The Secret Birds

The Secret Birds, named for his series of paintings by the same title, is Tony Fitzpatrick's collection of work inspired by the iconography of birds. Following a successful quadruple bypass surgery in January 2015, Fitzpatrick muses on mortality and a life spent traveling, collecting, and telling stories.

Tony Fitzpatrick's work is collected by the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC. Before making a living as an artist, Fitzpatrick worked as a radio host, bartender, boxer, construction worker, and film and stage actor.

Tony Fitzpatrick is a Chicago-based artist best known for his multimedia collages, printmaking, paintings, and drawings. Fitzpatrick&;s works are inspired by Chicago street culture, cities he has traveled to, children&;s books, tattoo designs, and folk art. Fitzpatrick has authored or illustrated eight books of art and poetry, and, for the last three years, has written a column for Newcity. Fitzpatrick&;s art appears in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the National Museum of American Art in Washington DC. The Neville Brothers&; album Yellow Moon and Steve Earle&;s albums El Corazón and The Revolution Starts Now also feature Fitzpatrick&;s art. In 1992, Fitzpatrick opened a Chicago-based printmaking studio, Big Cat Press, which exists today as the artist exhibition space Firecat Projects. Before making a living as an artist, Fitzpatrick worked as a radio host, bartender, boxer, construction worker, and film and stage actor.