What was Tony Fitzpatrick known for? Celebrated Chicago artist's life and career explored as he dies at 66

Tony Fitzpatrick is an artist of multitudes. He is not only known for one thing, but he was also hugely celebrated as an artist. Fitzpatrick not only does art, but he also writes, acts, and vouches for new and upcoming artists. Initially, when he began making art, he was not taken seriously, but over the years, his work has been collected by many collectors and museums.

Before his work blew up, he told the Tribune in 1995. He said:

"I don't mind a guy looking at (my work) and saying, 'It's not for me.' Hey, it's America. But they wouldn't even take a look."

Later on, he decided to study and perfect his craft at the College of DuPage. This is what Tony Fitzpatrick had to say about the academy:

"So much of my creative life began here. I did my first acting here. I started to seriously write poetry here. I made art here."

Fitzpatrick is known for his distinct art style, which includes printmaking and mixed-media collage. He was inspired by many things, including the mundane Midwestern city life and nature, especially birds.

Tony Fitzpatrick's life and career

Tony Fitzpatrick was born to Annamae and James, a writer and a burial vault salesman, respectively. He was one of the eight children who were born and brought up in the western suburbs. Growing up, Tony began drinking recklessly, but he always had a passion for unconventional art.

In 1981, at the memorial service of author Nelson Algren, Tony handed a Tribune reporter an art piece that he claimed was painted using cigarette butts. He would later create a space for artists to grow and showcase their work. One of the artists is Tim Anderson.

By 1991, Tony Fitzpatrick cleaned up his act and stopped drinking. He married his long-time wife, Michele, and has been together since.

In 1992, he founded a printmaking studio called Big Cat Press, which later became an exhibition space called Firecat Projects. Later on, he also partnered to find Adventureland and launched The Dime exhibition spaces.

As mentioned, Tony is a man of multitudes, and that was reflected through the forms of art he created. He also dabbled in writing prose and poetry. His first poem had heavy Algren influences and was aptly named Algren Street. It was published in a literary magazine called Nit & Wit.

Some of the books Tony Fitzpatrick wrote include:

• The Wonder: Portraits of a Remembered City (Volumes 1, 2 & 3)
• This Train: An Artist's Journal — with an introduction by Alex Kotlowitz
• Bum Town
• Dime Stories
• The Secret Birds
• Max and Gaby's Alphabet
• Dirty Boulevard
• The Apostles of Humboldt Park
• The Sun at the End of the Road: Dispatches From an American Life

The Sun at the End of the Road was published right before he passed away in October 2025.

He also enjoyed doing theater, and most often, his theater pieces were autobiographical. He was often called in by radio hosts and was also a co-host on his son, Max Fitzpatrick's, podcast.

Tony Fitzpatrick's illustrious career as an artist was celebrated by many. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife, Michele, and his two children, Max and Gaby (Gabrielle).

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