Tony Matelli

Biography

Tony Matelli, Sleepwalker, 2014, at Frieze Sculpture 2023

"I like sculpture because it’s unwieldy, and there is a resistance to decoration in sculpture that I like. Genres are at the service of ideas, not the other way around."

Characterized by hyperrealism and a twisted depiction of everyday objects like flowers and leftover consumer goods, Tony Matelli's sculptures often straddle the boundaries of absurdity and humor, raising broader existential questions. Born in 1971 in Chicago, Tony Matelli is a New York-based sculptor known for his painstakingly detailed, resemblant sculptures. Concerned with how we define ourselves as human beings, what constitutes meaningful relationships, and the transience of life, Matelli chronicles these ideas through a playful lens whilst pushing the boundaries of his medium. The result is a subversive dialogue that deepens the conversation surrounding the possibilities of sculpture. Incorporating figurative,...

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Works

Tony Matelli
Arrangement-TM629, 2025
painted bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, epoxy
unique
64.1 x 33 x 35.6 cm
25 1/4 x 13 x 14 in
slab base: 41 x 41 x 5 cm | 16 x 16 x 2 in
Tony Matelli
Arrangement-TM630, 2025
painted bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, epoxy
unique
85.7 x 43.2 x 48.3 cm
33 3/4 x 17 x 19 in
slab base: 41 x 41 x 5 cm | 16 x 16 x 2 in
Tony Matelli
Arrangement-TM626, 2024
painted bronze
unique
73.7 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm
29 x 16 x 18 in
Tony Matelli
Arrangement TM-596, 2023
painted bronze, stainless steel
unique
71.1 x 40.6 x 52.1 cm
28 x 16 x 20 1/2 in
Tony Matelli
Arrangement-TM622, 2024
painted bronze
unique
49.5 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm
19 1/2 x 12 x 12 in
Tony Matelli
Arrangement, 2025
painted bronze, stainless steel, epoxy - TM 624
unique
50.8 x 40.6 x 40.6 cm
20 x 16 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
811, 2025
painted bronze
14 x 17.8 x 20.3 cm
5 1/2 x 7 x 8 in
Tony Matelli
805, 2025
painted bronze
unique
41.9 x 22.9 x 22.9 cm
16 1/2 x 9 x 9 in
Tony Matelli
564 (Exhibition Pommery), 2020
painted bronze
66 x 27.9 x 30.5 cm
26 x 11 x 12 in
Tony Matelli
750, 2024
painted bronze
unique
45.7 x 45.7 x 33 cm
18 x 18 x 13 in
Tony Matelli
755, 2024
painted bronze
unique
71.1 x 20.3 x 22.9 cm
28 x 8 x 9 in
Tony Matelli
637, 2022
painted bronze
unique
39.4 x 40.6 x 25.4 cm
15 1/2 x 16 x 10 in
Tony Matelli
578 , 2021
painted bronze
66 x 25.4 x 27.9 cm
26 x 10 x 11 in
Tony Matelli
762, 2025
painted bronze
unique
61 x 50.8 x 40.6 cm
24 x 20 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
784, 2025
painted bronze
unique
48.3 x 30.5 x 19.1 cm
19 x 12 x 7 1/2 in
Tony Matelli
803, 2025
painted bronze
unique
33 x 25.4 x 25.4 cm
13 x 10 x 10 in
Tony Matelli
794, 2025
painted bronze
unique
43.2 x 33 x 22.9 cm
17 x 13 x 9 in
Tony Matelli
763, 2025
painted bronze
unique
27.9 x 38.1 x 22.9 cm
11 x 15 x 9 in
Tony Matelli
795, 2025
painted bronze
unique
64.8 x 33 x 27.9 cm
25 1/2 x 13 x 11 in
Tony Matelli
800, 2025
painted bronze
unique
41.9 x 40.6 x 33 cm
16 1/2 x 16 x 13 in
Tony Matelli
Bust (Eggplant), 2022
marble and painted bronze
96.5 x 66 x 40.6 cm
38 x 26 x 16 in
(Exhibition Expérience Domaine Pommery)
Tony Matelli
Figure (with Strawberries) - (Exhibition Pommery), 2019
concrete and painted bronze
157.48 x 40.64 x 40.64 cm
62 x 16 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
Bust (Nectarines), 2022
marble and painted bronze
unique
76.2 x 45.7 x 30.5 cm
30 x 18 x 12 in
Tony Matelli
Half Buddha Two Oranges, 2020
granite and painted bronze
unique
45.72 x 68.58 x 40.64 cm
18 x 27 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
Lion (Fruit), 2019
glass fiber reinforced concrete, marble dust, mineral pigments, stainless steel, cast urethane, paint
unique
83.8 x 154.9 x 40.6 cm
33 x 61 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
Half Hera, 2018
synthetic gypsum, steel, painted urethane
unique
310 x 89 x 84 cm
122 x 35 x 33 inches
Total weight: 408 kg/900lbs
Figure weight: 227kg/500lbs
Base weight: 181.4kg/400lb
Tony Matelli
Lion (Pizza), 2019
glass fiber reinforced concrete, marble dust, mineral pigments, stainless steel, cast urethane, paint
unique
83.8 x 154.9 x 40.6 cm
33 x 61 x 16 in
Tony Matelli
Seated Angel, 2022
marble and painted bronze
unique
155 x 119 x 76 cm
61 x 46 7/8 x 29 7/8 in
Tony Matelli
Two Figures, 2022
marble and painted bronze
unique
149.9 x 162.6 x 91.4 cm
59 x 64 x 36 in
Tony Matelli
Venus (Oranges), 2022
marble and painted bronze
unique
154.9 x 40.6 x 50.8 cm
61 x 16 x 20 in
Tony Matelli
Tic Tac Toe, 2015
urethane and enamel on mirror
unique
152.4 x 243.8 cm
60 x 96 in
Tony Matelli
Two Faces, 2015
urethane and enamel on mirror

91.4 x 61 cm
36 x 24 in
Tony Matelli
Sleepwalker Male, 2014
painted bronze
170.2 x 109.2 x 66 cm
67 x 43 x 26 in
100 kg

Currently at: Faith No More. Rituals for Uncertain Times, ABBY Kortrijk, Belgium - October 24, 2025 - March 1st, 2026
Tony Matelli
Sleepwalker Female, 2008
epoxy, hair, paint, steel, underwear
160 x 75 x 55 cm
63 x 29 1/2 x 21 5/8 in
Tony Matelli
Yesterday 56, 2019
painted bronze rub on transfers urethane beer can
unique
111.76 x 40.64 x 45.72 cm
44 x 16 x 18 in