, Norman Rockwell, in Stockbridge, MA. Rockwell, praising Tony's talent, sent the teenager to study further with the Impressionist painter, William F. Schultz, in Lenox, Massachusetts. Tony also studied with other masters including John H. Sanden, oils, and Daniel Greene, oils and pastels.
In 1979 Tony began what was to become a nine year career as a pictorial artist for major billboard companies throughout the southeastern United States. He quickly became a top painter, specializing in photo-realism and portraiture. His crowning achievement was to be recognized as one of the premier pictorial artist in this advertising industry, prompting his employers to state that Tony's natural ability and reputation as an artist in the industry was “second to none”.
Tony's work came to the attention of world renowned artist, James Rosenquist, who along with Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol founded the “Pop Art” movement in the early sixties. In July of 1988 Tony resigned from outdoor advertising and began working with Rosenquist as painter and studio assistant.
In August of 1998, Tony submitted his resignation to Rosenquist, and on October 30, 1998 went on to the next phase of his professional career.
Tony painted in his studio in Spring Hill, Florida. Since 1990, Tony's exhibits have included many solo, two person, and group exhibitions in galleries, art museums, colleges, universities and art centers. He has also done numerous classes, workshops, seminars and public demonstrations teaching his painting technique. His paintings are in many private, corporate and public collections throughout the United States and abroad. The Civil War mural in downtown Brooksville, Florida, 87 feet wide and 18 feet tall, is Tony's most public work.
Caparello died on Jan. 9, 2009 after open heart surgery in Clearwater.
Photo by Maurice Rivenbark - St. Petersburg Times (2008)