Chelsea Art Alley · Main Street Masterpiece Contest

From the Top

Tony Roko · Plymouth, MI

Acrylic on board · 30" wide x 40" tall

About this piece

Inspired by early silent film, where emotion was conveyed through gesture, posture, and exaggerated movement rather than words, this piece lives in a world where movement tells the whole story. The figures are elongated and slightly distorted, not to reflect how they look, but to reflect what they are feeling. They are caught mid-leap, suspended in a moment that feels both elegant and uncertain, a moment where balance could just as easily become collapse. The color brings the scene into the present, while the movement feels like it belongs to another time. The result is a scene that feels both old and new, theatrical and human, a moment held in the air before gravity takes over.

About the artist

Tony Roko

Tony Roko's professional art career unexpectedly began as he was discovered on the assembly line at Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant. Recognizing Roko's abilities, Ford and UAW management named Roko Ford's Resident Artist and kicked off a plant beautification initiative in an effort to boost employee morale in production areas. In the decades that followed, Roko has created pieces on factory walls, as well as feature pieces to commemorate Ford milestones. Outside the walls of Ford, Roko's reputation has grown as he has become one of the most recognized fine artists in the Midwest today, with a growing list of collectors around the world. Most notably, Roko has painted commissioned work for celebrities such as Jay Leno and Lady Gaga. Roko's artwork has been showcased at several of the most esteemed museums, hotels, and restaurants in the Detroit area, including the Charles Wright Museum, the Zekelman Holocaust Center, and Detroit Foundation Hotel. His work has also appeared in numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, and GQ. Through his use of bold colors and expressive style, Roko's signature works show the inspiration of Detroit's French origins fused with the Motor City's role in the rise of the Industrial Age. Roko's artwork was the center of the rebranding efforts of Atwater Brewery, with his work featured on more than 25 products. This rapidly accelerated the company's expansion into the international market and led to the company's acquisition by Molson Coors in 2020. Roko was also retained to create the labels and brand for a limited brut wine produced in France called "Show Stopper," available in exclusive restaurants and stores in 2023. In the fall of 2023, Roko made his French debut with his exhibition “Les Fantômes de Montmartre” in Paris, France, paying homage to French icons such as Edith Piaf and Marie Antoinette, and depicting some of the most celebrated artists who spent time in the Montmartre district, such as Van Gogh, Picasso, and Modigliani. Roko also appeared in the 2024 French documentary, Montmartre est une Fête.

Visit Tony Roko’s work at artofroko.com →

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