Tony Mendoza

WINNER OF 2007 ARTE HISPANA AWARD

"Artist Tony Mendoza was born in New York to Cuban parents, but raised in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. This guy's work is so vibrant and colorful! He intimately captures the daily life of Little Havana with style and best of all, a great sense of humor". I Cuban.com Magazine - Three Guys from Miami - November 2003 http://icuban.com/november_2003.html and http://icuban.com/july_2005.html

Tony commenced his artistic endeavors by painting the colorful and historic homes of his childhood neighborhood of Little Havana, and bringing his art to the public at Cultural Fridays on Calle Ocho. His unique and whimsical renderings led to many commissions of house portraits throughout South Florida and eventually the rest of the country. Inspired by his activity in Little Havana he has created several collections of humorous vignettes depicting life and commerce in this vibrant section of Miami. These paintings show the love he has for the city and its inhabitants,their quirky and colorful lifestyles and customs.

"Tony Mendoza creates images and vignettes of Little Havana, perpetuating in his acrylics the Cuban heritage in a primitive-expressionistic style full of vibrant color". --Vilma E. Muises, Florida Exclusive Magazine April 2004

"Just as colorful is the Sentir shop, which sports a lime green façade with landscapes representative of each of the provinces, painted by local Cuban artist Tony Mendoza. It has become a tourist attraction".
--Fabiola Gonzalez , The Miami Herald 8/24/03

"Miami’s Latin Quarter is brought to life on paper and canvas with bright eye-catching colors and all that life artist Tony Mendoza grew up with in his childhood home of Little Havana, a visionary a glance at the ethnic charm of life in the Latin district".-- Charlene Arsenault – Worcester Magazine March 2005

"Local artist Tony Mendoza stirs the spicy pot of ajiaco with a tasty new series of wildly colorful work, Little Havana Comidas, depicting traditional Cuban fare he renders in a bold, slashing style. No shrinking violeta, Mendoza".-- Carlos Suarez De Jesus - Miami New Times September 2006

Tony has been commissioned to complete projects for the Archdioceses Of Miami, Kiwanis of Little Havana- Carnaval Miami, Bella Mar Estates-Bahamas, Neighborhood Lending Partners ,We Buy Media , Hurst Awning Company,Javamo Coffee Company Leon Medical Centers and The March of Dimes. He has been invited to contribute his artwork to such institutions as The Historical Museum of South Florida, The Deering Estate, Carrfour Supportive Housing ,The Cuban-American Woman’s Association , The League Against Cancer and Genesis House Miami. Chosen by Miami-Dade Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board to participate in “Expresiones del Arte Hispano 2004 -2006” group shows and catalogue.Chosen to design the cover for the Miami-Dade Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board " 2007 Hispanic Expressions Group Exhibit Catalogue "...

His work has been featured in Cigar City Magazine, Cigar Snob Magazine, Vanidades Magazine , Selecta Magazine, Miami Herald, Miami New Times and Art Business News.

Select Exhibits :

Latin Artist Group Show - Da Vinci Gallery - Coral Gables, Fl 2002

AMCU Group Show - Miami, Fl - July 2003

Recalling Our Tradition Group Show @ Casa Juancho - Miami - February 2004

Epcot Art in the Garden Festival - Spring 2004

"Tony Mendoza’s Little Havana Solo Exhibit " Brevard Community College - Moore Multicultural Center - Cocoa, Fl - September 2004

"Tony Mendoza's Ybor City Series Solo Exhibit " Centro Ybor - Tampa, Fl - November 2004

"EXPRESO" Exhibit " David's Cafe Miami Beach, Fl - Group show with good friends and well known Cuban American artists Mano, Marcy Grosso and Sandra Suarez - February 2005

Carnaval Miami - Night of Indulgment - Group Show at The Biltmore Hotel - Coral Gables, Fl - April 4th 2005

" Tony Mendoza's Little Havana " Solo exhibit at I.A.C. Center - Worchester, Mass - April 2005

"Puertas y Ventanas" Group Show @ Casa Juancho - Miami, Fl - April 2005

"Libertad" Group Show @ Miami-Dade College Tower Theater - Little Havana - Miami, Fl - May 2005

"Musings" Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit " David's Cafe - Miami Beach, Fl July 2005

Featured Artist at Ybor City State Musuem - Tampa, Fl April 2006

Featured Artist at Handmade in Florida Craft Gallery - Tampa, Fl April 2006

" Well Dressed Mango " Group Show @ miArte Gallery - Coral Gables,Fl July 2006

"Tony Mendoza's Little Havana Comidas Solo Show" - Sentir Cubano - Miami,Fl Sept 2006

Little Havana Comidas exhibit was part of a book signing event with The Three Guys From Miami

"85@85 International Group Show @ miArte Gallery - Coral Gables,Fl December 2006

" Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit " @ Tre-Amici at the Bunker - Tampa, Fl March 2007

" Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit " @ The Havana Club - Miami, Fl November 2007

" Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit " @ The Crown Miami Beach - Miami Beach, Fl - December 2007

" Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit" @ Bird Key Yaught Club - Sarasota 2008

" Exhibit and Lecture at Hispanic Heritage Month Closing Ceremonies @ University of Miami Lowe Art Musuem - October 2008

" World of Deco Exhibit" by The Miami Design Preservation League @ Historic City Hall - Miami Beach - January 2009

"Tony Mendoza Solo Exhibit @ City Of Hialeah City Hall - Hialeah, Fl - June 2009

Select Juried Art Festivals:

Art Deco Weekend - Miami Beach, Fl ** Beaux Arts Festival - Coral Gables, Fl
Carnaval Miami - Coral Gables, Fl ** Coconut Grove Arts Festival - Miami, Fl

Hollywood Festival of the Arts ~ Hollywood,Fl (Chosen to design official 2007 Festival Poster - The Doorway)

Key Biscayne Art Festival ** Las Olas Art Festival - Ft Lauderdale, Fl

Naples Art Festival ** Old Hyde Park Art Festival, Tampa, Fl

South Miami Art Festival

"Mendoza's art has been described as cartoon & pop-art because of its signature bold color and cheerfulness, it reflects his Little Havana upbringing". --Jessica Dufrense, The Miami Herald 2/13/05