Biography

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,...
Works
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement-TM630, 2025
    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-TM629, 2025
    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, 762, 2025
    Tony Matelli
    762, 2025
    painted bronze
    unique
    61 x 50.8 x 40.6 cm
    24 x 20 x 16 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement-TM631, 2025
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement-TM631, 2025
    painted bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, epoxy
    unique
    80.6 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm
    31 3/4 x 16 x 18 in
    slab base: 46 x 46 x 5 cm | 18 x 18 x 2 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement-TM632, 2025
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement-TM632, 2025
    painted bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, epoxy
    unique
    76.8 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm
    30 1/4 x 16 x 18 in
    slab base: 46 x 46 x 5 cm | 18 x 18 x 2 in
  • Tony Matelli, 741, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    741, 2024
    painted bronze
    unique
    48.3 x 22.9 x 25.4 cm
    19 x 9 x 10 in
  • Tony Matelli, 693, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    693, 2024
    painted bronze
    35.6 x 33 x 20.3 cm
    14 x 13 x 8 in
  • Tony Matelli, 704, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    704, 2024
    painted bronze
    40.6 x 31.8 x 21.6 cm
    16 x 12 1/2 x 8 1/2 in
  • Tony Matelli, 711, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    711, 2024
    painted bronze
    50.8 x 40.6 x 19.1 cm
    20 x 16 x 7 1/2 in
  • Tony Matelli, 715, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    715, 2024
    painted bronze
    52.1 x 38.1 x 26.7 cm
    20 1/2 x 15 x 10 1/2 in
  • Tony Matelli, 717, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    717, 2024
    painted bronze
    45.7 x 25.4 x 17.8 cm
    18 x 10 x 7 in
  • Tony Matelli, 719, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    719, 2024
    painted bronze
    40.6 x 20.3 x 31.8 cm
    16 x 8 x 12 1/2 in
  • Tony Matelli, 730, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    730, 2024
    painted bronze
    59.1 x 27.9 x 22.9 cm
    23 1/4 x 11 x 9 in
  • Tony Matelli, 564 (Exhibition Pommery), 2020
    Tony Matelli
    564 (Exhibition Pommery), 2020
    painted bronze
    66 x 27.9 x 30.5 cm
    26 x 11 x 12 in
  • Tony Matelli, 565, 2020
    Tony Matelli
    565, 2020
    painted bronze
    unique
    64.8 x 27.9 x 20.3 cm
    25 1/2 x 11 x 8 in
  • Tony Matelli, 578 , 2021
    Tony Matelli
    578 , 2021
    painted bronze
    66 x 25.4 x 27.9 cm
    26 x 10 x 11 in
  • Tony Matelli, 658, 2023
    Tony Matelli
    658, 2023
    painted bronze
    69.8 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm
    27 1/2 x 18 x 15 in
  • Tony Matelli, 746, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    746, 2024
    painted bronze
    unique
    36.8 x 22.9 x 17.8 cm
    14 1/2 x 9 x 7 in

    Exhibition "We are Nature" Singer Laren Museum, The Netherlands
  • Tony Matelli, 750, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    750, 2024
    painted bronze
    unique
    45.7 x 45.7 x 33 cm
    18 x 18 x 13 in

    Exhibition "We are Nature" Singer Laren Museum, The Netherlands
  • Tony Matelli, 755, 2024
    Tony Matelli
    755, 2024
    painted bronze
    unique
    71.1 x 20.3 x 22.9 cm
    28 x 8 x 9 in

    Exhibition "We are Nature" Singer Laren Museum, The Netherlands
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement (15), 2021
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement (15), 2021
    bronze, stainless steel, aluminum, epoxy, paint
    71.1 x 40.6 x 30.5 cm
    28 x 16 x 12 in
    Pedestal dimensions: 38 x 16 x 16 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement (16), 2021
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement (16), 2021
    bronze, stainless steel, aluminum, epoxy, paint
    unique
    78.7 x 52.1 x 45.7 cm
    31 x 20 1/2 x 18 in
    Pedestal dimensions: 38 x 20 x 20 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement_593 , 2023
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement_593 , 2023
    painted bronze, aluminium, stainless steel, epoxy
    unique

    Exhibition "Flowers – Flora in Comtemporary Art & Culture" at Saatchi Gallery Feb-May 2025 (possible extension)
    76.2 x 61 x 33 cm
    30 x 24 x 13 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement (17), 2021
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement (17), 2021
    painted bronze, stainless steel
    73.7 x 61 x 58.4 cm
    29 x 24 x 23 in
    Pedestal dimensions : 38 x 20 x 20 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement_594, 2023
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement_594, 2023
    painted bronze, stainless steel
    61 x 53.3 x 33 cm
    24 x 21 x 13 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement (18), 2021
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement (18), 2021
    painted bronze, stainless steel
    unique
    76.2 x 71.1 x 45.7 cm
    30 x 28 x 18 in
    pedestal dimensions: 38 x 36 x 20 in

    Tony Matelli: Out of the Ordinary, June 21 - November 23, 2025, YU-HSIU CULTURE FOUNDATION Yu-Hsiu Museum of Art, Taiwan
  • Tony Matelli, (Made to order) Arrangement (14), 2022
    Tony Matelli
    (Made to order) Arrangement (14), 2022
    painted bronze, stainless steel, galvanized steel, enamel
    unique
    50.8 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm
    20 x 18 x 18 in
    Pedestal dimensions: 38 x 16 x 16 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement - 597, 2023
    Tony Matelli
    Arrangement - 597, 2023
    Painted bronze, stainless steel, epoxy
    42.5 x 35.6 x 35.6 cm
    16 3/4 x 14 x 14 in
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement TM-596, 2023
    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
    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: Out of the Ordinary, June 21 - November 23, 2025, YU-HSIU CULTURE FOUNDATION Yu-Hsiu Museum of Art, Taiwan
  • Tony Matelli, Arrangement-TM626, 2024
    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: Out of the Ordinary, June 21 - November 23, 2025, YU-HSIU CULTURE FOUNDATION Yu-Hsiu Museum of Art, Taiwan
  • Tony Matelli, Bust (Eggplant), 2022
    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)
  • wws 2019 quarter
    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
    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
  • DSC_5277
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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, Standing Figure (bananas), 2022
    Tony Matelli
    Standing Figure (bananas), 2022
    marble and painted bronze
    unique
    215.9 x 53.3 x 53.3 cm
    85 x 21 x 21 in
  • Tony Matelli, Two Figures, 2022
    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, Tic Tac Toe, 2015
    Tony Matelli
    Tic Tac Toe, 2015
    urethane and enamel on mirror
    unique
    152.4 x 243.8 cm
    60 x 96 in
  • Tony Matelli, Venus (Oranges), 2022
    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, Two Faces, 2015
    Tony Matelli
    Two Faces, 2015
    urethane and enamel on mirror
    91.4 x 61 cm
    36 x 24 in
  • Tony Matelli, Child, 2014
    Tony Matelli
    Child, 2014
    urethane and enamel on mirror
    unique
    152.4 x 243.8 cm
    60 x 96 in
  • Tony Matelli, Sleepwalker Male, 2014
    Tony Matelli
    Sleepwalker Male, 2014
    painted bronze
    170.2 x 109.2 x 66 cm
    67 x 43 x 26 in
    100 kg
  • Tony Matelli, Sleepwalker Female, 2008
    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
  • DSC_4574
    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
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