Anthony “Tony” Randolph Riotto [RA 2022]

First name: Anthony;
Middle name:  ;
Last name: Riotto ;

Member: Resident artist member ; 
Begin: 2022 ;
End: n/a ;

Biography:

After 35 years in his own business as a financial services industry consultant, Tony retired and opened up the space in his life for another undertaking. Already an accomplished photographer and woodworker, he was drawn to the creative arts and on a chance encounter with the Art Students League of New York, decided to try his hand at sculpting. He immediately took to the discipline. Within six months of starting sculpting classes, Tony was awarded the prestigious “Red Dot” for his portrait sculpture “Charles” at his very first showing in 2018 at the school. In his second show at the ASL, Tony received an honorable mention for his portrait sculpture, “Jeunè.” Tony continues to expand the scope of his work at the Art Students League under the tutelage of renowned artist and sculptor, Arslan, and metalsmith, Cliff Duffton. He also studied at the Florence Studio in Florence, Italy in 2019 under the direction of sculptor Frank Rekrut.

In 2020, Tony was accepted into the Metropolitan Museum’s Copyist Program where he sculpted a copy of Rodin’s portrait “Gustav Mahler” in a gallery of the American and Contemporary Art Wing.

Tony took his first portrait commission in 2021. “Paul” was sculpted during the pandemic on balconies in Manhattan and Stonington, CT.

In 2022, Tony received an invitation to join the Salmagundi Art Club of NY and has been a Resident Artist showing sculptures and photographs in numerous exhibitions at the Club. He was also awarded a Merit Scholarship from the Art Students League, Hilliard Schneider Fund,  in the category of Realism in Sculpture, to continue his studies at the ASL.

In 2023, Tony received a second Red Dot award at the Art Students League for his sculpture, “Breaking Through,” a mixed media piece consisting of metal, stone, and natural driftwood, and a second honorable mention for his portrait sculpture of “Johnny.” Tony also mounted his first one-man show of sculptures and photographs at the Pennswood Art Gallery in Newtown, PA.

In 2024, Tony received the Hannibal DeBellis & Richmond Sculpture Award for his portrait sculpture of “John” at the 140th Annual Members Exhibition.

Tony has produced an impressive body of work in the short time he’s been sculpting. He seeks to create work that is uniquely expressive by exploring and amplifying his subjects’ emotional states.

Tony is a native New Yorker and resides in Manhattan.

https://www.tonyriotto.com/