Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Teal.
Tony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up as a native Nashville artist, my world has always been defined by the urban landscapes of this city. My story actually started back on the East side, where my grandfather grew up. My mother caught on to my interest early when she saw me copying cartoons from the newspaper and encouraged me by enrolling me in art classes. By my senior year, I had a bit of a reputation for my work, and it even led to a scholarship offer for college, though I didn’t end up enrolling at the time due to family income and some of my own doubts.
I took a bit of a winding path after that, attending workshops and classes in Atlanta and back home at Watkins, all while getting inspired by the moods of artists like Edward Hopper and Vincent Van Gogh. The real turning point came in 1999 when I moved to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design. It was a massive, transformative experience for me, and after graduating, I moved back to East Nashville with my partner.
For over a decade now, I’ve been almost entirely focused on nocturnal cityscapes. I’m fascinated by that “ghostly” haze where city lights reflect off an overcast sky, turning steel and stone into something more atmospheric. While my roots are firmly in East Nashville, traveling through Europe recently has really expanded my lens. Exploring cities like Berlin and Dublin allowed me to find a visual common ground with my hometown, bridging the architectural character of those places with the Nashville streets I’ve known since childhood.
Today, I use my work to lean into the shadows and find those subtle glints of hope and mystery hidden in the urban grid. It’s about more than just recording a street—it’s about capturing that emotional pulse of the city after dark.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I always knew I had this knack for capturing what I saw on canvas, but there was no roadmap for turning that into a living. Right after high school, I followed the path my family expected and took a job at a local auto parts factory. Walking into that environment of heavy machinery and noise every day felt like the opposite of who I was. I stuck it out for three months, which felt like an accomplishment in itself, but the real difficulty wasn’t just the factory—it was the isolation. In a small Southern town, being gay and wanting to be an artist felt like two things people didn’t quite know how to “place.”
Later on, things got even more intense. Just as I was preparing for a massive shift—moving to New York to attend Parsons School of Design—my mother died suddenly. It was a lot to process at once. I spent my time in New York focusing intently on my creative self, using drawing and painting as a way to navigate the grief. That period opened my mind, and I eventually found tools like meditation to help me handle the “rocks” along the journey.
Even after returning to Nashville and settling into a home in East Nashville with my partner, I was still balancing a day job in sales with painting late into the night. The real “breakthrough” moment didn’t come until I connected with the local art scene through Meg MacFadyen at Art & Invention Gallery. Selling that first painting was such a thrill—just knowing that someone valued my work enough to pay for it made all those years of working through the “noise” worth it. Every struggle since then has just been part of refining the craft.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in nocturnal cityscapes, specifically in oil. There’s something about the way a city looks after the sun goes down—I’ve always been drawn to the shadows and the quiet mystery you find there.
To me, cities can feel like massive, garish amusement parks during the day, full of noise and flashing lights. But at night, a different side emerges. I love trying to capture that moody, calm dynamic on canvas—the “ghostly” effect of streetlights reflecting against a violet, overcast sky.
What I’m most proud of: I’m incredibly proud of the journey it took to get here. Growing up in Nashville and Shelbyville, I didn’t always have a clear path to being an artist. Making the leap to move to New York and graduate with honors from Parsons School of Design was a transformative moment for me. It gave me the tools to finally turn my creative vision into a career. I’m also proud that my work has found its way into permanent collections like the Hunter Museum of American Art, and that I’ve been able to document the evolution of my home in East Nashville through my paintings.
What sets me apart: What sets my work apart is the emotional connection to “place.” I’m not just trying to record every architectural detail; I’m trying to pay homage to the neighborhood. My work often explores the contrast between people from all different walks of life—different ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds—who all share the same streets. Using successive layers of oil paint allows me to create a rich, hazy glow that makes the urban landscape feel alive, uncertain, and yet full of glints of hope.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my earliest and most vivid memories is actually playing with my Tonka Toys. I remember being quite young, sitting in my room with my mother, and we were building these spindly little structures using thin wooden posts and those small round spheres.
What really sticks with me, though, wasn’t just the toy itself—it was the atmosphere. The light was streaming through the windows, and I just remember this overwhelming feeling of being completely happy and safe. It was the first time I really felt that connection to building something with my own hands, and looking back, I think that’s where my love for creating things really started.
Pricing:
- My original oils typically range from $550 to over $9,000.
- For those looking for a specific cityscape, a painting of a meaningful neighborhood, or a portrait, I offer custom commissions. These are priced at approximately 35-45% more than studio originals to cover the bespoke composition and reference work.
- For those looking for high-quality reproductions, Giclée prints are a more accessible way to collect my work, typically ranging from $125 to $1,000+.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tonyteal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonytealoilpainter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.teal.581
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyteal5696
