Born and Raised in New York City, M.Tony Peralta is a Contemporary Artist who’s work explores, highlights and mixes his Latino heritage with his New York sensibility. For the past 10 years Peralta’s has been developing a body of work that he calls “Latino Pop Art” creating vibrant screen printed painting of Latin icons and products boring a page from the Warhol aesthetic but redefining and making it his own.
1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this piece?
M. Tony Peralta: “This piece was an addition to a series of work I created called “Complejo” which means Complex in Spanish. The piece is called Pelo Malo/Bueno which means Good/Bad Hair. The art piece speaks on some of the opinions the Latino community has on coarse curly hair.
1x: What materials were used to create this piece?
M. Tony Peralta: The original piece is acrylic and 4 color screen print on 26” x 39” Wooden Crate.
1x: When was the piece created and how long did it take to complete?
M. Tony Peralta: The original piece was created in the spring of 2012 and took about 2 days to finish.
1x: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
M. Tony Peralta: I had created a similar piece with a type treatment. I had the idea to make the piece bigger and simplify the message I was trying to get across.
Pelo Malo Bueno by M. Tony Peralta – Click To Purchase
1x: What is unique about this piece compared with some of your other work?
M. Tony Peralta: What makes this piece unique is my use of the processed colors and
also printing on the wooden crate which was a found object.
1x: What is it about this print you think will resonate with people?
M. Tony Peralta: I think people will like this print cause it would be a great statement piece to have in your home. Because the print is of a hair pick, I think it would make a good conversation started to whoever comes in contact with it.
1x: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
M. Tony Peralta: Powerful!
Pelo Malo Bueno by M. Tony Peralta – Click To Purchase
1x: When did you first start making art?
M. Tony Peralta: I’ve been drawing all my life, but I started making art in 2004. I took a screen printing class and the professor happen to work with Andy Warhol before.
1x: Do you remember what your first piece was?
M. Tony Peralta: The first piece I created was in that class, and I later had in one of my 1st exhibits a 4 color screen print of a “Goya Black Beans” can done in the same style as Warhol’s “Campbell” soup can.
1x: What artists inspired you early on?
M. Tony Peralta: My biggest inspiration when I was a teen was Keith Haring. I used to go to the “Pop Shop” almost every weekend.
1x: What artists are you inspired by now?
M. Tony Peralta: There’s a bunch of artists that I love and get inspired by. People like Kehinde Wiley, Kara Walker, Shepard Fairy, Bansky, JR, ESPO and some of my artist friends like Joe Buck, Pel and Bluster One.
1x: What is your environment like when you work? Do you listen to music while you work?
M. Tony Peralta: I love listening to music, but to be honest, lately I listen to Podcasts while I work. The current state of music is not that inspiring, give or take some artist out there, so either I’m going back to listening to some classic albums or the latest episodes of my favorite podcasts.
1x: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be?
M. Tony Peralta: I would love to collaborate with Jeff Koons and work on some Latino items like he does. That would be so dope!
1x: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
M. Tony Peralta: Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali. They are my favorite artists and I admire them greatly. It would be a dream to just be in the same room with them both.
1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
M. Tony Peralta: I think my first official piece of art I brought was a print from Fafi and I do still have it. It’s hanging on my wall right now.
1x: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
M. Tony Peralta: I brought 2 prints from an artist named Fernando Leon.
1x: How has 2016 been so far for you? What have you been up to?
M. Tony Peralta: 2016 has started off great. I was in the Dominican Republic (where my parents are from) for a month. I was on vacation and in need of some inspiration. Since my returned I’ve created 3 new art pieces inspired by my trip to the island.
I also run a online t-shirt company, so I’ve been working on creating and putting out new product.
1x: Any other big plans for the Spring/Summer you want to share?
M. Tony Peralta: I have a couple of collaborations coming up for the spring/summer. Continue working on my art. I’m also planning on doing some traveling, maybe Mexico City to visit Frida’s “Caza Azul” and I’m teaching a course that I did last summer at “Alto Chavon” which is a Design and Art school in the Dominican Republic.
1x: Where else can people find you?
M. Tony Peralta: Instagram – Twitter – Snapchat @peraltaprjct
-1xRUN